MANATEE -- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is on a plane heading home to his family for the Christmas holiday, but he will also be chatting with constituents about their views on the best way to address senseless violence, such as that which killed 26 people last week in Connecticut.

The Republican congressman from Longboat Key also would like to see the recommendations of the presidential commission's report when it comes out, said T.J. Tatum, Buchanan's press secretary.

"It's clear that we need a national discussion on how to prevent tragedies like this in a way that respects peoples' constitutional rights," wrote Tatum.

"One of the questions we need to ask is whether we are doing enough to screen and treat the mentally disturbed and keep guns out of their hands."

"Adam Lanza was a deeply troubled young man with serious mental issues," wrote Tatum.

He referred to the young man who shot 26 people to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14. The shootings have stirred nationwide grief and anguish, and calls for remedies.

Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7031. Follow her on Twitter@sarawrites.com.