Is Mark Warner Following Joe Manchin in Walking Back Commits on Gun Bans

Shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner followed West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin in suggesting he may be open to banning semi-automatic modern sporting rifles (commonly inaccurately called "assault weapons").  This letter forwarded by a VSSA member makes you wonder if he is also now trying to walk back those comments like Senator Manchin since Warner makes no mention of gun bans in the response.

From: "Sen. Mark Warner's Office"
Date: Jan 11, 2013 4:51:50 PM
Subject: Responding to your message
To: ______________

Dear Mr. __________,

 

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut and your views on gun control.

 

On December 14, 2012, 20 innocent children and six adults lost their lives in one of the worst, most tragic shootings to ever occur in the United States. As a parent of three daughters, this was the ultimate nightmare. Like the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, this tragedy unfolded in what was once regarded as a safe haven free of crime and violence: a school.

 

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I own firearms and I have an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. However, I also recognize that, like with many of our constitutional rights, our Second Amendment rights are not without limits. It is unfortunate that a tragedy of this magnitude is what is needed to prompt action, but we need to have a serious discussion on how to best avoid these kinds of mass shootings in the future. The status quo is not acceptable.

 

I believe our discussion should cover many issues. We can start by improving the existing criminal background check system. Currently, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is woefully incomplete, with many states failing to submit available records on persons who may be disqualified from purchasing or possessing firearms. With a more complete background check system, we can keep firearms out of the hands of those who have been deemed unfit to possess them.

 

In addition, we can take common sense measures such as passing the CAMPUS Safety Act (S. 3682), which I introduced last year. That bill would establish a national center for campus public safety within the Department of Justice to serve as a resource center and assist schools and universities in developing campus safety plans and threat assessment tools. We also need to look at changes to our mental health system so we can provide help to those with dangerous mental illnesses before it is too late. There will not be a single solution, but all of these issues and others need to be part of the conversation and I urge you to continue to express your views as we move forward.

 

Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website at http://warner.senate.gov.

 

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Please continue to contact Senator Warner and make your views heard that you oppose any new restrictions on our rights.