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I’d like to say that I can’t believe this — but almost nothing the gun lobbyists do surprises me anymore. But here it is: A political operation working with gun lobbyists decided to declareDecember 14 — the anniversary of the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary — “Guns Save Lives Day.” You read that right. Naturally, they immediately bowed to pressure to not hold their crass political event on the anniversary of the shooting deaths of 28 people — most of them children — to score cheap political points and raise cash to support their organization. So they pushed it back — one whole day. I’ve worked in politics a long time. But it is really rare to see something so crass and so brazen as to try to exploit the senseless deaths of children to build your network and raise money to support the very thing that stole them from their parents and friends. It is unconscionable. Even worse, their terrible antics give a bad name to so many well-intentioned gun owners — the majority of whom fully support sensible reforms like I-594, our initiative to require background checks on all gun purchases in Washington. But these aren’t genuine people — they’re political consultants and lobbyists who only care about making headlines and lining their coffers. The only way to stop them holding this event is for public opposition to grow so large, that they will be shamed into canceling this event. But we need huge numbers on this open letter to make it happen. Make them cancel this ghoulish “Guns Save Lives Day” — add your name to our open letter today. Thanks. Zach Silk Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility |
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Tag Archives: Open letter
a message from Keith O.
It’s great — read it! Then join 60,000 others in signing the national congrats card to Keith!
Statement To The Viewers Of Countdown
I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and ground-rattling support.
Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small.
…I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule – which I previously knew nothing about — that pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by NBC.
Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations.
Instead, after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media.
You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient ‘mistake’ by their recipients.
When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.
I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty – support and loyalty that is truly mutual.
Be a Seed for Change 