The NRA is about to lose yet another fight — this time hoping to stop Elena Kagan’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. But Ms. Kagan’s confirmation is all but certain. The NRA is simply using the Senate’s vote as yet another shameless opportunity to throw it’s weight around. According to the Los Angels Times [...]
There is a founding and governing principle that holds that civilian government controls the military, not the other way around. It was made crystal clear today when President Obama relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal from overseeing the war in Afghanistan after the general made disrespectful and disparaging remarks in Rolling Stone magazine about the President, Vice [...]
Proponents for “openly carrying” loaded guns in public revealed their true colors in Arizona on May 30th. Neo-Nazi members and racists showed up at a peaceful immigration rally carrying loaded handguns and rifles and said their weapons were not for show and would use them if necessary. Such threatening hate speech is beyond the pale [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence). OHIO COALITION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE For Immediate Release: May 14,2010 Contact: Toby Hoover: info@ohioceasefire.org Toledo, OH– The NRA’s homepage for its annual convention in Charlotte, NC on May 14-16th says it all (http://www.nraam.org/index.html) “Note: North Carolina State law prohibits [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from the Violence Policy Center). Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck Featured Speakers at NRA Convention Washington, D.C.–This weekend, Tea Party advocates Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck will be featured speakers at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention being held in Charlotte, NC. Palin will be speaking [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2010 MEDIA CONTACTS: CSGV: Ladd Everitt, (202) 701-7171, leveritt@csgv.org ROOT: Kenny Barnes, (202) 431-6646, kennysr@rootinc.org NRA Has Deliberately Misled Congress About Substance of D.C.’s Current Gun Laws Washington, D.C.—Yesterday, U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) [...]
The Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence — a project of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence — held a press conference at Children’s Memorial Hospital on April 12, 2010. We strongly urge you to watch some of the video clips from that press event. IL State Rep. Harry Osterman: Background Checks Save Lives Dr. [...]
State Advocates Update Heeding God’s Call: Pennsylvania Church Members Hold Vigil On Good Friday Protesting Gun Violence — Also See Bishop Peggy Johnson’s Reflections On Vigil: Many of our pastors bury young people on a regular basis who have died from gun violence. It is just too easy to do nothing and in doing so…it [...]
Ed Schultz slammed Fox “News”, right-wing zealots, and gun extremists for peddling conspiracy theories that President Obama is “disarming” Americans of their guns. In fact, as Schultz points out, President Obama received an “F” on a report card from the Brady Campaign on the President’s policies with respect to the gun issue. Watch Video:
(We are pleased to post the following guest commentary from Mark Karlin, editor of BuzzFlash.com on April 21st). BUZZFLASH EDITOR’S BLOG BY MARK KARLIN The politically charged gun movement in America that began when right wing ideologues took over the NRA in the ’70s (in what was called “The Revolt at Cincinnati”) has been pathological [...]
(Photo from ‘open carry’ gun protest in Virginia, April 19th 2010) GunGuys.com Editorial It is deeply disturbing that gun proponents chose the solemn 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing to organize anti-government rallies and urge attendees to carry loaded handguns and assault rifles in public to demonstrate their anger at the Obama administration and [...]
The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence posted the following video from the “open carry” gun protest at Fort Hunt, Virginia on April 19th, the 15-year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing — proof of the sheer extremism of the “open carry” movement.
On April 10th, Columbus, Ohio’s NBC Channel 4 covered an ‘open-carry’ gun protest on the steps of the state capitol:
(We are pleased to post the following press release from the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus). For Immediate Release Contact: Andy Pelosi, 914-629-6726, andy@gunfreekids.org John Johnson, 319-389-7382, johnwjohnson@mchsi.com (April 15, 2010, New York) – Three years ago on April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, armed with two semiautomatic handguns and several hundred rounds of ammunition, [...]
(On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., an explosion ripped through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla. At the time, it was the worst terrorist attack ever undertaken on American soil. The blast killed 168 people – 19 of them children – and injured hundreds). (We are pleased to post the [...]
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart posted a must-see video on April 12th, about the “open carry” handgun movement, including an interview with Paul Helmke, the President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. WATCH DAILY SHOW VIDEO The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Open Carrier Discrimination www.thedailyshow.com [...]
(We are pleased to post the following guest commentary from Mark Karlin, editor of BuzzFlash.com). Once our National Parks were a refuge of nature and tranquility, but that part of the American Dream just got shot full of holes by the NRA. Attached to the so-called credit card reform bill that went into effect on [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from the Violence Policy Center). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 CONTACT: Marty Langley, Policy Analyst, 202-822-8200 x109, mlangley@vpc.org Washington, DC–More than one out of four assault weapons incidents involve police, according to “Target: Law Enforcement—Assault Weapons in the News,†a new study released today [...]
According to Politics Daily on Feb. 18: Department of Homeland Security officers lost nearly 300 guns over a two-year span, leading to disciplinary actions and increased training, according to a new federal report. An inquiry by the department’s inspector general found that most of the weapons — including handguns, shotguns and military rifles — went [...]
The Washington Post’s editorial on Feb. 18th, accurately says it all: “If Virginia lifts gun-buying limit, get ready for mayhem.” IN A RARE moment of gun law sanity, Virginia enacted a bill 17 years ago limiting the purchase of handguns to one a month. Almost immediately, the numbers of guns traced to Virginia that were [...]
The New York Times wrote an editorial on Jan. 18th chastising America’s political leaders, including President Obama, for failing to stand-up to the gun lobby and pass an effective ban on semi-automatic assault weapons. The result of this “political cowardice” is that criminals are arming themselves with more lethal and powerful weapons, including semi-automatic military-style [...]
On Jan 3rd, Think Progress posted an unsettling video of Tea Party activists in New Mexico who openly carried loaded guns and assault weapons as a threat against “the government” and President Obama. Nearly 350 right-wing protestors crowded a New Mexico town’s busiest intersection yesterday to protest President Obama’s supposed anti-gun agenda and the “government [...]
(We are pleased to post the following guest commentary from Freedom States Alliance affiliate, the New England Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence.) A recent Associated Press story highlighted the push by the NRA to loosen gun laws across the country. Kowtowing to the pressure of the NRA, legislators in a number of states have passed [...]
(Use this link to purchase your copy today from Amazon.com and support the Freedom States Alliance. When shopping online at Amazon.com, up to 5% will be donated back to our efforts to save lives from gun violence). Freedom States Alliance communications director, Scott Vogel, interviewed Dennis Henigan, author of a vitally important and new book, [...]
(Click here to see full Washington Post ad). (We are pleased to post the following press release from the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition). For Immediate Release, November 23, 2009 Contact: Mayor Bloomberg’s Press Office (212) 788-2958, Mayor Menino’s Press Office (617) 635-4461 In a Full-Page Advertisement in Today’s Washington Post, More than 500 Mayors [...]
On Nov. 20th, a media research firm called Media Curves.com used a CNN report about an extremist organization called “Oath Keepers,” to analyze beliefs and attitudes around militia groups and the Second Amendment. In short, once Americans become aware of the militia movement’s extremist anti-government rhetoric, support the “Second Amendment” declines drastically. (See results below). [...]
Watch Stephen Colbert’s video on Nov. 19th, 2009. John Pike talks about the popularity of the AK-47 as the Russian designer celebrates his 90th birthday. The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
(FN Herstal Five-seveN armor-piercing semiautomatic pistol). For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 19, 2009 Contacts: Scott Vogel, Freedom States Alliance, 312-243-8980, scott@freedomstatesalliance.org Mandy Wimmer, Violence Policy Center, 202-822-8200 x110, mwimmer@vpc.org; Peter Hamm, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, 202-898-0792, phamm@bradymail.org Washington, DC—In a letter sent today to the White House, America’s six national gun violence prevention [...]
(We are pleased to post the following joint press release from Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, and New England Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2009 CONTACT: Cathie Whittenburg, New England Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, necpgv@gmail.com This week, the Senate Homeland Security Committee will hold hearings [...]
Mother Jones posted a insightful analysis on Nov. 16th about Sen. Burr’s irresponsible amendment to allow mentally incapacitated or incompetent veterans to buy guns, despite a spike in suicides, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and crimes committed by soldiers returning from multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Major Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 [...]
Peggy Schulz wrote a brilliant column in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Nov. 2nd that is worth reading. The overall safety of the general public as we move through our lives on a daily basis is – or at least should be – the top priority for lawmakers, both local and national. We live in a [...]
(CNN photo, September 16, 2009). Freedom States Alliance Press Release Contact: Scott Vogel (312) 243-8980, scott@freedomstatesalliance.org September 25, 2009 Advocates Urge Appropriations Conference Committee To Strip Senator Wicker’s (MS) Gun Amendment To Transportation Bill (H.R. 3288) That Forces Guns In Amtrak Train Luggage; Presents Serious Public Safety Risks, and Possible Cessation Of All Amtrak Service [...]
(We are pleased to post the following entry from the Coalition Against Gun Violence’s blog, Bullet Counter Points). Monday, September 21, 2009 The nation, sadly, has become well acquainted with the phenomenon of individuals bringing loaded guns to town hall meetings, presidential speeches and other political events. Initially, these shows of force were headline news [...]
(We are pleased to post the following news alert from Freedom States Alliance affiliate, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence). ICHV Legislative Update August 31, 2009 HB3991 Signed Into Law: Bill Would Revoke FOID Card for those with Order of Protection People in favor of stronger gun control laws in Illinois won a victory in [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from Freedom States Alliance affiliate, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort). For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Vogel, scott@freedomstatesalliance.org Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort: The State Legislature’s Failure to Close the Existing, Gaping Loopholes Amounts to a State-Sanctioned “Guns For Criminals Program†(Milwaukee, WI) – A landmark study released today by the [...]
(We are pleased to post the following essay from Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and was originally published in the Huffington Post). On Monday, it was national news when a man (identified only as “Chris”) appeared at a health care rally in Phoenix, Arizona, openly and legally carrying an [...]
(Pastor Steven Anderson and Chris Broughton.) According to TPM Muckraker on Aug. 28th: Chris Broughton, the man who brought an assault rifle and a handgun to the Obama event in Arizona last week, attended a fiery anti-Obama sermon the day before the event, in which Pastor Steven Anderson said he was going to “pray for [...]
(We are posting the following action alert from the Illinois Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence). The Illinois Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence (ICPGV) is extremely disappointed to announce that Governor Quinn signed HB 182 – a bill which would allow individuals to carry concealed weapons into other people’s homes – into law yesterday. Gun violence [...]
(From left: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid joined fellow disgraced Nevada Senator John Ensign, Gov. Jim Gibbons, and NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre to dedicate a new “shooting park.” Most galling from the publicity event were the repetitive talking points and blatant myths that [...]
(We are posting the following press release from the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence). CONTACT: Ladd Everitt (202) 408-0061, x. 1003, leveritt@csgv.org “The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.â€- Ted Kennedy to the 1980 Democratic National Convention We at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence [...]
Arthur Frommer, founder of Frommer’s Travel Guides, said that he would not travel to Arizona after protesters to President Obama’s town hall meeting in Phoenix last week openly carried military-style assault weapons and loaded handguns. What a refreshing statement from Mr. Frommer who is no doubt being bombarded on his blog from gun extremists because [...]
David Sirota, a progressive populist who advised and helped Brian Schweitzer — one of the most pro-gun lobby politicians in America — get elected as Montana’s Governor, says that it’s time to ban all guns at political events. Especially after several incidents over the last two weeks exposed the risk of permitting well-armed individuals carrying [...]
According to The Hill magazine on Aug. 20th: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) called on the Homeland Security Department and the U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday to provide tighter restrictions on citizens carrying weapons, openly or concealed, while in the vicinity of President Barack Obama. Norton, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, made the [...]
Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. wrote a brilliant and must-read piece today on Aug. 20th: Try a thought experiment: What would conservatives have said if a group of loud, scruffy leftists had brought guns to the public events of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush? How would our friends on the right have reacted [...]
(We are pleased to post the following commentary from Bryan Miller, Executive Director of Ceasefire NJ, an affiliate of the Freedom States Alliance. His entry was originally posted on NJ Voices blog on Aug. 19th). I imagine most have seen some news coverage of two incidents in the last week of men carrying guns openly [...]
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Gun zealots, yet again, openly carried guns – including an assault weapon — outside of an event by President Obama this time in Phoenix, Arizona to try and intimidate him and the crowd. “Law-abiding” gun owners, huh? Why won’t the NRA distance themselves from this kind of irresponsible and potentially violent behavior that is clearly [...]
(We are pleased to post the following press release from CeaseFire PA). For immediate release, August 5, 2009 Contact: Jana Finder, (412) 370-3778 9th PA municipality to adopt reasonable legislation to help police crack down on illegal handguns is yet another victory for statewide movement ERIE – Today, Erie City Council voted unanimously to pass [...]
Chris Matthews Interviews Gun Carrying American from Obama Town Hall
Chilling Video From Ohio Militia Calls For Americans To Arm Themselves With Powerful Assault Weapons. The Huffington Post wrote on Aug. 12th that radical and well-armed militias are regrouping in a dangerous sign that right-wing extremists have the potential to launch domestic terrorist attacks in any number of ways, including bombings, assassinations, gun massacres, and [...]
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