A Reply From Senator Cornyn

I have been writing my Congress Critters via email and fax quite a bit lately to express my views on all the proposed gun control legislation that is on the books and in progress. 

My most recent communications have concerned the potential of mandatory background check legislation being submitted by Senator Tom Coburn and the Anti Gun Democrats.  I see mandatory background checks on all private firearm sales as being the "compromise" that actually makes it into law this year.

The following is Senator Cornyn's reply to my latest email:

Dear Mr. Rost:


Thank you for contacting me regarding federal firearms laws. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

As a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, I believe it is essential to safeguard the law-abiding citizen's constitutional right to own and use firearms designed for legitimate purposes such as hunting, target shooting, collecting, and self-protection. Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms.

It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has upheld the will of our Founders and re-affirmed the ideals our country was established upon. The Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller provides a greater guarantee that Americans' Constitutional rights remain secure from federal government intrusion. I was proud to sign an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in that case stating an individual’s right to bear arms is fundamental. This historic ruling continues to have implications far beyond the District of Columbia. In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in McDonald v. City of Chicago to strike down the arbitrary gun ban in Chicago—and thereby affirm that the Second Amendment safeguards against state and local encroachments on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

As a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, I have firsthand knowledge of crime-fighting policies that work, and I believe that citizens' Second Amendment rights should not be restricted because of the actions of criminals. Rather, we must focus our attention on the source of violent crime: criminals who use firearms to commit crimes. I believe that strictly enforcing the law—and meting out tougher sentences for career criminals and those who use firearms when committing crimes—will reduce crime more effectively than gun or equipment bans, which primarily serve to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue working with my colleagues to protect our Second Amendment rights. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN

United States Senator

517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

A very good canned response, and I am certain that Sen. Cornyn will do what he can to oppose an Assault Weapons Ban and any magazine capacity limit legislation.  What was not mentioned in this email was any mention of opposing or supporting mandatory background checks.

It appears that there is a strong opposition to an AWB and magazine capacity limitations on the Hill.  It also appears that universal background checks are on the table.

Please write your Congress Critter and let them know that you oppose any legislation that hinders the private sales of firearms.  Let them know that mandatory background checks can only be accomplished with universal firearm registration and that we will not register our guns.  Be as forceful as you are comfortable, but let them know that you do oppose mandatory background checks on private firearm sales.

If you happen to support mandatory background checks, leave a comment.  Let us have some reasonable discourse.  Give me a chance to show you the error of your position.