Getting answers on guns from NC’s U.S. senators and representatives ... or not

Anne Smiley
·2 min read
192
Gun control activists rally near the U.S. Capitol calling for a federal ban on assault weapons on July 13, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Gun control activists rally near the U.S. Capitol calling for a federal ban on assault weapons on July 13, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The text of the Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Written in 1791, was this meant to allow mass murders of innocent people with assault weapons?

I needed answers from my federal representatives of a simple question: “Why do you not support banning assault weapons?”

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I called the offices of each representative twice and the following is what I received.

From U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, I got nothing. Well, he is retiring.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina.
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis wrote back a form letter in support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which greatly strengthens mental health services, but also affirms the protection of the Second Amendment. This law allows for the purchase of assault weapons for persons under 21 who have no history of mental health issues and also requires a heightened evidentiary hearing to justify crisis intervention.

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Does this make anyone feel safer?

Congressman Richard Hudson, whose congressional district includes Fayetteville, offered a denial in his weekly newsletter. He again refers to the ban on assault weapons as ineffective. Yet, when this law was enacted in 1994, there was a drop in mass murders by 43%. When it expired in 2004, the jump was to 239%!

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Currently, the Democrats in Congress are trying once again to pass a law banning assault weapons. I still do not have an answer from the Republican representatives about why they do not support this, which will keep at least some people from murdering masses of innocent people.

Anne Smiley
Anne Smiley

I am assuming they fear people will not be able to keep and bear arms. I do not think our forefathers meant to include AK-47s.

Anne Smiley is a leader in Organizing Against Racism in Cumberland County. She lives in Fayetteville.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Getting answers on guns from NC’s U.S. senators and representatives