Only mine also made sure to mention the "I'm a hunter" phrase that has nothing to do with the Constitution.

Twenty-five or thirty years ago, I asked the owner of the LGS (aka, Local Gun Shop), "Who buys those things?"

This was in reference to the sole, one-and-only 'black rifle' on the shelf...

The answer?

Well, in my opinion, the answer is lost to history, and we're all the worse for it.

And I don't support 'Gun Control', either.

--

Edited to correct the spelling of the state.

So far, no answer from Franken, Klobechar, Ellison or my other "representatives" (sheesh, I need to get out of here).

Reply From McCollum:

Thank you for contacting me about gun violence prevention. I appreciate hearing from you.

In light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and six more mass killings across the country last year, it is imperative that Congress act to pass strong gun safety laws that keep these weapons out of the hands of criminals, children, and mentally disturbed individuals without restricting the rights of lawful gun owners.

Sadly over the past several years, far too many innocent American children, women and men have been the victims of gun violence. The sobering statistics about gun violence speak volumes. According to the U.S. Census, of the 129,741 murders that were reported between 2000 and 2008, nearly two-thirds of the victims were killed by a firearm. Every year nearly 100,000 people in America are shot or killed with a gun according to the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence. Every day, 270 people in America - 47 of them children and teens - are injured or slain due to gun violence.

We must take immediate action to prevent this type of violence from taking place, including requiring tougher background checks, ensuring safety devices to prevent guns from being used by someone other than the owner, limiting the availability large capacity ammunition magazines, closing the gun show loophole, and reinstating the ban on assault weapons. Effective regulation of firearms is no longer an issue this country can choose to ignore. Of the 11 deadliest shootings in our nation's history, five have occurred since 2007. The time has come to end the gun violence epidemic.

Nonetheless voices like the NRA will do everything to protect guns rather than the lives of our children and law enforcement officers. I have consistently opposed the NRA and their extremist agenda and will continue to do so. As a result of this work I have received an 'F' rating from the NRA.

As we begin the 113 th Congress, I have already cosponsored several bills to address the problem of gun violence, including the Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013 (H.R. 21) , The Firearm Safety and Public Health Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 321) , the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2013 (H.R. 142) , and the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (H.R.138) . These pieces of legislation should be passed and signed into law by President Obama. Now is the time to take serious steps to keep our nation, schools, and neighborhoods safer by helping protect against the kind of atrocities that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress

Dear Mr. Drago :

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to assault weapons legislation. I respect your opinion on this important issue and welcome the opportunity to provide my point of view.

Mass shootings are a serious problem in our country, and I have watched this problem get worse and worse over the 40 years I have been in public life. From the 1966 shooting rampage at the University of Texas that killed 14 people and wounded 32 others, to the Newtown massacre that killed 20 children and 6 school teachers and faculty, I have seen more and more of these killings. I have had families tell me that they no longer feel safe in a mall, in a movie theater, in their business, and in other public places, because these deadly weapons are so readily available. These assault weapons too often fall into the hands of grievance killers, juveniles, gangs, and the deranged.

I recognize that the Second Amendment provides an individual right to bear arms, but I do not believe that right is unlimited or that it precludes taking action to prevent mass shootings. Indeed, in the same Supreme Court decision that recognized the individual right to bear arms , District of Columbia v. Heller , the Court also held that this right, like other constitutional rights, is not unlimited. That is why assault weapons bans have consistently been upheld in the courts, both before and after the Heller decision. I believe regulation of these weapons is appropriate.

Once again, thank you for your letter. Although we may disagree, I appreciate hearing from you and will be mindful of your thoughts as the debate on this issue continues. If you have any additional comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator