You can figure out how long this response took, but it is a good response. Like she says, we may not agree, but she lays out her reasoning and it is not the type of form letter response I get from Rep. Walz.
Dear Michael:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on gun ownership. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important issue.
I believe that the Second Amendment gives American citizens the right to own guns for collection, protection and sport. This right is an important part of our shared history and heritage, and should be protected. With that in mind, I supported the recent Heller Supreme Court decision which upheld an individual’s right to bear arms. And, as the former chief prosecutor of Minnesota's largest county, I have worked to enforce the gun laws already on the books.
As you know, an amendment was offered to the recent Department of Defense Authorization bill to allow citizens of any state with a concealed carry law to possess a firearm in any other state with a concealed carry law, regardless of whether the permit criteria were similar. While I have supported other gun ownership legislation in the past, including the recent vote to extend concealed carry laws to national parks, I was concerned that this one proposal would have undercut states’ rights.
We worked hard to develop standards to allow law abiding citizens in Minnesota to carry weapons. Minnesota currently has reciprocal arrangements with 15 other states so that individuals with permits from those states can legally carry concealed weapons in Minnesota; in most cases, the agreements also allow Minnesota residents reciprocal rights to possess weapons in other states. In determining which states’ permits ought to be accepted in Minnesota, our state Department of Public Safety considers several factors. I believe that our state is making good, informed decisions about the states with which we ought to have reciprocity. This is not a decision that the federal government ought to make for Minnesota.
While we may disagree on this amendment, I understand your concerns. I hope you understand that my decision was based solely on the principle of states’ rights. I respect your views and will keep them in mind as the Senate considers gun ownership issues in the future.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. One of the most important parts of my job is listening to what the people of Minnesota have to say to me. I am here in our nation’s capital to do the public’s business and to serve the people of our state. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator
Now we'll wait and see of Sen. Franken will bother responding. I had given up on this one weeks ago.
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