Senator Ayotte: I’ll never back down from defending the Constituti​on

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Dear Fellow American,

Michael Bloomberg and his liberal allies think their $700,000 smear campaign will pressure me into changing my vote on the Manchin-Toomey gun control bill.

They couldn't be more wrong.

As a mother, I am 100% dedicated to fighting gun violence. But I also have the experience to know that expanding an already broken background check system will not prevent a deranged individual or criminal from obtaining and misusing firearms. That's why I've been working to find solutions that will stop criminals and those who are mentally ill from obtaining guns. And that's why I've helped introduce and voted for the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act, which doesn't just improve the existing background check system, it tackles the inherent issues behind gun violence by:

Punishing those who try to access guns illegally;

Addressing mental health gaps in the criminal justice system;

Boosting resources to improve school safety; and

Criminalizing gun trafficking and straw purchases.

I will continue pushing for the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act until it becomes law. Bloomberg and company can spend as much as they'd like distorting my record and smearing my character, but I won't back down.

I've spent nearly my entire career fighting crime. As Attorney General, I cracked down on sexual predators and prosecuted and convicted dozens or murderers. And if I learned one thing, it's that there are no easy answers to eradicating violent crimes.

Even if the proposed expansion of background checks had been in place, unfortunately it wouldn't have prevented a horrific tragedy such as the one in Connecticut — where the perpetrator obtained the firearms he used from his mother, who owned them lawfully.

I want to find solutions that will stop criminals and those who are mentally ill from obtaining firearms. I want to make sure we punish those who try to access guns illegally. And I want to improve the nation's mental health system so that those who are on the front lines can identify the warning signs of mental illness and help those in need get proper help. But restricting the Constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners is not the answer, and misleading television and radio ads are counterproductive and only help to poison this important discussion.

Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,

Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator