Hillary Clinton, With Connecticut Ally, Highlights Gun Control Stance.
As the primary calendar turns to Connecticut, the Clinton campaign has enlisted a powerful new surrogate who has cut both a 30-second and 60-second ad for the campaign: a daughter of Dawn Hochsprung, the principal killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
On Screen
Slides of a wedding day scroll past — a bride in her white dress, smiling as she poses for a picture in sneakers. But the joyous day is quickly shrouded, somber piano chords ringing in the background. “My wedding was one of the last things I planned with my mom,” says Erica Smegielski, Ms. Hochsprung’s daughter.
The camera travels back, for a brief moment, to the scene outside Sandy Hook school, ambulances waiting outside. The text from a New York Daily News article detailing Ms. Hochsprung’s heroic efforts overlays an image of a vigil held outside the school, as her daughter says, “No one is fighting harder to reform our gun laws than Hillary Clinton.”
Scenes of Mrs. Clinton speaking from the campaign trail, including her gun violence town hall in October 2015, and a headline from The Wall Street Journal — “Hillary Clinton Challenges the Gun Lobby” — give evidence to Ms. Smegielski’s statements.
The ad closes with Mrs. Clinton and Ms. Smegielski sharing an extended embrace. “She reminds me of my mother,” Ms. Smegielski’s voice says over the footage. “She isn’t scared of anything.”
The Message
The battle over gun control has been a frequent topic on the campaign trail for Mrs. Clinton, and she said her positions on the issue are “one of my biggest contrasts with Senator Sanders.” She has been especially critical of his statements to The Daily News, in which he said that he would not hold gun manufacturers accountable or liable in the Sandy Hook shooting.
Fact Check
Mr. Sanders has defended his positions on guns, pointing to his “D-minus” rating from the National Rifle Association. He also said, “I don’t believe it is appropriate that that gun shop owner who just sold a legal weapon” should “be held accountable and be sued.”
Where
The campaign says the ads are airing in Connecticut and Rhode Island, which hold primaries next Tuesday.
Takeaway
After the 2012 massacre, Connecticut enacted some of the toughest gun control laws in the country, passing them with bipartisan support. It is a state where, after the tragedy, 93 percent of citizens supported background checks for all gun buyers, and Mrs. Clinton’s positioning on the issue should resonate there.
Don't miss out: Brooklyn Bridge March for Gun Sense on May 7. The NRA and their allies like to think they're tough. But you know who's tougher? The moms, dads, volunteers, survivors and supporters like you who make up this movement.
For too long, a small but vocal group of extremists drowned out our voices. But now, we're the ones being heard -- and we're only going to get louder from here.
That's why our Brooklyn Bridge March is such an important event. It's our chance to remind the NRA and our elected officials that we're a force to be reckoned with.
So, will you march across the Brooklyn Bridge with us on May 7? RSVP to lend your voice -- and your feet -- to the movement to end gun violence in America.
When my son Jordan was killed, I committed my life to this fight. I don't want any more parents to feel the pain that I felt, the pain that I still feel every day. That's why I'll be marching.
When hundreds of us come together and march across the Brooklyn Bridge this May -- with our signs held high and our voices raised -- we'll send a powerful message to the gun lobby: We're not going to be silent any longer. And we're not going away.
RSVP to attend the 4th annual Brooklyn Bridge March.
Can't wait to march with you!
Next isssue is what are guns that are made to look like cell phones. There was a law passed way back in 1934 prohibiting concealable weapons --
movie-type stuff, like an umbrella or pen gun that should only be carried by
characters in a James Bond movie.
But one gun manufacturer in Minnesota is developing a gun designed to look virtually indistinguishable from an iPhone. It carries two bullets and all the user would have to do is unfold the handle and fire. Someone could put it on a table at a restaurant and no one would know the difference.
Thousands have already been pre-ordered.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) hasn't weighed in on this yet, but Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on an investigation, and for the ATF and Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the sale of these so-called smartphone guns. We agree.
(This is an image of what the weapon would look like in the locked and unlocked position)
In those nine years, we've made enormous progress keeping guns off of college campuses. But as you read this, Georgia is on the verge of becoming the first state to force colleges to allow guns on campus this year.
Georgia Governor Deal still has the chance to veto this bill -- so we urgently need you to get loud. If you care about keeping guns off college campuses, we need you in this fight.
Send Gov. Deal a "rejection letter" and tell him that guns on campus don't make us safer -- and don't belong in places like parties and tailgates. We'll deliver your rejection letter straight to his desk in a thin envelope.
In case you missed it, check out Shannon's email on why guns on college campuses are a dangerous mix.
Want to work alongside gun sense activists from around the country and get more involved on the frontlines in our fight to keep guns out of schools?
Sign up to join the Gun Sense Action Network and start calling voters in Georgia to stop this guns on campus bill in its tracks.
It's the time of year when high schoolers open their mailboxes hoping to find fat envelopes from their dream colleges -- and dreading the thin ones filled only with a rejection letter.
It's also the time of year when the NRA tries to pass laws forcing colleges to allow guns on campuses across the country -- high-stress places where drinking and questionable decision-making are often a part of life.
We shut down the NRA's guns-on-campus agenda in 17 states last year, but now Georgia is on the verge of becoming the first state to force colleges to allow guns on campus this year -- including in places like tailgates, disciplinary hearings, and even on-campus daycare centers.
Let Georgia Governor Nathan Deal know that Americans from states across the country REJECT guns on campus laws, and that he should do the same. Send guns on campus a rejection letter and we'll deliver it in a thin envelope straight to the Governor's desk.
The Governor has indicated some support for this dangerous policy, but he recently told media that he has some serious concerns -- including the fact that this bill would allow guns in on-campus daycares and around high school students taking advanced classes on college campuses. [1] The Governor could make his decision in just days -- and this is our chance to let him know that parents, students and citizens across the country are asking him to put our safety ahead of the gun lobby's extremist agenda.
The stakes here are extremely high -- just look at the mess that's happening in Texas, the only state to pass guns-on-campus legislation last year. Top professors have quit their jobs rather than teach in a classroom where students are packing heat. [2] Their concerns are real: After Idaho passed a guns-on-campus law, an Idaho State University professor accidentally shot himself while teaching a chemistry lab. [3]
That's why our rejection of these dangerous laws has to be resounding. Send guns on campus a rejection letter and urge Governor Deal to veto this dangerous bill.
On Screen
Slides of a wedding day scroll past — a bride in her white dress, smiling as she poses for a picture in sneakers. But the joyous day is quickly shrouded, somber piano chords ringing in the background. “My wedding was one of the last things I planned with my mom,” says Erica Smegielski, Ms. Hochsprung’s daughter.
The camera travels back, for a brief moment, to the scene outside Sandy Hook school, ambulances waiting outside. The text from a New York Daily News article detailing Ms. Hochsprung’s heroic efforts overlays an image of a vigil held outside the school, as her daughter says, “No one is fighting harder to reform our gun laws than Hillary Clinton.”
Scenes of Mrs. Clinton speaking from the campaign trail, including her gun violence town hall in October 2015, and a headline from The Wall Street Journal — “Hillary Clinton Challenges the Gun Lobby” — give evidence to Ms. Smegielski’s statements.
The ad closes with Mrs. Clinton and Ms. Smegielski sharing an extended embrace. “She reminds me of my mother,” Ms. Smegielski’s voice says over the footage. “She isn’t scared of anything.”
The Message
The battle over gun control has been a frequent topic on the campaign trail for Mrs. Clinton, and she said her positions on the issue are “one of my biggest contrasts with Senator Sanders.” She has been especially critical of his statements to The Daily News, in which he said that he would not hold gun manufacturers accountable or liable in the Sandy Hook shooting.
Fact Check
Mr. Sanders has defended his positions on guns, pointing to his “D-minus” rating from the National Rifle Association. He also said, “I don’t believe it is appropriate that that gun shop owner who just sold a legal weapon” should “be held accountable and be sued.”
Where
The campaign says the ads are airing in Connecticut and Rhode Island, which hold primaries next Tuesday.
Takeaway
After the 2012 massacre, Connecticut enacted some of the toughest gun control laws in the country, passing them with bipartisan support. It is a state where, after the tragedy, 93 percent of citizens supported background checks for all gun buyers, and Mrs. Clinton’s positioning on the issue should resonate there.
| Accidentally shot: Real gun goes off at Texas in water gun fight, teen hospitalized |
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Don’t Allow Guns in Churches.
Target: Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant
Goal: Repeal law that would allow people to carry guns in churches without a permit.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant recently allowed people to carry guns in church buildings by signing the Church Protection Act. Guns don’t belong in a place that promotes peace and compassion. With this bill becoming law, the chances of guns falling in the wrong hands have increased dramatically. Speak out against this law and the danger it could bring.
Following the events of the Charleston church shooting last year, this law was made so that congregation members could protect themselves. Certain designated members would be given training on handling a firearm, allowing them to legally act as security for their church.
The part of the law that is causing the most uproar is the provision that would allow people to carry a concealed gun without having a permit. Even the Mississippi police oppose this law. Ken Winter, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, said in a statement that this law would make it harder for them to “stop people who appear to be engaged in wrongdoing,” and would “raise the threat level to officers.”
As Everytown for Gun Safety said in a statement, “There’s simply no good reason to pass a law that makes Mississippi less safe from the threat of gun violence.” This law would be counterproductive, posing more of a threat to congregations than a protection. Sign this petition and tell Governor Bryant that this law should be repealed.
Dear Governor Bryant,
The Church Protection Act is going to do anything but protect church-goers. By allowing people to carry concealed guns without a permit, you are making it easier for the wrong people to get access to a deadly weapon. You do not end gun violence by making guns more accessible to everybody. Please, repeal this law before any real harm is done.
Even the police of your state oppose this new law. Letting people to carry guns without a permit makes it harder to apprehend anyone that looks like they are doing something wrong. The safety of the officers are also in danger with the increased amount of gun carriers. When a law favors vigilantism over actual law enforcement, it is counterproductive and should be repealed.
It makes sense that you want to protect church-goers after the Charleston church shooting, but making guns even more available to the general public is not the solution. Repeal this law and draft another one that would make it more difficult for guns to fall in the wrong hands.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Lucio Eastman
For too long, a small but vocal group of extremists drowned out our voices. But now, we're the ones being heard -- and we're only going to get louder from here.
That's why our Brooklyn Bridge March is such an important event. It's our chance to remind the NRA and our elected officials that we're a force to be reckoned with.
So, will you march across the Brooklyn Bridge with us on May 7? RSVP to lend your voice -- and your feet -- to the movement to end gun violence in America.
When my son Jordan was killed, I committed my life to this fight. I don't want any more parents to feel the pain that I felt, the pain that I still feel every day. That's why I'll be marching.
When hundreds of us come together and march across the Brooklyn Bridge this May -- with our signs held high and our voices raised -- we'll send a powerful message to the gun lobby: We're not going to be silent any longer. And we're not going away.
RSVP to attend the 4th annual Brooklyn Bridge March.
Can't wait to march with you!
But one gun manufacturer in Minnesota is developing a gun designed to look virtually indistinguishable from an iPhone. It carries two bullets and all the user would have to do is unfold the handle and fire. Someone could put it on a table at a restaurant and no one would know the difference.
Thousands have already been pre-ordered.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) hasn't weighed in on this yet, but Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on an investigation, and for the ATF and Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the sale of these so-called smartphone guns. We agree.
(This is an image of what the weapon would look like in the locked and unlocked position)
Sign
our petition calling on the ATF and DOJ to investigate and block the sale of
guns designed to be virtually indistinguishable from your smartphone.
One of the ads for the gun even promotes that it will "easily blend in in today's environment." This is something we should make our voices heard on to try and stop this weapon from ever coming to market.
This week marked nine years since the Virginia Tech shooting, where Colin Goddard was shot four times.One of the ads for the gun even promotes that it will "easily blend in in today's environment." This is something we should make our voices heard on to try and stop this weapon from ever coming to market.
In those nine years, we've made enormous progress keeping guns off of college campuses. But as you read this, Georgia is on the verge of becoming the first state to force colleges to allow guns on campus this year.
Georgia Governor Deal still has the chance to veto this bill -- so we urgently need you to get loud. If you care about keeping guns off college campuses, we need you in this fight.
Send Gov. Deal a "rejection letter" and tell him that guns on campus don't make us safer -- and don't belong in places like parties and tailgates. We'll deliver your rejection letter straight to his desk in a thin envelope.
In case you missed it, check out Shannon's email on why guns on college campuses are a dangerous mix.
Want to work alongside gun sense activists from around the country and get more involved on the frontlines in our fight to keep guns out of schools?
Sign up to join the Gun Sense Action Network and start calling voters in Georgia to stop this guns on campus bill in its tracks.
It's also the time of year when the NRA tries to pass laws forcing colleges to allow guns on campuses across the country -- high-stress places where drinking and questionable decision-making are often a part of life.
We shut down the NRA's guns-on-campus agenda in 17 states last year, but now Georgia is on the verge of becoming the first state to force colleges to allow guns on campus this year -- including in places like tailgates, disciplinary hearings, and even on-campus daycare centers.
Let Georgia Governor Nathan Deal know that Americans from states across the country REJECT guns on campus laws, and that he should do the same. Send guns on campus a rejection letter and we'll deliver it in a thin envelope straight to the Governor's desk.
The stakes here are extremely high -- just look at the mess that's happening in Texas, the only state to pass guns-on-campus legislation last year. Top professors have quit their jobs rather than teach in a classroom where students are packing heat. [2] Their concerns are real: After Idaho passed a guns-on-campus law, an Idaho State University professor accidentally shot himself while teaching a chemistry lab. [3]
That's why our rejection of these dangerous laws has to be resounding. Send guns on campus a rejection letter and urge Governor Deal to veto this dangerous bill.
In the United States, the Gun Industry reigns supreme.
|
Victims of gun violence cannot hold gun dealers or manufacturers
legally accountable for reckless actions.
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But President Obama is fighting to change
that.
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The President has fought to protect innocent Americans from the
Gun Industry’s reckless actions.
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But he can't do it alone.
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Tell
Congress: Hold the Gun Industry accountable >>
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As long as the Gun Industry has immunity, the death toll will
continue to rise.
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The time to act is NOW.
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We’re fighting to protect communities from gun violence by giving families and civic leaders the tools they’ll need to prevent tragedies before they happen.
As a grassroots organization, we depend on the feedback of community members like you to help us shape our election year strategy.
We’re building a grassroots organization to take on the Gun Lobby and pass common-sense gun reform because we know that when we stand together, we win.
Working with experts, civic leaders, and citizens to end the gun violence crisis in our community, we came together in 2014 to pass Initiative 594. This year, we’re waging our second fight and we hope you’ll join us every step of the way.
That fight starts with Initiative 1491 -- and it starts with you.
Get started right now by filling out our 2016 Strategy Survey: http://action.wagunresponsibility.org/General-Survey
As a grassroots organization, we depend on the feedback of community members like you to help us shape our election year strategy.
Working with experts, civic leaders, and citizens to end the gun violence crisis in our community, we came together in 2014 to pass Initiative 594. This year, we’re waging our second fight and we hope you’ll join us every step of the way.
That fight starts with Initiative 1491 -- and it starts with you.
Get started right now by filling out our 2016 Strategy Survey: http://action.wagunresponsibility.org/General-Survey
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1. "Nathan Deal fires a warning shot on campus carry measure," Greg Bluestein. AJC.com, March 14 2016.
2. "University of Texas dean resigns over campus carry concerns," Alexandra Samuels. USA Today, February 28 2016.
3. "Idaho professor shoots himself in foot two months after state legalizes guns on campuses," Hunter Schwartz. The Washington Post, September 4 2014.
2. "University of Texas dean resigns over campus carry concerns," Alexandra Samuels. USA Today, February 28 2016.
3. "Idaho professor shoots himself in foot two months after state legalizes guns on campuses," Hunter Schwartz. The Washington Post, September 4 2014.
