Until this year, I had nothing but respect for Virginia's senior Senator. Having grown up in a military town, John Warner was one of our biggest allies. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Warner has done great things for the military and military families. But this year, he's done nothing but whittle away at the positive image I used to have for him.

When he voted in favor of gun control I was somewhat shocked. And the letter he sent last week does nothing to improve that image. Mr. Warner writes:

Dear ...,

Thank you for contacting me to share your views about assault weapons. I appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

During the Senate's consideration of S.1805, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, I offered an amendment to the gun immunity bill based on legislation that Senator Feinstein (D-Ca) and I introduced, S.2109 (the Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act). This amendment would have extended the Assault Weapons Ban for another ten years, and it passed the Senate with bipartisan support by a vote of 52-47. However, the gun immunity bill, S.1805, failed in the Senate by a vote of 8 to 90. Our bill, S.2109, is still pending before the Senate.

Signed into law in 1994, the Assault Weapons Ban placed a 10 year prohibition on domestic manufacture, transfer, or possession of certain semi-automatic assault weapons. The ten year ban ends on September 13, 2004. Consequently, unless Congress and the President act prior to September 13, 2004, weapons like Uzis and AK-47s will once again be produced in America, and more and more often, these weapons will fall into the hands of criminals who lurk in our neighborhoods. President Bush has indicated that he supports a straight 10 year extension of this current law.

Some in the Senate, including myself, opposed the ban a decade ago, believing it would do little to reduce crime, and fearing that it could threaten the Constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners and hunters. However, a decade of experience has provided us with key facts, and, consequently, my opinions on the ban have evolved.

The Assault Weapons Ban has made our communities safer and has not infringed on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Recent Department of Justice record indicate that the use of banned assault weapons in crimes has declined measurably -- by 65% in one analysis - since the measure took effect. And, law enforcement officials from across Virginia, and indeed across the United States, have supported an extension of the Assault Weapons Ban because they know it makes America's communities safer.

Please be assured that I understand your views on this legislation. As a gun owner and hunter, and as a United States Senator privileged to represent the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Senate, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I will continue to support public policies that ensure the responsible and appropriate use of guns while also protecting the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

Again, thank you for the benefit of your views.

With kind regards, I am

Sincerely,

[signed]
John Warner

First of all, 52-47 is hardly what I would call bipartisan support. And the more he mentions teaming up with Dianne "gun in her purse" Feinstein, the less respect I have for him.