January 21, 2015

Dear Concerned Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me, regarding the protection of our communities against gun violence. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and value your opinion on this important issue.

In order to reduce gun violence in our communities, it is important that we adopt universal background checks for all gun sales in our state. I find it shocking that, in our state, we require more regulation to vote than we do to purchase and carry a dangerous weapon into a public place. In 2013, I supported AB138/SB24, which proposed implementing thorough background checks and creating a penalty for illegal firearm possession.

Countless mass shootings that have occurred around the United States over the past 15 years have demonstrated the need for more screening of who is purchasing firearms. Background checks would not present too considerable of an obstacle to gun buyers, but would ensure that guns do not fall through the legal cracks and into the hands of dangerous people who should not be permitted to own them. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 83 percent of Americans support requiring background checks for all gun purchases. I side with this majority, and you can count on my continued support of more effective gun regulation in our state.

Should similar legislation on reducing gun violence be introduced this session, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

For your consideration, the Legislature offers a free email notification system that alerts subscribers of legislative activities relating to issues that they have identified as important. This is an excellent way to keep informed about the issues that are important to you. Visit http://Notify.legis.state.wi.us for more information.

Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me again regarding this or any other issue important to you. 

Sincerely,

Sondy Pope

State Representative

80th Assembly District