Mo. congressmen ask Obama not to act on his own

Third District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, has joined two other Missouri congressmen who signed a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider his gun control legislative package and not to act on his own without seeking approval of Congress.

The letter was signed jointly by the three Missouri congressmen and 74 other members of Congress from around the nation.

Also signing the letter were Missouri Congressmen Sam Graves, R-Kansas City, and Billy Long, R-Springfield.

Luetkemeyer said he and others want to have a discussion about how to proceed after the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

"It is important," Luetkemeyer said, "that Congress and the president come together to have an open-minded and thoughtful discussion regarding gun violence in our nation that respects the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and enthusiasts."

Luetkemeyer said he and other congressmen want an open discussion on the national issue of gun violence.

"We must go to the root of unanswered questions about the reasons that troubled individuals have been able to misuse these instruments," Luetkemeyer said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.