Senate Judiciary Committee delays consideration of bills... Biden upset

[JLawson]

The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to begin the "mark-up" of four pieces of proposed firearms legislation Thursday, but Chairman Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat, announced a one-week delay when the committee got together this morning. That will give the four members of an ad hoc bipartisan committee time to hammer out  their differences on a fifth piece of legislation—universal background checks for all gun buyers. Expanding background checks is by far the most popular newly proposed gun legislation in the wake of the 12/14 elementary school slaughter in Newtown, Connecticut.

http://tinyurl.com/aanhwn8

And this...

The panel was scheduled to consider four bills — a universal background check measure, an assault weapons ban, gun trafficking penalties and a school safety bill — but Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., announced early in the markup that the panel will take up the measures on March 7. Committee rules allow any member of the panel to request that bills or nominations be held over until the panel’s next meeting or for one week, whichever occurs later.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/judiciary_panel_delays_work_on_gun_bills-222741-1.html

This gives us more time to contact members of the committee:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc2011&lang=&commcode=sjudiciary

[Frosty]

I believe I have worn out my key board hacking out letters to the fools on "the hill", but it must be doing some good so I will carry on.

[DanPatWork]

I believe I have worn out my key board hacking out letters to the fools on "the hill", but it must be doing some good so I will carry on.

After getting multiple repeat form letters I am beginning to lose faith in the results of my efforts. Phone calls and letters and emails all return the same results. Ambivalence from the right, refusal to see any reason for my beliefs from the left, and zero response from the state level representatives.

[JLawson]

After getting multiple repeat form letters I am beginning to lose faith in the results of my efforts. Phone calls and letters and emails all return the same results. Ambivalence from the right, refusal to see any reason for my beliefs from the left, and zero response from the state level representatives.

It's hard sometimes to keep the fire in your belly going strong.  It's hard to do as you've done... write, call, and email... and then receive little or no response.  But freedom isn't free and there will always be those who want to deprive us of our freedoms.  I first got involved in the "political" side of shooting during the Clinton era.  Fighting to derail the first AWB, fighting to get some legislative relief from the onslaught of lawsuits against manufacturers, fighting the never-ending threat of UN usurpation of American sovereignty - these were some of the issues that defined the struggle during that era and continue to threaten us even today.

Over the years we've made tremendous progress and have witnessed such remarkable victories as Heller and McDonald.  Some form of concealed carry is now almost universal across our Nation and more people than ever enjoy the security of being armed wherever they go.  Participation in the shooting sports has exploded and the marketplace for the gear we love has never been stronger.  Many things have contributed to these successes - everything from arguments in courtrooms, boardrooms, and town halls to emails and phone calls from folks like us.  It all makes a difference.

Everything we do, everyday, to preserve our freedom makes a difference.  Sure, we have the big cannons like the NRA and SAF, but they can't do it all.  We rely on them to be our voice in places we can't go and at times when we can't be there, but they can't be everywhere all of the time.  Ultimately the responsibility to preserve not only our 2A but also all of the liberties that define our way of life is our responsibility.  It's your job and my job to fight to keep the enemy at bay.  We do the best we can, for as long as we can, and then when we feel that there's nothing left in us... we get up the next day and do this same sh!t all over again because we know we have no choice.

Stay strong, stay in the fight, and never give up.  We would have lost long ago if it hadn't been for people like you and all of the rest of us who poke 'em in the eye every chance we get.

[fatbaldguy]

I, for one, am tired of canned responses to specific and defined questions and points of fact.  Portman's staffers must know me by name now.  I'm trying to gain access to 'the man' himself to get answers.

[Sponsor]

[Frosty]

D. Frankenstein won't read or reply to any mail unless you are from Kommifornia. I knew better because it happened in the past regarding correspondence with her, but I sent her an email anyway in hopes that going thru the link posted would result in success. But, I must be insane because I keep doing the same thing over & over (only 2x's) expecting a different result.
Does that put me on the gun buying banned list? What I do is use a random address from there or use my sisters old address as I have done in the past.

This is the response I got from D. Frankenstein.

Thank you for sending me your electronic mail message. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

Because of the volume of e-mail that is received by my office, we (She must have a mouse or more Marxist/socialists in her pocket) can only respond to email that includes a California postal address. Please resend the text of your e-mail message, including your postal address, and I will respond to you as soon as possible.

Should you need additional information about the Congress, or my offices in Washington and California, please visit my homepage on the World Wide Web. The address is http://feinstein.senate.gov.

Thank you again for contacting me, and I hope you will continue to do so in the future.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

[Jrlobo]

We all are getting pretty much the same responses. I get automated responses thanking me for interest from the Democrats and personal responses from the few Republicans who agree with me. Today the MD state senate passed the Democrat Gov's harsh gun ban on "assault weapons and mags over 10" after Oct 1, "assault weapon" registration for currrent owners by Jan 1 2014, and a $25 license for new handguns w/finger printing,  etc. adnauseum. The measure passed 28 to 19 (with the 12 Republicans and 7 Democrats in the minority). Now, it goes to the house of delegates, and from there to the governor for signing. The handwriting is on the wall here for all to see.

MB, you are right. We must develop strategies that go beyond the 2A issue by itself and inflict economic damage wherever we can. The only thing that counts here is money. We will also have to get this as a referendum on the next ballot, but I know that will be futile as well. There are just too many Baltimorons in this state who rely on the government teat. They will do what they are told by the state government (as long as the Democrats are in power). So, I ask any of you that come to Maryland to hunt, fish or even to get crab cakes to not do so any more. I ask those Marylanders on this forum to not buy your hunting and fishing licenses this year, to not buy your hunting, shooting and fishing supplies from any store in this state, and that includes Beretta, Stoeger Arms and BassPro. Further, please take your vacations in gun friendly states, not Maryland. If you are traveling from NY to FL or reverse, gas up outside this state (the state is narrow enough to allow you to do that) and don't stop to eat here. We Marylanders are trapped, but the rest of you are not. If you do any of these things, let the state know that you are and why.

If any of you need us to reciprocate for your state, let us know. I've already informed NY via their travel website of my intentions, for example. If enough of us do this then the message will start to sink in: gun control doesn't pay!