An email reply from the carpetbagger in office.
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Dear Mr. xxxxxx:
Thank you for contacting me about the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
On February 14th, 2018, 17 people, many of them children, tragically lost their lives while over a dozen more were wounded after a lone gunman carried an AR-15 rifle into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and opened fire. I am heartbroken and grieve with those affected by this dreadful day.
Our nation has witnessed senseless tragedy after senseless tragedy at the hands of merciless gunmen, many of them in schools, while too many in elected office ignore cries for action. We can't keep going on like this. Virginians are all too familiar with the horrific toll of gun violence, and I am so inspired by the young leaders from the Commonwealth, Florida, and all across America speaking out and saying enough is enough. They are mobilizing and calling for urgent action to protect our families from gun violence. The unified voices of these young Americans are loud and clear: we must act now.
I'm proud to be their partner in this fight. While no single legislative fix can wholly eliminate violence in this country, Congress must take comprehensive steps to dramatically reduce the risk of these horrible tragedies. I have cosponsored several pieces of legislation that I believe would take the right steps to make communities safer in the future. These proposals include limits on combat-style weapons and high-capacity magazines; a repeal of a law to shield gun manufacturers from liability; strengthening the background check process for gun purchases; a ban on bump stocks; and closing loopholes that allow domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons. I also support funding for improved mental health services and am open to any number of other commonsense proposals to reduce gun violence.
One proposal that has been discussed in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, including by the President, is to arm teachers. I do not support this idea because I have not seen evidence that arming teachers would prevent these tragedies, and I have heard widespread opposition from educators who want to focus on teaching their students. Further, mass shootings are not limited to schools, and we must focus on preventing unstable individuals from possessing weapons intended to inflict mass casualties.
I remain passionate about this because April 16th, 2007, was the worst day of my life-when 32 people were shot and killed at Virginia Tech. Nearly 11 years later, there are far too many "worst days" in America. The public supports commonsense rules, and so do the vast majority of gun owners. I will continue to work to bring about a comprehensive approach that will strengthen the safety of our communities. As a gun owner myself, I know that you can be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment without tolerating the gun tragedies that are too often a part of our daily lives.
Thank you once again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Tim Kaine
