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Under the Gun

04/04/2013 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

Weak Gun Laws & High Levels of Gun Violence Go Together

Today, our colleagues at the Center for American Progress put out an important new study examining the relationship between a state’s gun laws and its rate of gun violence. Unsurprisingly, the states with the weakest gun laws tend to also be the states with the highest rates of gun violence.

Here are the ten states with the highest levels of gun violence:

As both common sense and hard data indicate, 8 of these 10 states are among the 25 states with the weakest gun laws. Indeed, the 10 states with the weakest gun laws have more than double the rate of gun violence of the 10 states with the strongest gun laws.

On the flipside, states with strong guns have low levels of gun violence. The five states with the lowest levels of gun violence — New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — are all among the ten states with the strongest gun laws.

Here’s a chart showing how all the states rank in term of gun violence:

To find out exactly where your state’s gun laws rank and where it ranks in terms of gun violence, please click HERE.

BOTTOM LINE: Gun violence prevention laws matter and they work. It’s time for Congress to act on strong gun violence prevention laws — especially universal background checks — so all Americans can be protected, no matter which state they live in.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

North Carolina Republicans propose ignoring the Constitution and establishing an official state religion.

Mike Huckabee: President Obama planning a gun grab in order to establish Nazi-style dictatorship.

Head of gun organization says it’s “time to hunt Democrats.”

Another Tennessee bill goes after Muslims.

GRAPHIC: Adam Lanza’s terrifying home arsenal.

Yes, background checks will reduce crime.

GOP frets over South Carolina special election.

Sportsmen’s group comes out for universal background checks.

The GOP’s “shameful” plan to filibuster gun violence prevention laws.

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Take it. Share it. and Boar’s Head will donate $5 to American Diabetes Assoc

04/04/2013 Nativegrl77

Did you know 25 percent of Americans who have type 2 diabetes don’t know it? Are you one of them?

Take the Diabetes Risk Test

Take the test that will help Stop Diabetes^® before it stops you. American Diabetes Association Alert Day^® may have passed on March 26, but that doesn’t mean the risk for type 2 diabetes just passes by. The Diabetes Risk Test is still available. You or someone you love may be at risk.

Don’t forget, for every Diabetes Risk Test taken, Boar’s Head_®—a leading provider of premium delicatessen products—will donate $5 to the American Diabetes Association starting March 26 through April 9, 2013, up to $50,000.

There has never been a more urgent time to know your risk. An estimated 79 million, or one in three American adults, have prediabetes.

We can’t waste any time. Take the Diabetes Risk Test today and share it with everyone you care about. Chances are someone you love is at risk, and early detection can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and its devastating complications.

With your help, we will Stop Diabetes!

This year’s Alert Day activities are sponsored by Boar’s Head and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

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A Golden Tennis Shoe

04/04/2013 Nativegrl77

The Golden Tennis Shoe Awards are my favorite event of the year. I get to honor ordinary citizens who have done extraordinary things to improve their communities. I get to the opportunity to spotlight the stories of these exemplary individuals and to recognize their inspiring work. This year promises to be especially exciting because we have the Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden keynoting and helping us honor this year’s awards recipients.

Please click here to RSVP, this is a very popular event and space is limited!

Here are the luncheon details:

Noon, Monday, April 29th

At the Westin Hotel

1900 5th Avenue

Seattle, Washington

www.pattymurray.com/GTS

I hope that you can join us at the luncheon. It will be an incredible opportunity to see the awardees and hear from Dr. Jill Biden, a lifelong educator who is also a military mom. I am so excited to welcome my friend to Seattle and would love to have your help.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray US Senator

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The Senate Evolves

04/03/2013 Nativegrl77

ThinkProgress War Room

50 Faces of Equality

The Senate is not known for moving quickly, but the past few days have seen a major sprint toward marriage equality among Senate Democrats and even two Republicans. With the evolution of two more senators, Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE), just today, there are now 50 senators who support marriage equality. With marriage equality-supporting Vice President Biden casting the tie-breaking vote, that means a majority of the Senate is now in favor of equality.