REply from PA Senator Bob Casey

[raljr1]

"Thank you for taking the time to contact me about H.R. 127, the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee introduced H.R. 127, the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act, on January 4, 2021. This bill creates a process for licensing and registering firearms and certain ammunition, requiring both firearm owners and individuals who were loaned a firearm to register and establish a plan for safely storing their firearms. Additionally, this bill would create a public database of all registered firearms and would institute licensing requirements for firearm ownership, including a minimum age of 21, a criminal background check and a certified training course, among others.

I support the Second Amendment right of law-abiding Americans to own guns for protection, sporting and collection. Like many Americans, I also believe we need common sense gun legislation that will help to prevent tragic mass shootings as well as the daily gun violence that takes the lives of approximately 40,000 Americans each year. Among these common sense measures, I support legislation to implement universal background checks, ensure the safe storage of firearms, ban military-style assault weapons and establish risk protection orders to prevent those who pose safety risks to themselves or others from possessing firearms. We are a Nation of people who come together, roll up our sleeves and solve difficult problems. We can pass smart measures to reduce gun violence while fully respecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

H.R. 127 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. There is currently no companion legislation in the Senate. Should this bill be introduced and come before the full Senate for consideration, I will keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.

For more information on this or other issues, I encourage you to visit my website, Home | Senator Bob Casey. I hope you will find this online office a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania."



Yes, he supports the 2nd Amendment......not so much.

[Leonard]

The 2nd amendment is to protect us against politicians like him, not sporting or collecting.

[Old_Cop]

What can I say about Bob Casey without a time out? Nothing.

[dwh]

It usually takes Mr.Casey and Mr.Doyle at least 6months to respond to my emails or letters. Its only going to get worse if Mr.Fetterman runs for senator.

[ladder13]

The news is really pushing the “ daily mass shootings”, at least around here.

Something big will be attempted in the next year as the anti’s, and their party, know their time is limited.

[Greyman50]

Simple, enforce current laws and PUNISH those that break them. Prompt fair trial, hang, shoot or whatever ????. Life in prison means life, not let out for any reason. Prisons changed to punish those sent there, work and education, No gyms, tv rooms.
Do not punish society as a whole for the crimes of a few. That is the issue.

[Heinz]

The new popularity of "public database of all registered firearms" is very troubling. I can see no advantage to law enforcement and innumerable problems.

As a former resident of Pa I am always, amused at how Casey quotes the proposed law and then refuses to make a clear statement on whether he supports it.

[LDM]

The same condescending double-talking letters I get back form the Dem senators that manage to keep getting re-elected by the stupid and ignorant.

[raljr1]

Here is the content of the letter I sent him.

 
The recent efforts by the House of Representatives to pass HR Bill 127 imposing draconian new regulations on the ownership of firearms and ammunition is attempt by a democratic legislature to impose their will on the populace to a negligible societal benefit.
 
According to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, there are approximately 120 million gun owners in the US. The vast majority of whom are law abiding citizens who have never committed a crime of any type.
 
The murder rate in the US has trended downward for the last 30 years, currently about one half of the rate it was in 1990. Additional legislation calling for the licensing of lawfully owned firearms will do virtually nothing to further reduce the rate of murders, and will do nothing to minimize the gun crimes committed in cities like Chicago, which already has strict gun control regulations in place, regularly ignored by criminals.
 
The additional financial burden placed upon owners of legally purchased firearms is not justifiable. Licensing requirements calling for psychological evaluations and references from family members prior to issuing a license to own a firearm, simply opens up an avenue for abuse. One sibling who dislikes another can prevent that sibling from exercising his constitutional right to bear arms and moral right to protect him or herself. Doctors with a predilection against guns, can veto a person’s rights.
 
The cost of the Canadian program, after which this seems to be modeled, has been many times the estimated cost to administer, running into the billions versus the few hundred million estimated. Recent data indicates that the Canadian government spent approximately $1.23 billion to register just over 7 million firearms. In the US, unofficial estimates range from 250 to 300 million guns. Using the lower of the two numbers of guns in the US, it could cost $43 billion to conduct a similar exercise in the US. Money that could be better spent creating jobs and opportunities in areas where poverty contributes to gun violence.
 
Another potential outcome, perhaps the wish of those who are supporting the bill, is a dramatic reduction in the purchase of firearms and ammunition. This also has a cost associated. The Pittman-Robertson Act, funded entirely by the purchase of firearms and ammunition has generated $14 billion in funding for wildlife preservation in this country. Much of that benefits hunters directly, but the benefit to our overall ecology and non-game species is, without question, very significant. If the government chooses to make it more costly for law abiding citizens to own firearms and to participate in the lawful sporting use of same, that cost will need to be borne by the entire populace in the form of additional taxation, or elimination of those programs supported by Pittman Roberson.
 
As a longtime resident of Pennsylvania and an avid hunter and gun owner. I respectfully request that you vote against such legislation, the sole purpose of which appears to be the further limiting of our constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms. Pennsylvania, with a large gun owning population, has always been at the forefront of protecting that right. As the Senator of this fine commonwealth, I implore you to help continue that leadership.


Robert

[bushmaster1313]

Dear Senator Casey

Why are you supporting gun laws on a National level that are more restrictive than those passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature on behalf of Pennsylvania’s residents.

Do you think we are too stupid to pass our own laws.

[lrrifleman]

Mr Casey has drunk the KoolAid. He needs to sober up and push crime control and support punishing criminals!

[peterGun]

Somebody ain’t voting in PA or these traitors wouldn’t be in office.

RKBA requires gun owners become a single issue voting block.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[03hemi]

What a moron, but that's PA for ya.

[smithra_66]

Originally Posted by lrrifleman

Mr Casey has drunk the KoolAid. He needs to sober up and push crime control and support punishing criminals!

Not allowed in his party. Not in 2021.

[GaryS]

His reply is full of weasel words, so the only conclusion I can make is that he is a weasel.

[Doc in Pa]

Casey is no good!

[Bozz10mm]

At least he clearly stated how he stands on gun control. Many politicians send out reply letters that leave you wondering.

[Doc in Pa]

Boss,Your right. At least we know he is no good.

[K Frame Keith]

I constantly pester the man. Wasted effort. Still doing it anyway.

[oneeyedpete]

Writing a politician these days is like relieving yourself in a dark suit..it will give you a warm feeling but no one notices

[Echo40]

I received a similar reply from Mike Doyle. I didn't vote for him because of his stances on Gun Control to begin with, so I'm honestly not surprised by it.

I'll continue to e-mail him regarding Gun Control, simply because it's not difficult to do so, and darned if I'm going to give him the satisfaction of thinking that any gunowners in PA approve of his support for Gun Control, much less that any of us will vote for him.

[peterGun]

I worked in Lake City (north west PA) with decent hard working guys who hunted and had guns, Hardcore Dems.

Why? Union members or family tradition.

Ohio has our own urban blighted dem strong holds yet we went big for Trump, it ain’t just lefty loons that voted Dem there’s gun owners as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[psquarejr]

Originally Posted by 03hemi

What a moron, but that's PA for ya.

Hey..... I'm offended by that remark!!! (But seriously, I'm not) I'm not a fan of Casey and I'm terrified of Fetterman!!!

[bummer]

Originally Posted by peterGun

Somebody ain’t voting in PA or these traitors wouldn’t be in office.

RKBA requires gun owners become a single issue voting block.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you look at how PA votes you will see the blue in Erie,Allegheny, State College, Harrisburg and the Philly area. The Southeast part of the state has a high D voting block

[Golphin]

Reading that was not good for my blood pressure and made me want to say bad things to Bob.

[brooktre]

Thank you for contacting me about the nomination of David Chipman to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). I appreciate hearing from you.
Like many Pennsylvanians, I have long been a supporter of the Second Amendment. Americans have an individual right to bear arms for self-protection, hunting, and recreation. During my time in the Senate, I have consistently defended Second Amendment rights. For instance, I have voted against a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms and for national concealed carry reciprocity.
That said, there have been renewed calls for Congress to take action to confront gun violence in the wake of mass shootings. I do believe that Congress can and should take steps to address this issue. Firearms should be used responsibly and safely. People who use guns in an illegal manner should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and firearms should be kept out of the hands of terrorists, convicted criminals, and the dangerously mentally ill.
To that end, ATF is the agency within the Department of Justice that enforces federal laws related to firearms, as well as those on alcohol, tobacco, explosives, and arson. Specific to firearms, ATF's actions include investigating and enforcing federal law against violent criminals and criminal organizations engaged in the illegal use, acquisition, and trafficking of firearms. Among its authorities, ATF is also responsible for regulating the firearm industry, which can significantly affect the rights and responsibilities of gun owners as well.
On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated David Chipman to be the Director of ATF. Currently, Mr. Chipman works as a senior policy advisor for Giffords, which is an advocacy group that focuses on firearm policy. Previously, Mr. Chipman served at ATF for twenty-five years in a variety of positions. Mr. Chipman's nomination is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am not a member. Please be assured that I understand your views, and will keep them in mind as the Senate considers Mr. Chipman for this important position.
Thank you again for your correspondence. Do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

We will see how he votes.

[quikdraw67]

I wrote Senator Toomey regarding Chipman.

I got the same letter you did.

But good news!

I got an update email today, he's voting AGAINST Chipman's nomination.

So, that's a good thing

[quikdraw67]

PS - I didn't bother writing Senator Casey.

I knew that would be a waste of bandwidth and my time.

[jeffrefrig]

"...roll up our sleeves..."? Gimme a break!
Our local elected officials make me wanna puke when I see them in a hard hat with sleeves rolled up talking with some local blue collar mill people. It's sickening. I've been union all my life and so far have never voted for anyone that my union has pushed for. I've let them know about it, too.