“As the states’ top law enforcement officials, we share the Obama Administration’s commitment to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime within the United States,” the letter read. “We also share your deep concern about drug cartel violence in Mexico. However, we do not believe that restricting law-abiding Americans’ access to certain semi-automatic firearms will resolve any of these problems.

So, we were pleased by the President’s recent comments indicating his desire to enforce current laws – rather than reinstate the ban on so-called assault weapons.”

The letter went on to note that Congressional reaction to Holder’s previous comments on a new AWB were very negative, and that many in Congress rejected the notion an AWB would somehow reduce violent crimes south of the border being perpetrated by Mexican drug cartels. The letter also noted the Constitutional implications of a new AWB.

“As Attorneys General, we are committed to defending our constituents’ constitutional rights –including their constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms. This duty is particularly important in light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent Heller decision, which held that the Second Amendment ‘elevated above all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.’ The high court’s landmark decision affirmed that individual Americans have a constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms.”

So far, no response from Holder’s office on the letter.