Response to my Representative **UPDATED**

[jlrhiner]

As many of you know, I'm a lifelong Union Member who is now retired. I actively worked to support 2nd Amendment issues within the democratic party, giving the perspective of the working men and women that populated my organization.

We all are aware of the situation we are facing, in light of recent events.

This evening I received an email from my Senator, Claire McCaskill, wanting my opinion on standing up to the NRA and common sense gun laws. The following is my reply.

I would like to hear your thoughts on it, and any wrongs I may have included. Don't waste your time commenting on politics, It'll just get the thread shut down.


"Claire,
It was my understanding that the names placed on the “Terror Watch List” AKA the “no Fly List” averaged approximately 35 to 40% inaccuracies. That translates to me that not all of the names placed on those list are terrorists. Therefore, without due-process, American Citizens will be denied a basic right based on the decision of a non-elected bureaucrat, with no means of reconciliation. That is unacceptable to me. It upsets me greatly that my own government via elected representatives such as yourself (who I might add I’ve supported in every election you’ve participated in) would rather discriminate against Law Abiding Americans than focus on the problem.

As a Law Abiding Citizen, Veteran of the U.S. Navy, Life Member of the NRA and yes, a life long Democrat, It is important that you understand that the typical stereotype of a Democratic voter does not exist. The catch phrase, “Common Sense Gun Control”, has become an often bantered rallying cry used by senior members of our party to stir the loins of the faithful. Recently I saw a statistic that claimed 355 mass shootings had happened this year. How could that be? The media would have been in a tizzy! Surprise, surprise! 348 of that number were gang related. What is the agenda behind that? Why are 22 year-old gang members killed in gang related activities (or 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 year olds for that matter) included in the "children killed by guns" reports?

It has become painfully evident that one group of people are trying to write legislation about something of which they know nothing. At present, there are 20,000 odd gun laws on the books, mostly ignored. Why does the Department of Justice continually fail to prosecute those who violate existing gun laws? But you already know the answer to that.

What I would like to bring to your attention is the fact that you represent a district in the mid-west. Your support base is not made from the Leftist Elite on either coast. We’re working men and women who, for the most part, inhabit rural areas. Responsible firearms ownership is a way of life, passed down from Fathers and Mothers to their Son and Daughters over many generations. In all of my family history of firearms ownership not a single individual has ever committed a crime or murdered anyone. That is the heritage of gun ownership that has been passed down to my grandchildren.

The tragedies of San Bernardino, Sandy Hook Et. Al., are abhorred by every American and every decent human being in the world. But while this was happening, 200+ million guns in the hands of private citizens were not used in crimes. While the previous acts were perpetrated by either those with untreated mental illness, such as Adam Lanza, James Holmes, Jared Loughner and Elliot Rodgers, or terrorists such as Abdul Mujahid Muhammad, Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan, Tamerlan & Dsokhar Tsarnaev and Elton Simpson & Nadir Soofi who are sworn to destroy of my Country and my way of life, I and 350 million other Americans, didn’t do anything wrong.

Please reconsider your support of the so-called “Common Sense Gun Laws” touted so loudly in sound bites and video clips. The vast majority of your voter base won’t fall for it anymore. We see that every mass shooting that has happened recently has occurred in an area that prohibits Law Abiding Citizens from carrying legally owned firearms. Every law passed in the last 30 years under the guise of gun control did nothing to stop criminal activities, but put additional restrictions on law-abiding people. If you or your colleagues really want to reduce the number of mass shootings, work towards national reciprocity of CCW licenses. Or better yet, pass a National Right-To-Carry bill and eliminate the so called "Victim Zones" that seen to be favored targets.

If you would like, I would be happy to answer any questions you have on this issue, as it appears to me that whoever is advising you is doing you an injustice.
I am available at ****************,
or by cell at **********.

Thank you for requesting my input.
Respectfully,
James L. “Jim” Rhiner

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Great letter.......Bet you don't get a response.....Tried the same here....Got a BS form letter that meant nothing.

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by Mike, SC Hunter

Great letter.......Bet you don't get a response.....Tried the same here....Got a BS form letter that meant nothing.

I responded directly on the email that was sent to me. Now, I'm not naive enough to believe she actually read what she sent out, nor will she read my response unless one of her staff recognizes my name and hands it to her. That's why I wanted some feedback, so I could hardcopy it directly to her.

[HorizontalMike]

Jim,
I, as you, am a life long Democrat, U.S. Navy veteran, and gun owner/lover. I support nearly everything you said above, EXCEPT your comment about linking terrorists with "mental defectives". Do note that LESS THAN 5% of violent crimes are committed by the "mental defectives" you label as terroists, and that 95% of violent crimes are committed by those "normal" folks.

As a 100% Disabled Vet with a service connected traumatic brain injury, I cringe when I hear folks lumping me into some kind of "terrorist" group. The reason I have what I have is because I served this country in time of war and I do not appreciate the misguided allegation.

Please make note of it.

[jlrhiner]

Mike,
That was not my intent and I will correct that in the morning.

(That's why I like running ideas by the board)

[Old TexMex]

Jim, I respect your efforts. As a resident native of South Texas, I have pled my case successfully on different issues over the years to my elected representatives. (Thank you Senator Gramm (R-Texas) retired).

You'll know that you're making headway if they call you. Otherwise some low level flack is stuffing envelopes to send out to anyone, the only thing they read is the return address.

As far as getting an elected representative to break from party lines on a key issue of your party (removal of firearms and the destruction of the 2nd Amendment) I hope and pray for your success. I believe McCaskill said recently "Men should shut the hell up." Let's hope she didn't mean it.

Add'm: here's some misinformation from KC that needs clearing up--
Claire McCaskill calls for more gun control | The Kansas City Star

[g8rb8]

Short answer: Your letter looks good. Send it off to McCaskill. It's rational, accurate, and personal.

Longer answer: I understand HorizontalMike's critique but given the overwhelming majority, if not all, of the incidents that are stirring up discussion about more gun control involve mental illness or terrorists your letter is spot on. Perhaps you could substitute the words "mentally ill persons" for "mental defectives."

Good luck getting a response. Enclosing a large check might help. Cynical. No.
Realistic. Yes.

Afterthoughts:
1. The "no-fly" list includes roughly 50,000 people.
2. The "terrorist watch" list includes 1,000,000 + people. "And more than 40 percent of those names (280,000 people) were found to have “no recognized terrorist group affiliation.”
source - WND yesterday.
3. I would guess that a significant number of people of the "no fly" list are already prohibited from buying guns, assuming they fill out the NICS background check honestly.

[HorizontalMike]

Originally Posted by g8rb8

Short answer: Your letter looks good. Send it off to McCaskill. It's rational, accurate, and personal.

Longer answer: I understand HorizontalMike's critique but given the overwhelming majority, if not all, of the incidents that are stirring up discussion about more gun control involve mental illness or terrorists your letter is spot on. Perhaps you could substitute the words "mentally ill persons" for "mental defectives."
...

Please understand that it is YOUR PARANOIA that is driving folks similar to you all, to WANT to blame it ALL on a scapegoat group of folks YOU ALL want to label as "mental defectives" or the "mentally ill".

Please stop such blind biased accusations of which you truly know nothing about.

[jlrhiner]

Refined it a bit and added some things. What do you think now?

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by Mike, SC Hunter

Great letter.......Bet you don't get a response.....Tried the same here....Got a BS form letter that meant nothing.

I sent a letter like the OPs letter about a year ago to ''senator'' juan 'chuy' hinojosa, and I got back a form letter reply that basically said, we don't agree with your position, can't help. Last week they have the gall, to send me a letter asking for donations to his reelection bid.

Anyway, their ''reply'' to me just proves that this guys team, never really cared for reading my letter and input, though I took the time and made an effort to let them know how a constituent feels.

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

Refined it a bit and added some things. What do you think now?

Looks great to me. I wish I had your diplomatic writing skills.

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by the ringo kid

Looks great to me. I wish I had your diplomatic writing skills.

Sometimes I has to step back and re-combobulate

[HorizontalMike]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

Refined it a bit and added some things. What do you think now?

THANK YOU! Much better, and more factually accurate.

[Aticus]

Jim I like your letter but any comments I would make would just get me dinged. I'm about 10 miles east of you.

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by Aticus

Jim I like your letter but any comments I would make would just get me dinged. I'm about 10 miles east of you.

PM me if you need to. (Remember, I want her to actually read the letter)

[g8rb8]

Originally Posted by HorizontalMike

Please understand that it is YOUR PARANOIA that is driving folks similar to you all, to WANT to blame it ALL on a scapegoat group of folks YOU ALL want to label as "mental defectives" or the "mentally ill".

Please stop such blind biased accusations of which you truly know nothing about.

HorizontalMike,
Please accept my apologies. I have no intent or desire to unfairly label or blame any particular group. I agree the updated version of the letter is better and more accurate. Thank you for your military service.

[handejector]

A proofread-
Suggested changes in red.
Offered in good faith for you to use or discard......

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

Dear Senator McCaskill,
It is my understanding that the names placed on the “Terror Watch List” AKA the “no Fly List” average approximately 35 to 40% inaccuracies. That means not all of the names placed on those lists are terrorists. Therefore, without due-process, American Citizens will be denied a basic right based on the decision of a non-elected bureaucrat<delete comma> with no recourse.
That is unacceptable to me.
It upsets me greatly that my government, via elected representatives such as yourself (whom I have supported in every election), would rather discriminate against Law Abiding Americans than focus on the problem.

As a Law Abiding Citizen, Veteran of the U.S. Navy, Life Member of the NRA, and a life long Democrat, it is important that you understand that the typical stereotype of a Democratic voter does not exist. The catch phrase “Common Sense Gun Control” is an often bantered rallying cry used by senior members of our party to stir the emotions of the faithful. Recently I saw a statistic that claimed 355 mass shootings had happened this year. How could that be? The media would have been in a tizzy! Surprise, surprise! 348 of that number were gang related. What is the agenda behind that? Why are 22 year-old gang members killed in gang related activities (or 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 year olds) included in the "children killed by guns" reports?

It has become painfully evident that one group of people are trying to write legislation about something which they know nothing. At present, there are 20,000 plus gun laws on the books. Most are ignored. Why does the Department of Justice continually fail to prosecute those who violate existing gun laws? <DELETE- But you already know the answer to that.>

I would like to remind you that you represent a district in the mid-west. Your support base does not include the Leftist Elite on either coast. We’re working men and women who, for the most part, inhabit rural areas. Responsible firearms ownership is a part of life, passed down from Fathers and Mothers to their children generation after generation. In all of my family history <delete-of firearms ownership> not a single member has ever committed a crime or murdered anyone. That is the heritage of gun ownership that has been passed down to my grandchildren.

The tragedies of San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, et al, are abhorred by every American and every decent human being in the world. While these atrocities were occuring, more than 200 million guns in the hands of private citizens were not being used in crimes. While these heinous acts were perpetrated by those with untreated mental illness, such as Adam Lanza, James Holmes, Jared Loughner and Elliot Rodgers, or terrorists such as Abdul Mujahid Muhammad, Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan, Tamerlan & Dsokhar Tsarnaev and Elton Simpson & Nadir Soofi, I and 350 million other Americans, didn’t do anything wrong.

Please reconsider your support of the so-called “Common Sense Gun Laws” touted so loudly in sound bites and video clips. The vast majority of your voter base won’t fall for it anymore. We see that every mass shooting that has happened recently has occurred in an area that prohibits Law Abiding Citizens from carrying legally owned firearms. Every law passed in the last 30 years under the guise of gun control did nothing to stop criminal activities, but put additional restrictions on law-abiding people. If you really want to reduce the number of mass shootings, work towards national reciprocity of CCW licenses. Or better yet, pass a National Right-To-Carry bill and eliminate the so called "Victim Zones" that seem to be favored targets.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have on this issue, as it appears to me that you are not getting completely factual information.
I am available at ****************,
or by cell at **********.

Thank you for requesting my input.

Sincerely,
James L. “Jim” Rhiner

[jlrhiner]

Thanks, Lee. Thats what I needed.

[handejector]

I flubbed a sentence badly in the 3rd para.
It should read something more like this-

It has become painfully evident that one group of people are trying to write legislation for an issue they know nothing.

[M29since14]

You flubbed again! The group IS.

[handejector]

Cut me some slack.
Do too bein a nativ born suthnur, that thare waz the bess I cud dew.

[handejector]

Originally Posted by M29since14

You flubbed again! The group IS.

I were mistaken?

[DevilDog72]

Jim,

Good stuff............... good luck with that.
I fear the bulk of our elected officials could care less what you or I think. They are just going through the motions to give the impression they give a ****.... rip

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by handejector

I were mistaken?

Don't worry fella's, I'll re-write it in English

[da gimp]

Jim, Lee thanks for the excellent post & ideas for the letter to Claire. Jim, did you thing about sending it to the St. Louis newspaper's editorial page & the Kansas City Stars editorial page? I figure the odds on getting either to run it are as slim as getting Claire to change her position on firearms... but it never hurts to try...

I'm much the same as Jim... retired union construction worker... and always thought of myself as a Blue Dog Democrat... and like Jim.. I never hesitated to remind whichever local, state or national politician I wrote to, or whose office I called... that most union construction workers are conservative, are very pro-firearms and we always vote in an election & remember who supported our right to own guns...

[Aticus]

Originally Posted by handejector

I flubbed a sentence badly in the 3rd para.
It should read something more like this-

It has become painfully evident that one group of people are trying to write legislation for an issue they know nothing.

Lee, how about: It has become painfully evident that one group of people are trying to write legislation for an issue about which they know nothing.

[Comrad]

I'm afraid they are in the business of writing legislation that is most likely to get them reelected.

[retnavyshooter]

I wish you the best in your quest. I put little faith in our legislators paying attention to (1) constituent, numbers count, hence the unions, NRA etc.

[dougb1946]

with no recourse.

or "no due process", as should be required when losing a civil right.

My experience is that letters and e-mails tend to get screened by flunkies who check mark pro or anti on a spread sheet. The elected one sees the spread sheet, and you get added to their mailing list for Christmas cards.

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by dougb1946

...The elected one sees the spread sheet, and you get added to their mailing list for Christmas cards.

And the list soliciting funds for re-election.

[DevilDog72]

well.... uh....just how can we fix their inattention? I have tried letters, phone calls event went to one St. Sen office just to be ignored.

Only one to answer any questions was Sen. Ted Cruz's flunkies.

[jlrhiner]

I am by no means an authority on congress critters, but being involved with the election process by supporting the candidates is the best way to get their attention. And not just by writing a check. Get involved with the legwork too. If your congress critter recognizes you as an active supporter, you stand a much better chance of making your point.

[mercury37]

And if they recognize that you will work to take votes away from them because of their stance on issues you will get attention and feed back.

[Kevin J.]

Great letter, I wishI could give you more than one like. Just a note to you as a life long democrat. This is not our fathers, or even our Democratic Party any more. JFK was a card carrying NRA member, strong national defense, welfare as a hand up not hand out, tax cut democrat. Not like the bunch we have now. With that said this is not TR's Republican Party either.

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by Kevin J.

Great letter, I wishI could give you more than one like. Just a note to you as a life long democrat. This is not our fathers, or even our Democratic Party any more. JFK was a card carrying NRA member, strong national defense, welfare as a hand up not hand out, tax cut democrat. Not like the bunch we have now. With that said this is not TR's Republican Party either.

It was formerly NRA's practice to present incoming presidents with an honorary lifetime NRA membership. In fact, NRA presented Kennedy with a custom M1 Garand rifle, which he accepted. I doubt that NRA has done that recently. Wonder what happened to JFK's M1?

[magsherman]

Vote for someone else.

[Kevin J.]

Originally Posted by DWalt

Wonder what happened to JFK's M1?

Probably ended up like his golf clubs, destroyed, remember the episode of Seinfeld where Kramer and Newhouse ended destroying them.

[DWalt]

It's sad that so much effort must be put into writing such a letter, when its fate will be to go directly into the circular file, and be (maybe) responded to by a meaningless form letter.

[Sconnie]

Originally Posted by DWalt

It's sad that so much effort must be put into writing such a letter, when its fate will be to go directly into the circular file, and be (maybe) responded to by a meaningless form letter.

And a fundraising pledge card. But if you (the OP) feel it is the way to go then go for it and prove me wrong.

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by Sconnie

And a fundraising pledge card. But if you (the OP) feel it is the way to go then go for it and prove me wrong.

I'm not claiming this as a win, But you'll notice she (Claire) was not among the co-sponsors of the so-called "2015 Assault Weapons Ban".

Hide under your chairs if you wish, but I accomplish more by being involved.

[Old TexMex]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

I am by no means an authority on congress critters, but being involved with the election process by supporting the candidates is the best way to get their attention. And not just by writing a check. Get involved with the legwork too. If your congress critter recognizes you as an active supporter, you stand a much better chance of making your point.

With only a little bit of tongue in cheek, the actual number of zeros on the check will have an effect on most politicians.

[Sconnie]

Originally Posted by Sconnie

...if you (the OP) feel it is the way to go then go for it and prove me wrong.

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

I'm not claiming this as a win, But you'll notice she (Claire) was not among the co-sponsors of the so-called "2015 Assault Weapons Ban".

Hide under your chairs if you wish, but I accomplish more by being involved.

Not hiding, just pessimistic as usual. Thus the "go for it" and I hope you succeed in swaying her opinion and more importantly, her vote(s) in the future.

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by DWalt

It was formerly NRA's practice to present incoming presidents with an honorary lifetime NRA membership. In fact, NRA presented Kennedy with a custom M1 Garand rifle, which he accepted. I doubt that NRA has done that recently. Wonder what happened to JFK's M1?

Its in my gun cabinet.

[da gimp]

Way to go Jim.... ya got something done...congrats sir.

[g8rb8]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

I'm not claiming this as a win, But you'll notice she (Claire) was not among the co-sponsors of the so-called "2015 Assault Weapons Ban".

Hide under your chairs if you wish, but I accomplish more by being involved.

Congratulations on being involved. It's possible that you had an effect on her actions however don't be fooled by her one-time vote on the matter.

"In fact, McAuliffe was one of the first Democrats to deliver an unabashedly liberal message on gun control in a swing state — and on the Fairfax-based NRA’s home turf. Winkler, the law processor, said others have followed a similar path, including Kaine, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and former senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)." Washington Post, November 24, 2015.

Two prior NRA ratings for McCaskill have been an F. I did not look up her most current rating.

[franzas]

I don't want to be overly political with respect to the forum rules, so I'll keep it short:

Be an active voter in primaries.
Nice letter.