From: Senator_Specter@specter.senate.gov (Senator Specter)
To: taos@redrose.net
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 08:50:33 -0800
Subject: Re: Smith & Wesson Deal
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about gun control.
I welcome the opportunity to hear the opinions of my constituents and
to make my views known.
I recognize the reality of gun problems in the United States.
Because of this, I have taken significant measures to combat criminal
violence and the unlawful use of firearms. I have supported increases
in law enforcement efforts directed at prosecuting felons who carry
guns or use them to commit crimes as well as state and local gun
buy-back programs. I successfully urged my colleagues on the
Appropriations Committee to provide funding for a program called
Project Exile. This program is designed to provide additional federal
prosecutors to prosecute persons who violate federal firearms laws.
Project Exile also doubles the presence of agents with the U.S. Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to help in apprehending violators of
these laws.
Where there were real issues of public safety, I have opposed
many gun control measures which are essentially ineffective where a
sizable constituency of about 2 million Pennsylvanians strongly favor
Second Amendment rights.
The real answer to the gun-crime problem involves:
1) long sentences for career criminals,
2) realistic rehabilitation (education; job training;
counseling) for juveniles and non-career criminals and
3) long term action to change our culture of violence.
I wrote the Armed Career Criminal Act which provides sentences of
15 years to life for habitual felons found in possession of a gun
after three major convictions.
I have also sponsored legislation to provide education and
counseling for juveniles, and to provide job training and literacy
education for offenders scheduled for release from prison. When a
functional illiterate without a trade or skill leaves jail, that
person returns to a life of crime. In my capacity as Chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, I am
currently working with former Surgeon General Koop and Surgeon General
Satcher to address the problem of youth violence. I opposed measures
on the pending Senate juvenile crime bill because they were offered
without hearings or without adequate opportunity for analysis and some
involve complex Constitutional issues on freedom of speech.
I recognize the importance of this issue and I appreciate hearing
your concerns. I will keep your views in mind as I consider related
issues in the Senate. Thank you again for contacting my office.
Please do not hesitate to do so again with additional concerns.
My best.
Sincerely,
Alren Specter
United States Senator
To: taos@redrose.net
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 08:50:33 -0800
Subject: Re: Smith & Wesson Deal
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about gun control.
I welcome the opportunity to hear the opinions of my constituents and
to make my views known.
I recognize the reality of gun problems in the United States.
Because of this, I have taken significant measures to combat criminal
violence and the unlawful use of firearms. I have supported increases
in law enforcement efforts directed at prosecuting felons who carry
guns or use them to commit crimes as well as state and local gun
buy-back programs. I successfully urged my colleagues on the
Appropriations Committee to provide funding for a program called
Project Exile. This program is designed to provide additional federal
prosecutors to prosecute persons who violate federal firearms laws.
Project Exile also doubles the presence of agents with the U.S. Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to help in apprehending violators of
these laws.
Where there were real issues of public safety, I have opposed
many gun control measures which are essentially ineffective where a
sizable constituency of about 2 million Pennsylvanians strongly favor
Second Amendment rights.
The real answer to the gun-crime problem involves:
1) long sentences for career criminals,
2) realistic rehabilitation (education; job training;
counseling) for juveniles and non-career criminals and
3) long term action to change our culture of violence.
I wrote the Armed Career Criminal Act which provides sentences of
15 years to life for habitual felons found in possession of a gun
after three major convictions.
I have also sponsored legislation to provide education and
counseling for juveniles, and to provide job training and literacy
education for offenders scheduled for release from prison. When a
functional illiterate without a trade or skill leaves jail, that
person returns to a life of crime. In my capacity as Chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, I am
currently working with former Surgeon General Koop and Surgeon General
Satcher to address the problem of youth violence. I opposed measures
on the pending Senate juvenile crime bill because they were offered
without hearings or without adequate opportunity for analysis and some
involve complex Constitutional issues on freedom of speech.
I recognize the importance of this issue and I appreciate hearing
your concerns. I will keep your views in mind as I consider related
issues in the Senate. Thank you again for contacting my office.
Please do not hesitate to do so again with additional concerns.
My best.
Sincerely,
Alren Specter
United States Senator
. He speaketh with forked tongue