I sent the following e-mail to my state representatives and senator after Christie announced his task force:

 

"Hello,

 

I am writing to you today in regards to Governor Christie's recent

comments regarding his establishment of a task force on "violence".

While I applaud the governor for confronting this issue, certain things

concern me:

 

1. The task force will be looking at various things that contribute to

violence, including gun control, mental health issues, drug/alcohol

addiction, societal influences, and school security issues. Gun control

will obviously be a major focus, due to the public debate in the wake of

the tragedy in Newtown, CT. New Jersey already has some of the most

draconian gun control laws in the country, and they have been

ineffective in stopping criminals from committing violent crimes. The only thing gun

control laws do is limit the rights of and disarm law-abiding citizens.

 

2. The task force will consist of experts from the fields of criminal

justice, mental health, and substance abuse. Notably missing from that

list are representatives from gun owners' groups and representatives

from the firearms industry. Any task force making recommendations to the

governor on gun control should include representatives from these two

groups, since they have the necessary expertise pertaining to firearms

and will be the ones that any gun control laws will most impact.

 

As a law-abiding, patriotic American and gun owner, I strongly urge you

to oppose any new gun control legislation that has been or may be proposed

to the Legislature, and to work to protect our 2nd Amendment rights from

infringement by unconstituitional legislation or executive orders. You

swore to support the Constitution, the time to do so is now."

 

Here's the response I got back today from Senator Kevin O'Toole:

 

Dear XXXXX, (I removed my name)

 

Thank you for taking the time to contact my office with your position on

this very important issue.

 

The tragedy of Newtown and so many others is devastating and hits at the

core of every one.

 

However, that does not mean that we rush to change laws without thorough

deliberations. Recently, Governor Christie announced the creation of a

Task Force to review all public safety laws.

 

I am waiting for that task force to come out with its reviews before I

commit to any changes to existing laws. I am proud to be a supporter of

our 2nd Amendment rights, and there will need to be a real compelling

argument made to get me to change my positions.

 

Thank you again for contacting my office, and I look forward to hearing

from you again.

 

 

Sincerely,

Senator Kevin J. O'Toole

Tel: 973-237-1360

Fax: 973-237-1364

Well that was good, but he didn't really answer you about not having a knowledgable 2A person on the task force.

Well that was good, but he didn't really answer you about not having a knowledgable 2A person on the task force.

 

If I had to guess I'd say that is a canned response.

Certainly is a form response-in fact, I think all of the legislators shared the language, because it's verbatim what I've seen others post they received from other legislators.

Horrid-the citizens are shouting at them, and they stick their fingers in their ears and sing the National Anthem.

Sorry, it looks like he didn't even read your letter.

Sorry, it looks like he didn't even read your letter.

 

I was under the impression that they never do, that the Secrataries filter and skim them to see if 500 people echo the same problem.