Notes on the Meeting with Senator Cornyn's Staff Members

Suzi, Nolen, Karen, Me, Shelly

Meeting with Collin and Khamal, staff members of Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

July 15, 2016

These are the bills we were told Senator Cornyn had sponsored or co-sponsored, some were co-sponsored with Democrats as they said:

• ·      Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016

• ·      Funding for National Human Trafficking Hotline (with Democrat)

• ·      Mental Health and Safe Communities Act of 2015

• ·      A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to add certain synthetic substances to schedule I, and for other purposes

There may have been some others also, but these were the ones I could find on the website.

The staff assured us that Senator Cornyn is committed to maintaining relationships with colleagues from both parties.

We were told that the Assault Weapons Ban did not deter shootings. I have not checked that yet, but it does not seem true – we have certainly had record-setting mass shootings since the Assault Weapons Ban expired.** Senator Cornyn is not interested in any gun control measures.

We passed along our concerns about gun transactions held at gun shows, pawn shops, private sales, etc without any background checks. We objected to assault weapons being sold to whomever wanted to buy them and their high capacity clips.

We also expressed knowledge and concerns about the lack of residential mental health facilities for youth and young adults. There was discussion about mental health issues and the pressure placed on police and correctional facilities housing those who are mentally ill.

We spoke about the children coming into Texas as immigrants from Guatemala. The staff members reported that Senator Cornyn visited Guatemala to assess the conditions there, and he does not support returning them. He also does not support the rhetoric of Trump concerning immigrants and building a wall.

**Statistically, it is true that the Assault Weapons Ban did not deter shootings.