My message to Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO): “Punishing the innocent”

Note to readers: you have my full permission and blessing to adapt this message to be sent to your Senators and Representative if you desire.

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Madam Senator McCaskill,

As you know times in the United States are currently bleak. A major event that occurred in Connecticut has pitted American against American, neighbor against neighbor. At the same time the government to which you were recently re-elected is considering restrictions on the liberties of all Americans as punishment for the actions of a few.

I am, of course, talking about firearms.

Now I’m not writing this message to give you information you’ve likely already heard from thousands of other constituents, nor will I be threatening to not vote for you in 2018, presuming you seek re-election. I’m not attempting to change your view on guns, whatever that view might be, as I’m likely to not have much success.

Instead I want to appeal to your sense of fairness, justice, and most importantly liberty.

It is not uncommon for laws and/or regulations to be enacted in the wake of tragedies. When the dust settles every speck is meticulously examined to piece together all of the details and devise ways of trying to prevent them in the future. Numerous ideas are offered, and they will be weighed typically on party lines — and by that I mean the party of the person who introduced a particular bill or amendment presenting a particular idea — and votes might go accordingly.

Typically these bills and laws have been about consumer protections. New regulations around the manufacture of various items has led to increased safety across the entirety of the marketplace. In the end, though, the consumer pays the price of new government regulation, through decreased selection or increased costs. These are the tradeoffs. But in the end, Madam Senator, the citizen over whom the government of the United States has jurisdiction pays the price of all government regulation and laws, regardless of whether that price is expressed in increased taxes, increased prices in the marketplace, or a reduction in liberty.

It is no secret the views many hold on firearms. Senator Feinstein said in 1994 that if she could have gotten the votes, she would’ve gone for a bill calling for a blanket ban and confiscation of all firearms, completely in violation of the Second Amendment. Recent events play right into her desires as the United States is currently alight with anti-gun sentiment. Emotion reigns and reason and rationality have taken a back seat.

And following that vein, members of the government of the United States seek to punish every law-abiding firearms owner. I’ve called it “punishing the innocent”. And I feel it’s a perfect description.

The United States enjoys millions of law-abiding firearms owners, most of whom cannot fathom the idea of taking even a single life, even if that life is taken in the defense of another. But if necessary, they will to use their firearms to defend the lives of others against those intent on doing harm. Members of the Senate and House seek to strip them of that ability, which will leave us all at the mercy of those intent to do harm.

With all respect and courtesy, Madam Senator, I appeal to your sense of fairness and liberty. Please do not let the Congress of the United States pass legislation that only seeks to punish the millions of firearms owners who have done no wrong. Any legislation restricting firearms does just that, especially when it is enacted in the wake of a tragedy by those who think they have the answers. History has shown that gun restrictions do not do any good, and have done harm. And as has been demonstrated in 2012, “gun free zones” can be rendered anything but by someone seeking to do harm, and render helpless anyone in their path.

Again firearms restrictions punish the innocent millions for the actions of an insane individual. Please do not let Congress punish the millions of gun owners because one person flipped.

Note: Read the reply I received (here) from her office, along with my reply to that (here).