LegitAction Team & Brave New Films & The Huffington Post & Kucinich.com & MomsRising – 2018-02-17 23:49:53
Special to Environmentalists Against War
Russ Feingold on the Parkland Shooting
LegitAction Team
(February 16, 2018) — The recent shooting in Parkland, Florida is an example of the deadly consequences that can arise when the American people overwhelmingly ask for a policy (like gun safety reforms) that Congress ignores at the behest of a few campaign donors (like the NRA and gun manufacturers).
Russ Feingold recently went on MSNBC to make it clear: wealthy gun interests are undermining our democratic legitimacy, and it’s having real-world consequences.
Ever since the Citizens United decision unleashed a flood of secret money into American politics, the NRA and gun manufacturers have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican members of Congress to buy their complicity in thwarting sensible gun reforms.
Something is wrong with our democratic legitimacy when our leaders put special interests like the gun lobby above protecting American lives. If we want to make progress in this country, we need a government that is responsive to the will of the people.
ACTION ALERT: Let’s Do Something to Stop Gun Violence
Robert Greenwald / Brave New Films
Making A Killing: Guns, Greed & the NRA
Official trailer, Brave New Films
(February 17, 2018) — We are hurting and grieving with the families of those affected by yet another mass shooting, and we are furious with Republicans for doing nothing about it. We demand laws to protect our children and our nation – now.
This is an issue of people profiteering from guns and lack of regulation. Legislation must be made to prevent further devastations. Take a step and DO SOMETHING to stop gun violence. Sign up to host a free screening of Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA at your home, work, community organization, faith group, or school.
The film is meant to spark conversation and inspire viewers to work together and take action to make our country safer. And, it’s completely free to screen.
Haven’t seen the film yet?
Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims’ families. The film looks into gun tragedies including unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings, and trafficking — and offers solutions to end this uniquely American crisis.
ACTION: Click here to sign up for a free screening in your community.
If not now, then when?
Robert Greenwald is the president of Brave New Films.
Sen. Chris Murphy:
Mass Shootings Are Congress’ Fault
Rebecca Shapiro / The Huffington Post
“We are responsible for a level of
mass atrocity that happens in this country
with zero parallel anywhere else.”
(February 14, 2018) — Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) addressed his colleagues on Wednesday after a shooter opened fire at a South Florida high school, leaving at least 17 people dead.
Murphy, a fierce gun control advocate who had just been elected to the Senate when the Sandy Hook massacre took place in his home state, blamed congressional inaction for the events that unfolded in Parkland, Florida.
“This happens nowhere else other than the United States of America,” he said. “This epidemic of mass slaughter . . . it only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction.”
Pointing to himself and his colleagues, he continued, “We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else.”
Since 20 students and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, were killed in December 2012, Murphy has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for gun control. Congress has failed to pass any gun control reforms since Sandy Hook, but Murphy continues to push the issue. He told HuffPost last year that he wouldn’t consider himself successful until he delivered some progress.
Here’s How To Keep
Assault Weapons Out Of Your Community
Pledge to Support an Assault Weapons Ban
Elizabeth Kucinich / Kucinich.com
(February 16, 2018) — Last night Dennis and I attended a democratic meeting. As we walked in we were greeted by a man whom I have known for years from these gatherings, but never had the opportunity to really talk to.
After the usual pleasantries, he opened his heart. “I’m a Democrat. A life-long gun owner. I’ve spent my whole career using and monitoring guns in the military . . . My son followed in my footsteps and joined the Marines. He’s just returned home from a tour of duty in Iraq.”
His eyes began to tear as he went on. “I have a photograph of the moment my son came home and my granddaughter ran up and clung to him.”
His voice became weak. “And you know what I can’t stop thinking about? That my son had more of a chance to return home from Iraq alive than my granddaughter does returning home from school.”
His words sent shivers through me and continue to as I hear them over and over in my mind. We can lament this fact or we can do something about it.
Cleveland enacted an Assault Weapons Ban. Years later it was overturned. Why was it overturned? Why can’t cities across the United States enact assault weapons bans inside their jurisdiction? Just wait until you read this. It makes my blood boil:
In 1991, Cleveland enacted an Assault Weapons Ban. Nineteen years later, upon taking office, the newly-elected Democratic Ohio Attorney General and NRA champion took it upon himself to lead the charge to defend the NRA-controlled state legislature’s effort to strike down the assault weapons ban in the case entitled “Cleveland vs. State of Ohio”.
He succeeded, while simultaneously offering his services to bring a case to the U.S. Supreme Court which resulted in a decision nullifying the ability of local communities across our nation to make gun laws to protect their people. Home rule was overturned in favor of state government control. It was a massive shift away from #PowerToWeThePeople, to Power To The Lobbyists.
That same person , the man who worked to crush EVERY city in America’s ability to write ANY laws protecting children from assault weapons, is now the current democratic party establishment candidate in this race for Ohio Governor.
This is a defining moment. This is a time not only to be heard, but to engage meaningfully with power structures in order to return #PowerToWeThePeople.
We have investigated the situation in Ohio, and have come up with a plan to push the Ohio legislature to enact an assault and assault-style weapons ban, starting with the introduction of resolutions into as many city councils as possible.
Dennis’ running mate, Akron Councilwoman Tara Samples, is leading the way in drafting a model resolution and reaching out to councils across the state.
This requires the effort of all of us. A real expression of #PowerToWeThePeople. We therefore call upon you not to sign a petition, but to sign a pledge to support, to organize in your cities and to work with your city councilmen and women to get these resolutions introduced and passed, to add pressure on the state legislature.
Our campaign will assist you in organizing in your neighborhood to enact an Assault Weapons Ban in Ohio. We can set an example for the rest of the country. We will provide you guidance as to how to move forward, how to engage with your council persons, with draft resolutions to introduce, pass and send to the state capitol.
ACTION: Sign the pledge, join the movement!
We will hold our first rally in Cleveland this Monday, February 19th at noon, on the steps of Cleveland City Hall (601 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114), followed by a community meeting at the Old Stone Church (91 Public Square). Join us if you can.
Please join us in our determination to ban assault weapons in our communities. As Ohio goes, so goes the nation!
With love and in honor of our children,
Elizabeth Kucinich
The What: Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Akron Councilwoman Tara L. Samples are organizing Ohio in a movement to #BanAssaultWeapons. We’re empowering cities across the state to demand the Statehouse protect our children by taking immediate action to #BanAssaultWeapons in Ohio.
The Why: In 1991, Cleveland enacted an Assault Weapons Ban. 19 years later, it was overturned. Why? Because the newly-elected Democratic Ohio Attorney General and NRA-champion Richard Cordray led the charge to defend the NRA-controlled state legislature’s effort to strike down the assault weapons ban. He then went on to crush EVERY city in America’s ability to write ANY laws protecting children from assault weapons.
The How: It’s up to us to take action Cordray’s ruling. We’re organizing a mass introduction of city resolutions calling for the Ohio Statehouse to enact an immediate ban on assault weapons. We’ll be supporting current efforts of City Council’s already working on resolutions, and empowering those that have yet to take action.
The When & Where: We’ll be rallying on the steps of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, followed by a community meeting. RSVP @ http://goo.gl/isHf1K.
The Who: You, your community and us. When you pledge to help Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Akron Councilwoman Tara L. Samples #BanAssaultWeapons, we pledge to give you what you need.
We’ll provide tips on effective lobbying, help creating events and building turnout, and connecting with people in your area. We will provide a model city resolution to introduce, pass, and send to your state capitol. Once you are ready to move forward, you’ll be able to:
* Organize your neighborhood
* Connect with your council representatives
* Take concrete action instead of just offering thoughts and prayers in the wake of yet another tragedy
* And more.
Sign up, speak out and take action. Sign the pledge, and don’t forget to join us Monday, February 19 at noon as we rally to #BanAssaultWeapons.
Ban AR-15s and High-capacity Magazines
Gloria / MomsRising
(February 17, 2018) — The AR-15 is the weapon of choice for mass shooters. There is no reason good enough for civilians to have access to this weapon of war originally designed to kill humans.
I just wanted to make sure you saw this powerful email from my friend Sili, who lives in Orlando. Sili wrote in her message: “Every fiber of my being is screaming that no civilian should have access to military-style assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition!”
I could not agree more. Please join me in taking action and supporting Sili’s message to Congress:
Tell Congress that it must act to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition now!
Please sign on now.
Dear Gloria,
I write this through waves of tears.
Florida is my home, Floridians are my people. This morning, my heart is again burning with pain and anger over a mass shooting that has devastated families and an entire community in my state. This time, it was at a high school. A high school. As a mother, the assault on the sanctity of school safety shakes me to my core.
An armed 19-year-old former student went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday afternoon and shot to death 17 people, wounding 14 more, five of them critically. [1] His weapon? An AR-15.
Every fiber of my being is screaming that no civilian should have access to military-style assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition!
The AR-15, a military-style assault rifle, was used in the Newtown, Orlando, and Las Vegas shootings, to name just a few. [2]
It is the weapon of choice for mass murderers and has no business being for sale in America. Right now, there is legislation ready to be passed in Congress that would get military-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition off our streets. [3]
No matter what the Parkland shooter’s affiliations, hatreds, mental health, or background, his access to a weapon that was designed to kill large numbers of people quickly was why 31 people were slaughtered or maimed yesterday.
We must work to stop this from ever happening again!
Change must occur — it MUST occur — before another community suffers the grief of gun violence. Congress has the power to take action to reduce gun violence and they still haven’t. Congress’s cowardly inaction is intolerable. Enough is enough.
It’s ok to cry. It’s ok to feel scared. And it’s ok to be angry. But join me in turning those feelings into action by reaching out to our elected leaders today and telling them no more military-style assault weapon with high-capacity magazine sales in the US!
ACTION: Stand up for the victims of gun violence in Parkland and everywhere and tell Congress to take action NOW! Join me in speaking out. Tell Congress to: “Protect our families and our communities. Ban the sale of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition!” Sign here.
We are battling against the powerful NRA and are going to need as many voices as possible to let Congress know that we will not accept this type of tragedy anymore! Not a single mother or father should have to hear that their child was killed in a mass shooting.
After you take action please post our action link to Facebook and Twitter and encourage your friends and family to take action (you can also forward them this email!). We will only end gun violence if we stand up together.
Last night, I hugged my daughter a little tighter and made sure my loved ones knew how much I care for them. Today, I will once again join people from around the country in standing up against gun violence. Let’s try to make this the last!
We can stop these tragedies by raising our voices together!
— Sili, Gloria, Kristin, Nate, and the entire MomsRising community
We need action on gun violence:
No more military-style assault weapons and high-cap magazines!
Dear Members of Congress:
Protect our families and our communities. Ban the sale of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition!
Thoughts and prayers from elected leaders are insufficient in the face of this level of tragedy. The lives of our kids are at stake. It’s time to save lives — and you have the power to do so at your fingertips.
[1] “Worse than Columbine: This is one of the deadliest school shootings in US history,” Miami Herald, February 14, 2018.
[2] “Why mass shooters are increasingly using AR-15s,” USA Today, November 8, 2017.
[3] S.2095 – Assault Weapons Ban of 2017
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
