Showing posts with label Gabby Giffords. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gabby Giffords. Show all posts

Aug 14, 2013

Chris Christie: Jersey's Protector Will Not Be Held Hostage By The NRA

George Zornick

George Zornick

Action and dysfunction in the Beltway swamp. E-mail tips to george@thenation.com

Christie Is Facing Increased Pressure on Gun Bills

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answers a question during a campaign event in Manville, New Jersey, Monday, May 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed ten measures related to gun control, including some that are mildly controversial in the pro-gun community: one bill would mandate that New Jersey’s background-check system cross-reference the federal terror watch list, while another would call for the submission of New Jersey mental health records into the federal background check system.
But some crucial bills remain unsigned, including a “national model” for universal background checks, and a ban on .50-caliber weapons. Christie’s office told The Nation last week that no decision has yet been made on those bills—and this week, many of the national forces in the gun control debate are starting to ramp up the pressure.
Mark Kelly, the husband of former Representative Gabby Giffords and a leading voice in the gun law reform movement—not to mention a native New Jerseyan—penned an op-ed in the NewarkStar-Ledger today asking Christie to sign the bills:
Gov. Chris Christie and I have much in common.
We’re both straight-talking, no-nonsense sons of New Jersey who grew up in neighboring towns. We’ve devoted years to public service and protecting American communities. We have wives and kids we love dearly. I haven’t always agreed with everything he’s said or done, but I’d like to think we share a belief that we must prevent gun violence and also protect gun rights—and that there are moderate, common-sense policies that do both.
That’s why I’m asking the governor to sign the “centerpiece” gun safety bill sitting on his desk. The bill is simple and sensible: It would expand background checks on gun purchases and safety training for gun owners, and tighten penalties for letting guns fall into the hands of children. These basic measures are supported by just about every group you could think of: gun owners and non-gun owners, Democrats and Republicans and independents, business owners and faith leaders, law enforcement and medical professionals.
Meanwhile the Star-Ledger and another major newspaper in the state, The Times of Trenton, published editorials also asking Christie to sign the bills. The Star-Ledger editorial was particularly strong-worded and said “a veto would be a cynical blow to public safety, and a slap in the face of this state.”
As we noted last week, while Christie almost certainly won’t lose the gubernatorial election this fall, a significant amount of his political capital is invested in the idea that he has broad bipartisan appeal in a blue state. Anything that significantly dents his victory margin or poll numbers is a non-trivial threat to his political future—and in the general presidential election, should he make it there, a veto of universal background checks for gun purchases could be significantly damaging.
But of course Christie has to first make it through the GOP presidential primaries, and a majorityof self-identified conservative Republicans wouldn’t vote for a candidate with whom they disagreed on gun control even if they agreed with him or her on everything else.
So far, the reaction in the pro-gun community to Christi’s signing last week’s bills has been fairly muted.
Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, joined the National Rifle Association’s “Cam & Co.” show and declined to bash Christie for signing the measures.
Instead, he urged the audience to take a constructive approach. “It’s a little agonizing, after all this time and effort, to have these three bills dangling out there, but right now the message to gun owners is, keep contacting the governor’s office,” he said. “It’s pretty important right now that anyone who cares about this issue, anybody who wants to let Governor Christie know this is an important issue to them, if they’re looking at him as a potential presidential candidate, should weigh in with his office immediately and let him know to veto the last three gun bills on his desk. That’s absolutely critical right now.”
With crucial bills still unsigned, George Zornick writes about what is at stake for Christie and gun control debate.

copied from The Nation.......

Aug 13, 2013

Republican Big Dog Chris Christie is not Afraid of the NRA

Chris Christie is a leader, not a follower and not afraid.....

He has already shown he cares for the safety and welfare of the people of his state.  He is not afraid of the walking-dead branch of the republican party, the limbaugh-ites, or the NRA.  Many repubs admire him and as a dem, I admire him and his leadership skills, as well.  

He is one of the most exciting figures on the political scene today.  In regards to the gun safety bill, I feel he will weigh the options carefully and sign in favor of the safety and welfare of voters of his state.  I know this much, he has already shown he is not afraid....and that definitely includes the NRA.


from facebook and Mark Kelly.............
  • New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has a major gun safety bill sitting on his desk right now, and he's about to decide whether to sign it. Mark wrote an op-ed today urging Gov. Christie to do the right thing and sign New Jersey's gun safety bill into law. Please share it with your friends and family.

Jun 28, 2013

Dinner with Gabby and Mark and Talking About Guns


this is an e-mail from the Daily Kos talking about the dinner with Gabby and Mark.......


Chloe, Americans for Responsible Solutions has been a staunch ally of ours on passing legislation for commonsense protections from gun violence. So don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity. Please click below and donate $5 today to earn a chance to have dinner with Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly.

Keep fighting,
Rachel Colyer, Daily Kos

Chloe -

Between trips to Capitol Hill, state legislatures, and Gabby's work recovering from her injury, we don't get many chances to just sit down and enjoy a relaxing meal with friends.

And that's a shame, because we have so much thank you for -- you've taken our effort to pass gun violence legislation and turned it into a grassroots movement.

We'd love to share our appreciation in person.

Contribute $5 or more today and you'll be automatically entered to join us and six supporters for a lobster dinner in Portland, Maine on Saturday, July 6th. Choose a friend or family member to bring along, and we'll take care of your airfare and lodging.

http://action.americansforresponsiblesolutions.org/gabby-and-mark



The dinner is part of a Rights and Responsibilities Tour we're kicking off that will take us from Alaska to North Carolina with a few stops between during the first week of July.

As a bonus, you can be sure that your contribution will go towards our campaign to change our gun laws, or change Congress if they refuse to act.

We'd love to see you while we're in Maine.

All the best,
Gabby and Mark
To unsubscribe from ALL Daily Kos emails, visit this link. To opt-out ONLY from action emails, visit this link.

...............

gosh, that dinner sounds great...I hope I win.....cl

too many kids are dying...let's help President Obama with this gun thing.....

too many kids are dying...let's help President Obama with this gun thing.....

maybe we can have a vote or something...we can write about it and talk about it....could we be moms against guns...the more we talk about it, write about it and do anything about it the more new and good ideas will come to the forefront to solve the situation.

I know there are many groups against guns, now, but I am thinking MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has has many positive outcomes--it is easy to hear and remember.


what is your good idea.






Jeremy Irons made a doc about trash...he is a big name with a real good voice.....

sometimes that is what it takes......a famous person that everyone easily sees and hears.....to tell the thing in a simple way........something we all can easily do to solve the problem.

We do not have to do much but we can each do our own little bit.


Would that work with guns?


Maybe Jeremy could make a doc about guns in the UK.  There are not guns in the big, beautiful city of London.....

How do they survive without guns?


I would like to know that answer......could we use some of their ideas here in the US.

How many kids died from guns there last year?

How many kids died in Chicago last year from guns.

Could Piers Morgan make a doc about guns?  Life in the UK versus life in the US, with and without guns.  I would love to hear from law enforcement in the UK--how to they feel--what is their opinion of the situation.


What are your good ideas?

--
chloelouise