Tag Archives: Tucson Arizona

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Fix Gun Checks …


In 1968, two extraordinary leaders were gunned down by assassins: Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy.

Today, I was joined by Martin Luther King III and survivors, family members and friends of the victims of the shootings in Tucson, Virginia Tech, and Columbine, along with people affected by the nearly three dozen gun murders that happen every day but never make the headlines.

We came together to ask Washington to fulfill a promise made 43 years ago after the King and Kennedy assassinations. Back then, Congress passed legislation to prohibit felons, drug users, and the mentally ill from possessing guns.

Years later, Congress added a background check system to strengthen our existing gun laws. But the flaws in this system have been exposed again and again, first in the massacres at Columbine and Virginia Tech, and now in Arizona.

I’m writing to ask you to join me in calling on Congress and President Obama to fix our broken background check system before another tragic shooting claims more innocent lives.

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2FzBNpda3aMV6BCgg0tFvZBx3t7JWQYiV

Please sign the petition and tell Congress it’s time to stop dangerous people from buying guns.

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=yJ3mnrfZDvN2XDsv8Ok5kBx3t7JWQYiV

Every day in America, 34 people are murdered with firearms. They’re often humble and quiet people — the kind of Americans that King and Kennedy tirelessly championed.

In fact, since 1968 more than 400,000 Americans have been killed with guns. But Congress can fix gun background checks and stem the tide of violence by taking two critical steps:

Get all the names of people who should be prohibited from buying guns into the background check system.

Require a background check for every gun sale in America.

These common sense reforms will save the lives of thousands of Americans each year. That’s why 550 Mayors from across the country are calling on Congress to take action right now.

Tell Congress that we need a genuine, credible background check system for all gun sales:

www.FixGunChecks.org 

We can’t afford more gun murders because of the flaws in our background check system.

Thanks for helping to stop these senseless shootings,

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

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No more shootings, no more hate


Hi,
In the wake of the mass shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tucson, we must end the violent rhetoric that has exploded in American politics over the past two years.

That’s why I signed this petition calling on every member of Congress, as well as the major TV news networks, to put an end to any overt or implied appeals to violence in our political debate.

Can you join me at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate/?r_by=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&rc=confemail

Can you also take a moment to help spread the word and share this important petition with others?

Even if you don’t usually email petitions around, this is a time to make an exception. We must speak out now to end the extreme and violent rhetoric that is spreading in American politics to ensure that this does not happen again.

Thanks for all you do.
Thanks!

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Obama’s speech last night


Last night President Obama spoke powerfully about what happened in Arizona.

We were struck by the incredibly strong reaction our friends and family had to the speech, so we’re passing it along in case you missed it:

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Kat, Nita, Steven, and the rest of the team

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Thoughts & Prayers in Arizona


Reform Immigration FOR America Share This Message:
A senseless tragedy
Our thoughts & prayers are with them.
Where were you when you heard the news on Saturday?
In an act of unspeakable violence, Jared Lee Loughner shot Representative Gabrielle Giffords at point-blank range, and turned his gun on the crowd gathered to meet the local lawmaker at a Tuscon supermarket.

The event left 6 people dead – including a Federal Judge and a nine year old girl – and 14 injured. It also left an entire country stunned.

While we work to move forward, take a minute to send the victims and their families our prayers, our encouragement and our words of support in this difficult time. We will be sure that they receive your messages directly.

Send prayers and condolences to the victims & families in Arizona

Violence has no place in our democracy. We pray for the return of civility to our nation’s public discourse.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
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Debate, not hate


While we may never know what exactly motivated the shooter in Arizona—and while there are many lessons to draw from this tragedy—one thing is clear: Our country must turn away from the culture of violent, hateful rhetoric that has been pervading our political discourse for too long.

Nearly 200,000 people have signed our “Debate, not hate” petition. It calls on politicians and the media to stop spreading hateful rhetoric and implicit appeals to violence. Can you sign the petition today?

Just click here: http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate/?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=1

And please share this important message on Facebook and Twitter, or just forward this email.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin

 

“I call for an end to all overt or implied appeals to violence in American politics. We must debate, not hate.”

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

The tragedy in Tucson has shaken us all to the core. Facts are still coming in, and we all must be careful not to jump to premature conclusions.

But in the wake of this disaster one thing is clear: We must put an end to the rhetoric of violence and hate that has exploded in America over the past two years.

That’s why we’re launching a petition calling on every member of Congress, as well as the major TV and cable news networks, to put an end to the hateful rhetoric and all overt or implied appeals to violence. Click here to sign the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=6

Here’s what the petition says: “I call for an end to all overt or implied appeals to violence in American politics. We must debate, not hate.”

After you sign, please forward this email to the people in your email address book and post on Facebook and Twitter to keep it going. With a large enough response, this petition can help focus the debate on the urgent need to end the rhetoric of violence and hate that has become so widespread over the past two years.

We don’t know what motivated the individual or individuals who committed this atrocity. And, if reports are true, it’s deeply troubling that the suspected shooter displayed so many signs of serious mental illness, and our public health institutions failed to respond.1

But the terrifying fact is that this act of violence falls into a pattern that has emerged over the past two years in America and in Gabrielle Giffords’ district in particular.

Windows were smashed at Representative Giffords’ district office last March just a few hours after the House vote on health care reform.2 At one of the infamous town hall events in August 2009, a man attending the event accidentally dropped a handgun on the floor that he had been hiding under his arm.3

And violent tendencies have been inflamed by the careless and irresponsible rhetoric of certain political leaders. Sarah Palin‘s infamous “target list” displayed Democratic districts, including Rep. Giffords’, in crosshairs, as if viewed through a gunsight.4

In addition, violent imagery was prominently featured during the last election. For instance, a rally for Rep. Giffords’ Republican opponent, Jesse Kelly, was promoted with the following notice: “Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M15 with Jesse Kelly.”5

As Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, speaking from the heart at an emotional news conference last night, said:

There’s reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol… When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.6

Please take a moment to add your voice to this call to end the rhetoric of violence and hate, and then share it with all your friends. Click here to sign:

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=7

And thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Adam, Amy, Anna, Annie, Carrie, Christopher, Daniel, David, Duncan, Eli, Emily, Gail, Ian, Ilya, Ilyse, Joan, Kat, Laura, Lenore, Mariana, Marika, Matthew, Melanie, Michael, Milan, Nita, Peter, Robin, Ryan, Susannah, Stephen, Steven, Tim, and Wes

P.S. You might also want to check out a video we posted on the petition page of Rep. Giffords herself talking about this issue last year. It’s a powerful reminder not only of how important this issue is, but also what an amazing leader Gabby Giffords has been for America and, we deeply hope, will continue to be.

Sources:

1. “Exclusive: Jared Loughner Radically Changed Before Alleged Shooting, Friend Says,” ABC News, January 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205717&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=8

2. “Rep. Giffords’ Tucson office vandalized after health care vote,” Arizona Daily Star, March 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205718&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=9

3. “Gabrielle Giffords Town Hall: Gun Left Behind,” The Huffington Post, August 11, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205721&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=10

4. “Tucson rampage casts light on toxic political tone,” Arizona Daily Star, January 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205719&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=11

5. “Sarah Palin Criticized Over Gabrielle Giffords Presence on ‘Target List,'” CBS News, January 8, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20027918-503544.html

6. “News Conference with Pima County Sheriff & Others (Courtesy of KVOA TV, Tucson, Arizona),” C-SPAN, January 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205720&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=12