I've contacted my Rep (Rick Renzi) on several occasions, and of course several of those times were to voice my position on the AWB. I received this letter in the mail from him recently and thought I would share it with you folks.

Renzi is VERY pro gun..I have his re-election sign in my front yard...(Next to Bush's)

Mr. Brown,

You were great in Reservoir Dogs.

Quoted: Mr. Brown, You were great in Reservoir Dogs.

My skill-set knows no bounds.

That letter get a big "HELL YEAH" from me. Outstanding.

I should write my Congressman and see what kinda response I get, but he is probably too busy smoking someone's pole to respond.  Anyone know who my Congressman is?

Quoted: I should write my Congressman and see what kinda response I get, but he is probably too busy smoking someone's pole to respond.  Anyone know who my Congressman is?

Well, let's see....Kneel Guiliano is no longer mayor of Tempe and Fairy Goddard is attorney general or some shit and John Napolitano is busy rug munching....I'm all out of queers and none of them are congressmen.  I give up.

Quoted: I should write my Congressman and see what kinda response I get, but he is probably too busy smoking someone's pole to respond.  Anyone know who my Congressman is?

Here's a link to the Gun Owners of America site:

GOA Activism

...just put your zip code into the box next to Elected Officials and it will list your Rep and senators.

Quoted: Quoted: I should write my Congressman and see what kinda response I get, but he is probably too busy smoking someone's pole to respond.  Anyone know who my Congressman is? Well, let's see....Kneel Guiliano is no longer mayor of Tempe and Fairy Goddard is attorney general or some shit and John Napolitano is busy rug munching....I'm all out of queers and none of them are congressmen.  I give up.

Jim Kolbe, came out of the closet back in the 90's and keeps getting re-elected,  he rates a C- from Gunowners of America. The same as Kyl and McCain.  


Congressman Jim Kolbe
8TH DISTRICT ARIZONA
ISSUE POSITION


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Second Amendment of the Constitution 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." I believe this provision should be read as a prohibition against the federal government denying citizens the right to bear arms. In a few, limited circumstances, where I believe common sense or interstate commerce considerations are overriding, such as banning possession of semi-automatic weapons by juveniles or felons, I have supported federal limitations on firearms. With that said, however, I have seen little evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of gun control measures at either the federal or state levels. In fact, many areas of the country that have the strictest gun control measures, such as Washington, D.C. and New York City, also have some of the highest levels of violent crime. The vast majority of violent crimes are committed with weapons obtained illegally and would not be prevented by any form of gun control. As a result, gun control laws most often regulate the behavior of law-abiding gun owners, while having no real impact on criminals. That's why I support measures in Congress to battle crime. We need a zero-tolerance standard for violent crime in this country. Criminals need to understand that zero-tolerance means long prison sentences, restrictions on endless appeals based on technicalities, and more flexibility for law enforcement officials to develop cases. A violent criminal should know that if his actions take the life of another, especially the life of an innocent bystander -- a child, a pedestrian, a motorist going to work -- then his life will be forfeit. Period. We need to enforce the current gun laws, but we also need to look at preventative measures that will stop a shooting before a life is lost. As chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, I increased funding for the investigation of violations of current gun laws and strengthened a program to provide schools and hospitals with the tools they need to deal with people who may be prone to an outbreak of violence before a tragic situation unfolds. Traditionally, law enforcement has been reactive to violent events. I believe school and hospital administrators, social workers and counselors, as well as law enforcement needs to be more proactive by intervening before a tragic school shooting occurs. Prevention will do more than any law or jail time because it stops the violence before it happens. I will continue to press to do more in this area.

Updated 1/23/02

Now, imagine if every, single gunowner wrote as you did to every, single representative... your letter and response has encouraged me to do more.  I encourage others who have to date taken little or no action to do the same.

AZ is a great state, and friendly to gun owners (contrary to Arpiao's apparent stance) and will stay that way only as long as we continue to stand up for our rights and show the credible statistics reflecting the effectiveness of an armed society on violent crime.

I live in Sunnyslope (Sunlessslop) and our crime rate is very high.  Talk about a shithole!  Will hafta do until my leg lets me go back to work.  Anyway, the funny thing is, there are crack dealers surrounding my house, and crime is rampant everywhere EXCEPT IN THE IMMEDIATE VACINITY OF MY PREMISES.  I wonder if open-carry around the neighborhood and about 14,000 9-1-1 calls had anything to do with that?  Maybe because I know the officers who patrol around here on a first name basis?

I hear honest, law-abiding citizens who live nearby bitching all the time about the crime in this area.  Do they go to the blockwatch meetings, provide support to the gang control unit, or write the sherrif about it?  Nope.  Do they even own a weapon?  Nope.

Here's what I tell them:  "Then quit bitching.  Stop waiting for others to clean it up and become proactive, not retro-active.  The crack dealers and theives are not afraid of your baseball bat behind the front door."  

Needless to say, I am not the most popular among the local, er, ahem, "culture".  Good.  I will renew my efforts after such efforts have been humbled by your tenacity and dedication, sir.  I applaud you.  hail.gif