I wrote to Congressman Lee Terry regarding this bill. Here is his response:
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Thank you for writing to share your strong support for the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and to voice your opposition to any potential attempts to undermine this vital Constitutional right. Like you I strongly support the second amendment and am opposed to legislation designed to unreasonably limit the ownership or use of firearms.
Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois introduced the Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act (H.R. 45) on the first day of the 111th Congress, January 6, 2009. This bill establishes a firearms licensing system and limits the ability of lawful firearms owners to transfer or receive firearms to or from individuals without a license. It also requires Attorney General of the United States to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.
The bill would also impose an onerous requirement that all individuals possessing a firearm report the loss or theft of a firearm to the U.S. Attorney General as well as to local law enforcement officials. Finally, the law requires holders of firearms licenses to report any address change to the U.S. Attorney General within 60 days. I am especially concerned that this legislation would create a national registration system for firearms ownership. I believe that these are all intrusive, burdensome regulations intended to harass law abiding citizens, and which will do little to protect law abiding citizens from criminals who already operate outside the law. Please be assured I will do everything I can to oppose this law.
Many constituents have contacted me about possible changes in firearms legislation that the Obama Administration may pursue. On February 26, 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated that ". As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons. According to CBS News, during the Presidential Campaign, then-Senator Obama also promised to push for "childproofing guns" and said he wanted to close the so-called "gun show loophole," which permits sales of firearms at gun shows. I believe it was appropriate to let the so-called assault weapons ban, imposed by the Democrat Congress and President Clinton, expire at the end of its 10 year authorization. I also am concerned about limiting the ability of law abiding Americans to purchase firearms at gun shows and any possible regulations which would infringe upon this ability.
I have consistently defended this right and will continue to do so in the future. In fact, I am a co-sponsor of The Citizens' Self-Defense Act (H.R. 17) which states that a person not prohibited from receiving a firearm under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act shall have the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of: (1) self or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury; (2) self or family during the commission by another person of a violent felony against the person or a member of the person's family; and (3) the person's home in the course of the commission of a felony by another person. The bill also allows individuals whose rights under this Act have been violated to bring an action in U.S. district court against the United States, any state, or any person for damages, injunctive relief, and such other relief as the court deems appropriate.
Please be assured that I am strongly committed to defending the Second Amendment's protection of an individual's right to keep and bear arms. Thanks again for contacting me on this important issue.
Sincerely,
LEE TERRY
Member of Congress
11717 Burt Street, Suite 106
Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: 402-397-9944
http://leeterry.house.gov
