By Kathleen
Yesterday, one month after the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school, President Obama in a highly charged press conference revealed his "specific set of proposals" for gun control measures which it is hoped will reduce and deter escalating gun violence in the USA. The President's plan includes calls on Congress to renew the ban on assault weapons, which expired under the Bush government in 2004. Other measures include criminal background checks on gun purchases and a ten bullet limit for gun magazines.
President Obama and Vice President Biden have taken a comprehensive look at gun violence and gun policy in the USA and their efforts and leadership will hopefully be supported by you, the American people, who realise that present gun laws must be extended. Your voices need to be heard by organisations such as the NRA. Such organisations do not represent the American people but gun companies whose biggest sales happen to be assault weapons. Gun manufacturers are not interested in lives but the profits that they can gain for themselves. Enough already.
There are organisations out there that exist for you to express your voice in respect for the need for new gun policies that will reduce the impact of gun violence in the USA. Many of those organisations are working with the White House in order to bring about the change that is needed. I will leave a list of suggested organisations to contact at the end of this post.
Remember, it is no longer a question of IF gun control can become a reality but WHEN. America has passed the tipping point. It may take several years but gun control will be achieved.
Organisations such as the NRA know that a sea of change is heading towards them and that is why it is in full fail propaganda swing. The NRA recently released a TV advertisement campaign which has hindered rather than served its intention because they just had to get that dig in against the President by referencing his children. Gladly, shovelling shit against the tide has proved to be a pointless endeavour by the NRA. They merely succeeded in turning off many thinking people.
Furthermore, the NRA recently boasted that in the wake of proposed legislation from President Obama 100,000 people have joined their organisation in protest against what they think is an attack of their second amendment rights. However, millions of people across the USA support new initiatives for gun control and NOW is the time to join them and show your support for that change and the President's plan.
As I have suggested in a previous post YOU need to contact your elected officials and tell them that you want them to support President Obama's proposals. Now. Silence is no longer an option. You can be part of that sea of change.You can also donate to and join organisations working for gun control in the USA.Money is necessary to defeat the gun lobby and its propagandists. There is power in numbers and that is what really frightens the gun lobby which has had control of the message for far too long. As Ghandi once said "Be the change you want to see in the world".
Organisations working for Gun Control in the USA:
Brady Campaign an organisation which is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in their communities.
Americans for Responsible Solutions an organisation set up be Gabby Giffords, herself a victim of gun violence, and her husband in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Will lobby Congress legislators for gun control measures which she feels are long overdue.
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence comprises of forty eight national organisations working to reduce gun violence.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Most specifically concerned with the criminal use of illegally obtained guns. Illegal guns are not just a question of law and order but life and death.
National Gun Victims Action Council is a non-profit network of gun victims, survivors, the faith community and ordinary people leveraging their economic power to change America’s gun laws.
Violence Policy Center states that firearms are the only consumer product not regulated by a federal agency for health and safety. This unique exemption has been exploited by the gun industry as it has moved to embrace increased lethality as the foundation of its design, manufacturing, and marketing efforts in the wake of the long-term decline in household gun ownership. It believes that the answer to reducing gun violence lies in applying the decades-long lessons of consumer product safety regulation and injury prevention to the gun industry and its products.
Sandy Hook Promise a non-profit corporation created by members of the community of Newtown, Connecticut in response to the shooting on December 14, 2012, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, which killed 20 children, four teachers and two administrators. Its mission is to work to identify and implement holistic, common sense solutions that will make our community and our country safer from similar acts of violence through education, outreach and grass-roots discussion. SHP believes the time has come to enter into these discussions with equal parts of Love, Compassion, and Common Sense.
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UPDATE (by Patrick):
When I today looked at the front-page of Huffington Post, it seemed to me that the "new civil war" finally is about to start. But what could be called "new civil war" does not mean that it will necessarily be a bloody one. Actually, such a thought would be horrendous and seems out of place. But it could be a war, nevertheless. The last stand of the Republicans. The black man is going to take their guns away (they want to make you believe). I guess America has to decide now in which general direction the country will be heading. It is "Game On", as far as I can see.
I would like to add a few bits and pieces to Kathleen's post.
I saw a tweet today by our wonderful reader ProChoiceGrandma in which she mentioned a shocking graphic which was published by the Canadian "National Post" in December 2012. The graphic shows in shocking detail what Aurora shooter James Holmes was wearing during his massacre in Colorado - and that virtually all pieces of his equipment were purchased online. The graphic speaks for itself - no more comment needed. But I still will say this: A country in which a mentally ill person can legally obtain this type of equipment is in deep, deep trouble. Not that we did not know that already.
Click on graphic to see it full-size (also HERE):
I saw another shocking graphic today. How many people in the USA have been killed by gun-shot wounds in the first 31 days after the Newtown massacre? Again, the Canadian National Post investigated and turned the result into a shocking graphic:
919 people have been killed by firearms in the USA during the first 31 days since the Newtown massacre. This number does not include unreported deaths, for example unreported suicides.
Click on graphic for large-size (also HERE):
So, what now? Will the USA change course and start to regulate gun ownership in a much stricter way?
Well, the USA has seen some examples of real gun control in the past, that's for sure! See to the famous words by Ronald Reagan, spoken in 1967:
“There’s no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons ... you don't settle anything by the citizens' taking the law into their own hands."
According to the "NRA standard of 2013", GOP-legend Ronald Reagan would have been an unconstitutional traitor. But Ronald Reagan got really, really scared after being confronted with the tactics by the "Black Panthers":
Having watched the "black man" carrying his guns openly, Ronald Reagan and friends had no hesitation to prohibit the public carrying of loaded firearms with the Californian Mulford Act from 1967. Somehow this was OK with the Second Amendment! Such traitors, these Californians, aren't they!
So this is what happens if angry black people carry their weapons openly in political demonstrations.
But what happens if angry white people do the same, like the supporters of (epically) failed Alaskan GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller, who back in 2010 proudly displayed their assault rifles during a rally for Joe Miller?
Video:
The answer: Nothing happens (of course).
I get the impression effective gun control in the USA will only be achieved if black people form their own militias. Call them something like "Angry Black Army Against Wingnuts" or "Obama's Armed Helpers", and you will see strict gun control enacted quicker then you can say "NRA"...!
But in order to get serious again:
You might not have seen this video with pro-gun nut Larry Ward, who was beautifully caught out in this great interview by film maker Annabel Park from December 2012:
Larry Ward is the same guy who seriously claimed just a few days ago on TV that slavery in the USA could have been prevented if the slaves would have been able to own guns:
Slaves....with guns? But, but...(trying to find words, not being able to).
(Isn't this like the Black Panthers having guns, actually...?)
So who is Larry Ward, the man with such great ideas? He is of course not just a "concerned citizen", but he is the CEO and President of "Political Media", a self-described "Republican new media consulting firm." He is an old veteran, as can be seen for example from his LinkedIn page:
Larry Ward brings over a decade and a half of marketing and advertising experience to Political Media, Inc. as its President and CEO.
In 2006, Larry used cutting edge political animations to help pass nine eminent domain initiatives across the country. They were also successful in a number of local, congressional and statewide primary elections.
During the 2004 campaign cycle, Larry harnessed advanced technologies to create a database of over 130 million opt in email addresses.
He also worked on President Bush’s 2004 campaign with several influential PAC’s, the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation to help turn out the African American Vote. Additionally, he consulted on five victorious Senate campaigns and fourteen top tier congressional races.
Larry burst onto the political scene in 2002 under the tutelage of world-renowned political consultant, and Fox News commentator Dick Morris. Using Dick’s political savvy and Larry’s online marketing expertise; the two were able to influence several key congressional and gubernatorial races across the country.
Currently, he sits on the Board of Directors of five major internet and direct marketing companies, a social security foundation and is a member of the Alliance for Retirement Prosperity founded by Jack Kemp and Dorcas Hardy.
These days, Larry Ward is apparently working for the NRA.
A very comical thing happened on the website of his company "Political Media" after the protest where he was interviewed by Annabel Park. They published an excerpt from a Breitbart article, which reads:
Man confronts anti-gun protesters, shouting, 'Arm the teachers!'
Tuesday, December 18, 2012 | Tony Lee | Breitbart
A man interrupted and confronted anti-gun demonstrators gathered near the NRA building in Washington, D.C. on Monday by yelling "Arm the teachers! Arm the principals!"
Larry Ward told MyFoxDC that he is a father of two young children; he confronted the protesters on the street and argued kids may be safer if school officials were armed.
"This principal in the school tried to defend the children and was killed for it," Ward said. "But if the principal tried to defend the children with a gun, perhaps (she) could have saved many lives."
Anti-gun activists began campaigns and demonstrations to pressure Washington to adopt stricter gun control laws after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Unfortunately, "Political Media" forgot to tell their readers that this "man", the "father of two children", was actually their own CEO!
Also, in the quoted Breitbart article, there is no mention of the fact that Larry Ward is just a Republican PR-guy - and not a random concerned citizen, despite this impression which is being deliberately created by Breitbart.
Finally, a little piece of humour again - the talented people at "Funny Or Die" already made a parody of the latest insufferable NRA-propaganda clip:
NRA - Stand and Fight Parody - watch more funny videos
It is difficult to keep the humour when confronted with the fanatics of the NRA, but I think the people at "Funny Or Die" handled it pretty well.
Good night, everyone!
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