Responses from CO Legislators Thread

[JVC]

Please remember to email the members of the committees Rep. Landgraf mentioned below. I'll try to make a list before end of week.

Dear JVC,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our Second Amendment rights.

I am in full support of those rights. In fact, I am sponsoring legislation, HB 13-1187, which will make it a first degree misdemeanor (up to 18 months in jail) for a federal agent who attempts to enforce any new federal restrictions on our right to bear arms in Colorado.

This is where I need your support as the Democrats have the majority in the legislature. We need their votes to get this bill to the Governor’s desk. Please, call and write the members of the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee before my bill is heard on February 18.

Also, whether or not it is in regards to my bill, consider taking the time to come to the Capitol and testify on behalf of your Second Amendments rights. As a new legislator, it is amazing to me to see how the Democrats pack the committee hearings with their supporters.

I also welcome your watchfulness. I and my fellow Republicans can only hope that the majority Democrats are watched just as closely. Thank you again for your e-mail.

Sincerely,
Lois Landgraf
State Representative
House District 21

[merl]

now we're talking about legislation that will die in committee.

[scratchy]

Jared Polis canned response

Better than most Dems. I suspect it's expedient:

February 13, 2013

Dxxxx Xxxxxxxx
XXXX XXXXX XX
Broomfield, CO

Dear Dxxxx:

Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts on the recent debate about guns. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and apologize for any delay in my reply.

As you may know, I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights, and I feel strongly that we have a responsibility to protect the rights of lawful Americans to own guns for protection, recreation and sport. I am skeptical that an outright ban on particular weaponry would have any meaningful impact on violent crime. I fear that some of the policies being proposed by a number of my colleagues in Congress would make it more difficult for Colorado families to defend themselves when in harm's way, and could also interfere with the recreational use of certain weapons by law-abiding Coloradans. While I support parts of the President's plan to reduce gun violence, I am also skeptical of the price tag associated with it. The $500 million that it would take to implement this plan could be better spent reducing the deficit and investing in critical education improvements and mental health services.

I believe that the best way to reduce violent crime is to ensure that kids have access to opportunities and jobs and do not turn to crime or join gangs out of desperation. One of my top priorities in Congress has been reforming our education system. I am a strong supporter of the Race to the Top program, with the goal of rewarding states that implement beneficial education reforms including parental choice, better professional development and teacher training, turning around failing schools, closing the achievement gap, charter schools, and better data systems to identify best practices. To support these efforts, I recently introduced H.R. 426, the Race to the Top Act, which would expand the program to school districts and reauthorize the program for five years, giving states the support they need to implement comprehensive reforms and compete for federal funding. This legislation prioritizes rural and high-poverty districts and supports increased teacher and principal effectiveness to ensure that all students have equal opportunity to succeed. The Race to the Top program has already unleashed a wave of creative education reforms all around the nation. By better educating our children and understanding their environments at school, we can provide a place of learning that is safe and addresses the needs of our most vulnerable.

In addition to supporting education reforms, Congress must work to increase and improve mental health resources. While the vast majority of those who suffer from mental illness are as non-violent as those who don't, many recent gun tragedies that our nation has suffered have been perpetrated by individuals who may have suffered from mental illness. It is past due for Congress to address the lack of treatment and assistance we offer our mentally disabled citizens. By supporting efforts to install more highly trained counselors in our schools and to provide the resources that parents, families, teachers and employers need, we can help those who suffer from mental illness while reducing the kinds of mass shootings to which our nation has sadly grown accustomed. I am hopeful that Congress will respond to these tragic shootings in a way that makes our nation safer while continuing to uphold the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. I hope my letter addresses your particular concerns. If I can be of any further assistance on this, or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 484-9596. I also encourage you to visit my website and sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://www.polis.house.gov.

JP/al


Sincerely,





Jared Polis
Member of Congress

[JoeT]

better than I expected

[mb504]

I got a variant of that...

----------------

Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts on the recent debate about guns. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and apologize for any delay in my reply.

In 2001, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution that closed the gun show loophole in our state, requiring every gun seller at a gun show to conduct a background check of the buyer before completing the sale. However, Colorado's efforts to reduce gun violence and trafficking are hindered by the flow of illegal guns from states without background check requirements. As a result of these discrepancies, one-third of guns used in crimes are not used in the state in which they were originally purchased. By closing the gun show loophole at the national level, we will help keep guns out of the hands of those who seek to cause mass pain and suffering in our communities-without interfering with law-abiding Coloradans' right to purchase guns.

In addition to closing the gun show loophole, I believe Congress must work to implement a system of universal background checks while protecting privacy. Approximately 40 percent of guns in the United States are sold without a background check ever having taken place, giving criminals easy access to dangerous weaponry.

I believe that the best way to reduce violent crime is to ensure that kids have access to opportunities and jobs and do not turn to crime or join gangs out of desperation. One of my top priorities in Congress has been improving our education system. I am a strong supporter of the Race to the Top program, with the goal of rewarding states that implement beneficial education reforms including parental choice, better professional development and training for teachers, turning around failing schools, closing the achievement gap, charter schools, and better data systems to identify best practices. To support these efforts, I recently introduced H.R. 426, the Race to the Top Act, which would expand the program to school districts and reauthorize the program for five years, giving states the support they need to implement comprehensive reforms and compete for federal funding. This legislation prioritizes rural and high-poverty districts and supports increased teacher and principal effectiveness to ensure that all students have equal opportunity to succeed. The Race to the Top program has already unleashed a wave of creative education reforms all around the nation. By better educating our children and understanding their environments at school, we can provide a place of learning that is safe and addresses the needs of our most vulnerable.

In addition to supporting education reforms, Congress must work to increase and improve mental health resources. While the vast majority of those who suffer from mental illness are as non-violent as those who don't, many recent gun tragedies that our nation has suffered have been perpetrated by individuals who may have suffered from mental illness. It is past due for Congress to address the lack of treatment and assistance we offer our mentally disabled citizens. By supporting efforts to install more highly trained counselors in our schools and to provide the resources that parents, families, teachers and employers need, we can help those who suffer from mental illness while reducing the kinds of mass shootings to which our nation has sadly grown accustomed. I am hopeful that Congress will respond to these tragic shootings in a way that makes our nation safer while continuing to uphold the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. I hope my letter addresses your particular concerns. If I can be of any further assistance on this, or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 484-9596. I also encourage you to visit my website and sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://www.polis.house.gov.

JP/al


Sincerely,
(signed)

[DeusExMachina]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the email. As I poll my constituents, the majority are in favor of the Democratic bills we are proposing. Polls of the American people support this as well.

Thank you,

My response:

Paul,

I understand, but please keep in mind you represent Coloradans, namely your constituents, and not the American people as a whole. Many polls of the general public are biased, with some reporting opposing feelings with a large margin of error and a mathematically insufficient sample size. I believe it would be best to stick to your voter base.

Thank you,
Phil

[mahabali]

Perhaps this turd needs to become the subject of a recall election?

They all do, this is getting out of control.

[mahabali]

Doesnt matter, as out state laws will be more restrictive that federal laws.

[skydog]

I just tried to phone several of the Colorado State Democrat representatives to voice my objection to State house Bill 1224, 1226, 1228 & 1229. Everyone I tried had an answering machine pick up and then when you tried to leave a message is says "I'm sorry the users mail box is full". I also have my FAX machine attempting to send a letter to each of them and it is been busy for hours. I hope everyone is using their e-mail accounts to flood these folks with objections to the bills and your request for them to vote NO!

keep up the effort!

Sky

[USAFGopherMike]

Has anybody talked to Polis in person?