I received this reply from Senator Donnelly.
Whether a gun owner or not, a Democrat or Republican, everyone would agree that we can take steps to reduce violent crime without sacrificing the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. My concern is not those who follow the law, but those who do not. For this reason, I support sensible improvements to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the process used to check the background of prospective gun buyers. Gun owners and dealers are most familiar with this system, and therefore most familiar with how it can be improved without infringing on Second Amendment rights. Since NICS was established, the system has been made more efficient. For example, a check that once took 7 days now takes 7 minutes. Most people who submit to a background check pass. In 2011, 17 million passed. 170 million have passed since 1994.
While this system is good at identifying felons and domestic abusers who should not possess a gun, it needs to be better at identifying those who are prohibited from owning a gun for mental health reasons. For every 10,000 people who undergo a check, only five are denied for mental health reasons. I support common sense improvements that will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those suffering from mentally illness without infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
I also support exemptions to background check procedures for certain situations. Current legislation under consideration would not require a background check and explicitly allow for gifts between family members, for licensed hunting or sporting purposes, and for transfers in legal wills. This legislation also reaffirms the long-established prohibition on any system for the registration of firearms and records of a transfer.
It is a privilege to represent you and all Hoosiers in the U.S. Senate. Your continued correspondence is welcome and helps me to better represent our state. I encourage you to write, call, or email if my office can ever be of assistance. You can also check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter by visiting my website
Sincerely,
Joe Donnelly
United States Senator
April 8, 2013
Thank you for taking the time to contact my office about background checks for gun purchases. I am a supporter of the Second Amendment, and I have consistently voted to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Like all Americans, I was shaken to my core by the senseless murders of 20 children in Newtown, Connecticut, and it is only reasonable for all of us to consider ways to reduce the likelihood of a tragedy like that happening again.
Whether a gun owner or not, a Democrat or Republican, everyone would agree that we can take steps to reduce violent crime without sacrificing the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. My concern is not those who follow the law, but those who do not. For this reason, I support sensible improvements to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the process used to check the background of prospective gun buyers. Gun owners and dealers are most familiar with this system, and therefore most familiar with how it can be improved without infringing on Second Amendment rights. Since NICS was established, the system has been made more efficient. For example, a check that once took 7 days now takes 7 minutes. Most people who submit to a background check pass. In 2011, 17 million passed. 170 million have passed since 1994.
While this system is good at identifying felons and domestic abusers who should not possess a gun, it needs to be better at identifying those who are prohibited from owning a gun for mental health reasons. For every 10,000 people who undergo a check, only five are denied for mental health reasons. I support common sense improvements that will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those suffering from mentally illness without infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
I also support exemptions to background check procedures for certain situations. Current legislation under consideration would not require a background check and explicitly allow for gifts between family members, for licensed hunting or sporting purposes, and for transfers in legal wills. This legislation also reaffirms the long-established prohibition on any system for the registration of firearms and records of a transfer.
It is a privilege to represent you and all Hoosiers in the U.S. Senate. Your continued correspondence is welcome and helps me to better represent our state. I encourage you to write, call, or email if my office can ever be of assistance. You can also check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter by visiting my website
Sincerely,
Joe Donnelly
United States Senator
