Senators take their stance on banning assault rifles
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TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- A national conversation on gun control has been taking place since the shooting in Connecticut.
Many people argue this is the watershed moment that should put in place a ban on assault weapons.
Dianne Mabry has owned a gun store in the Mid-Columbia for years.
Gun control has been all the chatter around the store ever since Friday's shooting. Diane's opinion hasn't wavered.
She says, "We don't need any more control. We're already legislated enough as it is."
But many others would disagree. In the wake of the massacre - many say now is the time for a change in access to assault weapons.
I talked with politicians who represent you. Some were unavailable in person or on the phone due to fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol.
Senator Maria Cantwell quickly stated she would support a ban on assault rifles. She helped move the Brady Bill in the early 90's, which made it law to require background checks to purchase handguns.
Senator Patty Murray is also pushing for a ban on assault weapons.
She said, She "will vote for ban as soon as she can get a bill on the Senate floor."
Our state senate position is open but State Representative Brad Klippert feels strongly that what happened in Connecticut shouldn't change our systems in Washington.
"I would not be in support of gun control.Because I'm a firm believer in the Constitution of the United States."
He feels the guns aren't the problem, it's the people who decide to commit murder.
U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings is also against a ban. He sent this statement, ".. The right to bear arms is no less sacred of a constitutional right as the right to free speech or freedom of the press."
For those who still want change, Representative Klippert is drafting a different kind of legislation, to add a mental health evaluation requirement to anyone who threatens someone. It's believed the shooter in Connecticut had threatened his mother before.
"When you threaten to murder someone that close to you that should give us the right to detain and evaluate someone who makes those threats," Klippert explains.
Representative Larry Haler, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden have not released an official position. Dianna hopes there are no changes out of what happened at Sandy Brook Elementary.
"We won't be able to protect our homes, if we don't have the fire arms to do that," Dianna says.
To get all sides, we also contacted the local chapter of the N-R-A here in the Tri-Cities. In a statement, they said a ban on assault weapons is not necessary because most times the guns used in massacres were not obtained legally in the first place.
Many people argue this is the watershed moment that should put in place a ban on assault weapons.
Dianne Mabry has owned a gun store in the Mid-Columbia for years.
Gun control has been all the chatter around the store ever since Friday's shooting. Diane's opinion hasn't wavered.
She says, "We don't need any more control. We're already legislated enough as it is."
But many others would disagree. In the wake of the massacre - many say now is the time for a change in access to assault weapons.
I talked with politicians who represent you. Some were unavailable in person or on the phone due to fiscal cliff negotiations at the Capitol.
Senator Maria Cantwell quickly stated she would support a ban on assault rifles. She helped move the Brady Bill in the early 90's, which made it law to require background checks to purchase handguns.
Senator Patty Murray is also pushing for a ban on assault weapons.
She said, She "will vote for ban as soon as she can get a bill on the Senate floor."
Our state senate position is open but State Representative Brad Klippert feels strongly that what happened in Connecticut shouldn't change our systems in Washington.
"I would not be in support of gun control.Because I'm a firm believer in the Constitution of the United States."
He feels the guns aren't the problem, it's the people who decide to commit murder.
U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings is also against a ban. He sent this statement, ".. The right to bear arms is no less sacred of a constitutional right as the right to free speech or freedom of the press."
For those who still want change, Representative Klippert is drafting a different kind of legislation, to add a mental health evaluation requirement to anyone who threatens someone. It's believed the shooter in Connecticut had threatened his mother before.
"When you threaten to murder someone that close to you that should give us the right to detain and evaluate someone who makes those threats," Klippert explains.
Representative Larry Haler, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden have not released an official position. Dianna hopes there are no changes out of what happened at Sandy Brook Elementary.
"We won't be able to protect our homes, if we don't have the fire arms to do that," Dianna says.
To get all sides, we also contacted the local chapter of the N-R-A here in the Tri-Cities. In a statement, they said a ban on assault weapons is not necessary because most times the guns used in massacres were not obtained legally in the first place.
Too many Hard working Americans earned the right to own and appreciate these and several other firearms, aren't going to give up their weapons because of some idiot 20 year old and his negligent mother. This is a very sad and tragic moment in history. The senators can start by putting Christ back into the schools and downsizing. The lack of control starts in the schools. We could also do without the queers and the ACLU! Man, Woman and Family values within a Christian environment does the heart good!
Banning specific types of weapons or creating new legislation will do nothing. If it truly were so easy to rid the world of bad things we would have no crime at all. Banning/legislating firearms will merely create another black market where criminals will have no trouble at all obtaining anything they desire. It is the law abiding citizen that gets hurt by restrictive law. When are people going to wake up to the fact that it is PEOPLE not weapons that are the real danger?
More gun control will not help...the guns for Newtown, Portland Mall and Columbine were stoletn.
9/11 and Okahoma bombing had no guns and look at the destructions..
Ck out Rep. Richardson's Newsletter
http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson/newsletter/newsletters_2012/newsletter_121712.htm