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My name is Rory Graves, and I am from Bothell. I know more than most how gun violence can affect families and the communities they live in. I know, because my mom’s husband of more than 20 years shot her in 2012. Thankfully she survived, but far too many women in Washington — and far too many women in the rest of America — aren’t so lucky. But there’s something we can do THIS YEAR to help reduce the number of people murdered by their intimate partners, and that is to pass House Bill 1840.
As a young mother, I had hoped to look to my mom for support and advice raising my kids. Instead, I spent more than a year helping her recover and lived in fear that her attacker would show up at my door to finish what he’d started — or, even worse, kill me and the rest of my family. We know that the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent — that’s right, 500 percent. And House Bill 1840 would make it illegal for anyone subject to an order of protection to own a firearm. Given the dysfunction in our state legislature, I figured there was no way this could pass — but the state House passed it unanimously last week. Now we have an incredible opportunity to make a simple change in the law — and save a lot of lives. My mom and I are going to Olympia to demand they support this legislation. Will you raise your voice with us? Speak out now, and tell your state senator to support House Bill 1840. We need to give police officers the tools they need to keep guns out of the hands of known domestic abusers. Thank you for your support. Rory Graves |
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Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture
17 seats, and we stop this:
A life sentence for marijuana …
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My dad is serving life without parole for marijuanaBy Chris MizanskeySedalia, Missouri |
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My father Jeff Mizanskey has been in prison for 20 years and has no possibility of parole. For non-violent, marijuana-only offenses, my father has been sentenced to die in prison because of a “three strikes” mandatory sentencing policy in the State of Missouri.
Dad’s first offense was in 1984 when he sold an ounce to an undercover informant, and then was found to possess a half pound of marijuana when police raided his house the next day. His next offense occurred in 1991, when he was caught in possession of a couple of ounces. But for my father’s final strike in 1993, he became an easy fall guy in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. My dad was driving a friend to a deal that turned out to be a sting operation. All of the other convicted men involved were set free years ago, but my dad was given a virtual death sentence.
My dad is, and always has been, a good man. He taught my brother and I all about construction and a good work ethic. He has never been violent and he is a model prisoner. And over the 20 years he has been in that little cell, he has watched as violent criminals, rapists, and murderers have “paid their debts” and left – sometimes just to return a few months later.
My father is 61 years old, and has been in prison since he was 41. His parents – my grandparents – have since passed. While my dad has been trapped behind bars, generations of kids and grandkids have been born into our family who have never even met the man. The State of Missouri spends roughly $22,000/year to keep him locked up. Meanwhile all my dad wants to do is be a productive part of society, work and pay taxes, be with his family. And I want my dad back.
Governor Jay Nixon is the only person who has the power to bring my dad home by granting clemency to Jeff and calling 20 years punishment enough. Please help us reach a just and reasonable end to his prison sentence by signing and sharing this petition.
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One Cent More
A Higher Minimum Wage Would Hardly Impact Wal-Mart At All
Read the whole story here.
BONUS: Today, our President & CEO Tom Perriello bids adieu to us here at CAP Action as he heads to the State Department and its Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (click here to learn what that complicated-sounding project actually does). Thanks for your leadership, Tom, and good luck!
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What Tough Questions Expose
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