Thank you for contacting me about the killings in Newtown, CT. I appreciate hearing from you.
Like all Americans, I was horrified and sickened to learn about the mass murder in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012. As you know, Adam Lanza murdered 26 people that day, including educators and young children at Sandy Hook Elementary School and his mother at her house, before committing suicide. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families who were affected.
In response, we need to come together as a nation, carefully reflect on what happened, and have a thoughtful dialogue on how we can improve public safety and protect our children. Of note, this atrocity in Newtown was the direct result of serious mental illness - something we have consistently observed in other mass killings over the years. We therefore need to better protect ourselves from mentally ill individuals who seek to carry out such atrocities. We also need to review and improve how we take care of the mentally ill. I therefore value your input on this issue and look forward to Congress debating which policies should be implemented to improve public safety.
It is heartening to see that some of these people seen to understand that this is primarly a mental health issue. This is going to be a bitter pill for the left to swallow, as was their idea to make it more difficult to get some of these people committed…
Cornyn and Cuellar ignored my messages and Hutchison “auto-replied” with a form letter that didn’t address the issue. Typical of Cornyn. Typically weeks delay if his office replies and I suppose Cuellar could only truthfully reply he wants a ban so didn’t bother.
Senator Bill Nelson is 70 years old and is 6 years from his next election if he chooses to run. He won the last election by 60% to 40%. He is going to do as he pleases and he greatly admires President Obama. If you want to influence Nelson the only leverage is the prospect of the Senate changing from Democrat to Republican majority in the next election. It is a lot more fun to be in the majority and Nelson knows this very well. Even that though is very little leverage. The Dems agenda it to make the US a one party state. This gun control stuff is just tactical.