Letter from The White House:

(Reproduced here verbatim and in its entirety, just left out my address.  Comments in [braces]):

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April 24, 2013 [got it today the 29th - I guess that's not bad for coast-to-coast First Class Post these days...]

Dear Jon: [I haven't given him leave to call me by my first name - state legislators understand this.  Also, a business letter has the salutation closed with a semicolon, not a colon - using my given name makes it a personal letter, so a comma would be used.  Either way, it's wrong.)

  Thank you for taking the time to write.  [I actually did not - it was another generated letter to start the exchange.]  I have heard from many American regarding firearms policy and gun violence in our Nation, and I appreciate your perspective.  From Aurora to Newtown to the streets of Chicago, we have seen the devastating effects gun violence has on our American family.  I join countless others in grieving for all those whose lives have been taken too soon by gun violence.

  Like the majority of Americans, I believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms.  [Really, Mr. President?  I somehow doubt that...]  In this country, we have a strong tradition of gun ownership that has been handed down from generation to generation.  Hunting and sport shooting are part of our national heritage.  [As is ownership of firearms for self-defense.  I note you left that out?  The Japanese refused to invade us in WWII because they KNEW we'd hand their asses to them!]  Yet, even as we acknowledge that almost all gun owners in America are responsible, ["responsible" how - or for what - Mr. President?] when we look at the devastation caused by gun violence - whether in high-profile tragedies [God, I HATE the misappropriation of this word!] or the daily heartbreak that plagues our cities - we must ask ourselves whether we are doing enough.

  While reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm should not be a divisive one.  Most gun owners agree that we can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible, law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale.  [I am somehow inclined to doubt your assessment here, Mr. President.]  Most also agree that if we took commonsense steps to curtail gun violence, there would be fewer atrocities [more appropriate than "tragedies" - thank you for that] like the one that occurred in Newtown.  We will not be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing we can do to reduce gun violence - if even one life can be saved [this is yet another mantra that I'm sick to my teeth of hearing!] - then we have an obligation to try.

  That is why I asked Vice President Joe Biden to identify concrete steps we can take to keep our children safe, help prevent mass shootings, and reduce the broader epidemic of gun violence in this country.  He met with over 200 groups representing a broad cross-section of Americans and heard their best ideas.  I have put forward a specific set of proposals based off of his efforts, and in the days ahead, I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality.  [Yeah - over 200 groups.  Violence Policy Center, Brady Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, ...  I find it particularly interesting to note that the Brady Center is intended to prevent HANDGUN violence - but Jim Brady was shot with a RIFLE...]

  My plan gives law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals, and the public health community some of the tools they need to reduce gun violence.  These tools include strengthening of the background check system [how's this going to work against people who STEAL guns for their acts?] helping schools hire more resource officers and counselors and develop emergency preparedness plans, and ensuring mental health professionals known their options for reporting threats of violence.  And I direct the Centers for Disease Control to study the best ways to reduce gun violence - because it is critical that we understand the science behind this public health crisis.  [oh - mass shootings are a "disease" now?  How's that work?  Is it viral?  Bacteriological?  Fungal?  Prions?]  From improving mental health services [essential, but let's not get Draconian about it] to looking more closely at a culture that too often glorifies violence [true - but this has to be addressed in both popular entertainment AND newsmedia!] we must leave no stone unturned when working to keep Americans safe.

  As important as these steps are, they are not a substitute for action from Congress [I think Congress has done enough, thank you.]  To make a real and lasting difference, members of Congress must also act.  As part of my comprehensive plan, I have called on them to pass some specific proposals right away.  First, it is time to require a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun.  [But what about anyone trying to STEAL a gun?]  Second, Congress should renew the 10-round limit on magazines and reinstate and strengthen the assault weapons ban [10rd mags?  Pointless.  "Assault weapons" ban?  Make sure you know what you're talking about, first.  I should write a primer...]  We should get tougher on those why buy guns with the purpose of selling them to criminals, and we should impose serious punishments on anyone who helps them do this [already illegal Federally and probably in all 50 states - cf: "straw man purchases."]

  These are reasonable, commonsense measures that have the support of the majority of the American people [again, I somehow doubt your proportion.]  But change will not come unless the American people demand it from their lawmakers.  Now is the time to do the right thing for our children, out communities, and the country we love.  We owe the victims of heartbreaking national tragedies [here we go again!] and the countless unheralded tragedies [STOP THAT!] each year nothing less than our best effort - to seek consensus in order to save lives and ensure a brighter future for our children.

  Thank you, again, for writing.  I encourage you to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/NowIsTheTime to learn more about my Administration's approach.

Sincerely,
(signed) Barack Obama

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Oh, I'm going to have to work on this one as well - and dig up some relevant sections of Federal law.  Gimme a bit...

I'm not sure I want to check the link cited, but I really should.  I'll probably find more holes to correct...

The part I can't figure out?  If this is supposed to prevent CRIMINALS getting hold of guns, why does it make it more difficult for people WITH NO CRIMINAL INTENT to get them?

Public safety my ass.  "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining - I'm not as stupid as you want me to be."

Any ideas, Dear Reader?