Too many innocent people are losing their lives because the gun industry thru the NRA and other irrational extremists are misusing the 2nd Amendment by all means possible to further their profits and justify their irrational behaviour towards a democraticaly chosen government.

Senator Max Baucus recently voted against a bill to expand background checks for gun purchases. 79% of Montanans and an even higher percentage of the rest of the country supported this bill. Senator Baucus has since said he would listen to what Montanans have to say about this issue and would take that into consideration if the bill is re-introduced for a vote. What's even more disturbing about Senator Baucus' "no" vote, is that he has stated that he will not be running for re-election in 2014 and has decided to retire. It's unconscionable that Senator Baucus and the rest of Congress can't even pass this one little step to address the issue of the horrible gun violence that has infested this country.

Sponsored by Mark Dion, LD 1240 requires universal background checks for anyone purchasing a firearm. The name of the bill is: An Act to Promote the Safe Use and Sale of Firearms. For more information, or to see a current copy of the bill, visit http://mcahv.org/legislation/

We are Americans who stand in support of the Second Amendment. We want Congress to pass legislation containing comprehensive background checks for people purchasing firearms. We want limited magazine capacities. We want a ban on automatic weapons. We want to make sure our children and fellow citizens are safe.

When this amendment was passed, we were a fledgeling nation The Second Amendment was based partially on the right to bear arms in English common-law, and was influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689. This right was described by Blackstone as an auxiliary right, supporting the natural rights of self-defense, resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in concert in defense of the state. With a standing army of almost 1 million and the strongest defense apparatus in the world, with state and local police forces as capable as most countries armies, there is no longer a need for every citizen to have the right to bear arms. At best, they should ask for the privilege based on compelling circumstances

Backyard gun target practices within the residential areas can be very loud and scary to domestic animals and humans. It can be heard from at least 10 acres or more away from the source of shooting. It is an invasion of most people's private air space, and disrupts otherwise peaceful environment. Gun owners should go to the permitted gun target practicing areas, not their own backyard.

Nowadays I hear voices calling for such things as "fight the NRA, call for total elimination of gun"s, etc. There are other voices saying they have cultural ties to guns: hunting , hobbies, etc. We need new, more reasoned, voices calling for a national movement to convince everyone to work to end gun violence, especially Congress, State legislators, etc to adopt reasonable measures such as registration, bans on assault weapons, etc. There is one such movement begun in Newtown, Connecticut, called "The Sandy Hook Promise"*** which should become a nationwide movement. It is intended to compel our representatives to move away from bitter arguments and seek to adopt measures to prevent further killings of our helpless children (and adults). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ***SANDY HOOK PROMISE Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a non-profit corporation* created by members of the community of Newtown, Connecticut in response to the shooting on December 14, 2012, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, which killed 20 children, four teachers and two administrators. A PROMISE IS BORN There was a gathering of people in Newtown. It was in someone’s kitchen, and it was filled with friends and neighbors who knew they needed to be together. Gradually, as they spoke, they also realized something else. They understood that they had a responsibility. To honor the kids and teachers they’d lost, as well as the survivors. They promised to do whatever they could to not let this tragedy stand as just another in our country’s history. {WITH EVERY HUG, A PROMISE ---------) THE PROMISE OF COMMON SENSE Moving forward, the SHP mission is to work to identify and implement holistic, common sense solutions that will make our community and our country safer from similar acts of violence through education, outreach and grass-roots discussion. SHP believes the time has come to enter into these discussions with equal parts of Love, Compassion, and Common Sense. OUR APPROACH – Listen, Learn, Act Listen and Learn: SHP will promote open dialogue around the areas of gun responsibility, mental health and school safety. We will have ongoing discussions with experts, groups, communities and elected officials across the United States to better understand the nature of the challenges we confront and the most promising solutions – legislative and non-legislative. Sandy Hook families, survivors, parents of child survivors, first responders, teachers, staff, as they choose, will be part of our discussion and undertaking. Act: We will speak with one voice in support of those actions that will make our communities and country safer from similar acts of violence. We do not have an ‘all or nothing’ approach and will focus our energy on those areas that we believe have the greatest impact. We do not believe that every solution requires a law. We are committed to local and national legislative and non-legislative change. (THE PROMISE, THIS TIME, OF REAL CHANGE --------) This is the time. The time to stand up and say that our society should not live under the threat of this kind of violence. ------ (more) ------------------------------------------------------------------- *Sandy Hook Promise is composed of two nonprofit corporations. The first is Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to the foundation are tax deductible. The second nonprofit is the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, a section 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Contributions to the Action Fund are not tax deductible. =========================== Available on Facebook: <www.facebook.com/APromiseForNewtown>

This is a national safety issues to address unwanted gun killings

Hi, I have six grandchildren ,all excellent students. I want them to live free,without fear of guns,when they go to school ,to the movies or simply walk the streets.I want my country and their country to be civilized and not the Wild West.They diserve that. It is enough that we have to live in fear of foreign terror, why do we have to help our countryman to kill each other.

I have 6 grandchildren,all excellent students, I want for them a safe America ,not a Wild West. I want to be sure that when they are in School, at the movies or simply when they walk the streets ,that they are secure and safe .It is enoughe that we have to worry about forigne terror . We do not need our own countrymen to kill each other and our children..

Bill in the Texas legislature allowing college students to carry concealed weapons.

Too many, especially children, are being hurt and killed by poorly secured fire arms. Insurance coverage would encourage owners to ensure their weapons were kept safe, to avoid hefty fines and rate increases.