Saturday, January 7, 2017
Friday, December 16, 2016
Another Pro-Gun Republican Has Had Enough Of Oregon Firearms Federation's Extremism
I'm laughing tonight.
Oregon Firearms Federation (or "OFF", which bills themselves as "Oregon's only no-compromise gun lobby"), and their rabid executive director, Kevin Starrett, are no strangers to extremism. They lie, distort, and belittle in order to try to get their way. They are far worse than the NRA, and often accuse the NRA of being "too compromising." Any time there is even a hint of gun violence prevention bills, OFF immediately jumps to extreme conclusions and mobilizes against those horrible liberals comin' to take their gunzzz (This is the same group that has tried to pass bills to allow felons to be armed, to allow convicted drug offenders to carry concealed guns, and even to force schools at all levels to have mandatory gun classes for kids, among other extremist positions, and they have gleefully burnt effigies of the governor on the capital steps, marched through the capitol building with assault rifles, and stood behind gun violence victims in legislative hearings while sporting loaded handguns in open intimidation of those brave presenters).
Lately, an Oregon politician named Val Hoyle has been in the running to fill a soon-to-be-vacated state senate seat. In past years, Val Hoyle had gotten an A rating from OFF. That is, until she dared to co-sponsor a bill for universal background checks (Oregon Senate Bill 941), at which point her A was turned to an F. She understood that, according to four different polls of Oregonians, the bill was supported by the public to the tune of 79-90%! The bill passed and was enacted in May of 2015. The response from OFF and its followers was immediate and extreme. They urged their followers to disobey the law (yes, as usual, the pro-gun movement is also pro-criminal). They vengefully started a movement to try to recall Hoyle and three other Oregon politicians who had supported the bill, which failed miserably, and they also started a movement to get county commissioners to pass resolutions against the bill.
The county commission of Lane County, here where I live, and where Val Hoyle's house district was located, was one of those commissions that passed such a resolution (you can read it HERE). In fact, they passed it AFTER the bill had been passed, which means that their statement that they would refuse to fund or enforce the law was a breach of their oath of office. Four of the five members of that commission are very conservative Republicans (and it was those four who voted for the resolution). Jay Bozievich signed the resolution on the commission's behalf. Lane County residents were overwhelmingly FOR Senate Bill 941, so Mr. Bozievich was going against the wishes of his constituents. Oh, how OFF crowed about that little victory (even though it did nothing to stop the law from being enacted)!
Well, there was a vote by the Lane County Commissioners this week, to decide if Hoyle would fill the Senate seat, or if it would be filled by another Democratic candidate named Jim Manning. OFF lobbied hard to flood the commission's email with anti-Hoyle emails, with the usual name-calling (they called her a "Bloomberg stooge," "Bloomberg's handmaiden," "anti-gun zealot," and other names, in part because Michael Bloomberg had given her a campaign donation). In the end, Manning was voted into the position instead of Hoyle (the vote was 3-2 for Manning), so OFF celebrated and claimed the victory as their own. Jay Bozievich was one of the two votes for Hoyle. According to an article, very few of the deluge of emails from the gun guys were from constituents who actually lived in Hoyle's district, and the emails didn't affect the commissioner's decisions.
But, as usual, the extremist comments from OFF and its supporter soured their own reputation with the politicians they inundated.
The reason I'm laughing is because OFF posted a statement from Jay Bozievich on their Facebook page, in response to the recent vote against Hoyle. See a screenpic of that posting, to the right.
That's right: the very Republican far-right commissioner, who signed a resolution against background checks on their behalf, is sick of OFF's extremism and has let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they are a "non entity that does not have any real power."
Bozievich was correct. OFF is destructive to their own cause. Every time they send out their email alerts or open their mouths in hearings, OFF proudly displays their extremism for all to see.
.
Oregon Firearms Federation (or "OFF", which bills themselves as "Oregon's only no-compromise gun lobby"), and their rabid executive director, Kevin Starrett, are no strangers to extremism. They lie, distort, and belittle in order to try to get their way. They are far worse than the NRA, and often accuse the NRA of being "too compromising." Any time there is even a hint of gun violence prevention bills, OFF immediately jumps to extreme conclusions and mobilizes against those horrible liberals comin' to take their gunzzz (This is the same group that has tried to pass bills to allow felons to be armed, to allow convicted drug offenders to carry concealed guns, and even to force schools at all levels to have mandatory gun classes for kids, among other extremist positions, and they have gleefully burnt effigies of the governor on the capital steps, marched through the capitol building with assault rifles, and stood behind gun violence victims in legislative hearings while sporting loaded handguns in open intimidation of those brave presenters).
Lately, an Oregon politician named Val Hoyle has been in the running to fill a soon-to-be-vacated state senate seat. In past years, Val Hoyle had gotten an A rating from OFF. That is, until she dared to co-sponsor a bill for universal background checks (Oregon Senate Bill 941), at which point her A was turned to an F. She understood that, according to four different polls of Oregonians, the bill was supported by the public to the tune of 79-90%! The bill passed and was enacted in May of 2015. The response from OFF and its followers was immediate and extreme. They urged their followers to disobey the law (yes, as usual, the pro-gun movement is also pro-criminal). They vengefully started a movement to try to recall Hoyle and three other Oregon politicians who had supported the bill, which failed miserably, and they also started a movement to get county commissioners to pass resolutions against the bill.
The county commission of Lane County, here where I live, and where Val Hoyle's house district was located, was one of those commissions that passed such a resolution (you can read it HERE). In fact, they passed it AFTER the bill had been passed, which means that their statement that they would refuse to fund or enforce the law was a breach of their oath of office. Four of the five members of that commission are very conservative Republicans (and it was those four who voted for the resolution). Jay Bozievich signed the resolution on the commission's behalf. Lane County residents were overwhelmingly FOR Senate Bill 941, so Mr. Bozievich was going against the wishes of his constituents. Oh, how OFF crowed about that little victory (even though it did nothing to stop the law from being enacted)!
Well, there was a vote by the Lane County Commissioners this week, to decide if Hoyle would fill the Senate seat, or if it would be filled by another Democratic candidate named Jim Manning. OFF lobbied hard to flood the commission's email with anti-Hoyle emails, with the usual name-calling (they called her a "Bloomberg stooge," "Bloomberg's handmaiden," "anti-gun zealot," and other names, in part because Michael Bloomberg had given her a campaign donation). In the end, Manning was voted into the position instead of Hoyle (the vote was 3-2 for Manning), so OFF celebrated and claimed the victory as their own. Jay Bozievich was one of the two votes for Hoyle. According to an article, very few of the deluge of emails from the gun guys were from constituents who actually lived in Hoyle's district, and the emails didn't affect the commissioner's decisions.
But, as usual, the extremist comments from OFF and its supporter soured their own reputation with the politicians they inundated.
The reason I'm laughing is because OFF posted a statement from Jay Bozievich on their Facebook page, in response to the recent vote against Hoyle. See a screenpic of that posting, to the right.
That's right: the very Republican far-right commissioner, who signed a resolution against background checks on their behalf, is sick of OFF's extremism and has let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they are a "non entity that does not have any real power."
Bozievich was correct. OFF is destructive to their own cause. Every time they send out their email alerts or open their mouths in hearings, OFF proudly displays their extremism for all to see.
.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
2016 Election: Gun violence prevention laws make great strides in WA, CA, NV
The shocking outcome of the presidential election leaves many unanswered questions about what steps will be taken in the next four years at the presidential level to reduce gun violence. (CBS compiled a list of Donald Trump's policy proposals.) Ceasefire Oregon Action Fund and our sister organizations will continue to work at the national and state level to reduce gun violence.
Gun violence prevention initiatives in California, Washington and Nevada were successful. We congratulate our gun violence prevention colleagues for their excellent work!
-California overwhelmingly (67% to 33%) passed Proposition 63, which prohibits high-capacity magazines and creates a court procedure to restrict prohibited people from buying firearms.
-Washington overwhelmingly (71% to 29%) passed I-1491 which allows families of people in crisis to ask a judge to issue an extreme-risk protection order to temporarily prevent a loved one from having access to firearms.
-Nevada passed Question 1 which requires background checks for almost all firearm sales.
-Maine's universal background check initiative failed but garnered 48% of the vote.
Ceasefire Oregon Action Fund is thrilled to see so many progressives elected to office in 2016. We look forward to working with all the legislators to reduce gun violence in Oregon.
Thank you for your great support!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Ask your candidate: Where do you stand on gun violence prevention?
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Tuesday, September 6, 2016
September Is National Suicide Prevention Month.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
You could save the life of someone you love.
Did you know? In Oregon, at least one person every day takes his life by shooting himself to death.
Each year an average of 379 people in Oregon committed suicide using a gun.
The highest rate of suicide by firearm is by White males over the age of 65.
Removing firearms from the home, even temporarily, can save the life of someone you love.
From 2010 to 2014:
- 2,280 Oregonians died from firearms injuries.
- 1,897 were suicides.
- The highest firearm injury death rate occurred among White males, aged 65 and older, due to a high suicide rate (38.7 per 100,000).
- Firearms were used to kill in 87% of the homicide/suicide murders in Oregon.
- Almost half (44%) of people who died by firearm suicide had a depressed mood. One-third had a diagnosed mental illness. About a quarter (27%) were being treated for a mental illness and 13% had a history of suicide.
To reduce the risk of suicide, keep all firearms securely locked, unloaded and stored separately from ammunition or store the firearms in another location such as a firearm storage facility. (If you transfer firearms to a friend, even temporarily, you are required by law to perform a background check on the person to whom you are transferring the firearms.)
Firearm owners are not more suicidal than non-firearm owners; rather, their suicide attempts are more likely to be fatal. If highly lethal means are made less available to impulsive attempters and they substitute less lethal means, or temporarily postpone their attempt, their survival odds greatly increase.
Are you a teacher? Learn the signs of suicide and what you can do to prevent a tragedy. Read the Oregon Health Authority's informational page "What Every Teacher Should Know" or download the brochure.
The Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation partners with Lines for Life and the Oregon Youth Suicide Prevention Program.
For more information: Oregon Violent Death Reporting System, Oregon Injury and Violence Prevention Program
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Gun-Related Art Installations By Sculptor Michael Murphy
Three works of suspended art by Michael Murphy
"Identity Crisis"
"Damage"
2013 site-specific sculptural installation by Michael Murphy for the Association of Visual Arts in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The work consists of 1200 black ping pong balls, braided fibers, steel, and PVC. 10' X 20' X 10'
"Gun Country"
"Gun Country"
150 toy guns, 12' X 20' X 12' Installed on the roof of UICA in Grand Rapids, MI for Artprize 2014
You can find more work by Michael Murphy at his webpage, here: http://mmike.com/index.html
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Monday, July 18, 2016
Oregon Governor Kate Brown's Initiative To Reduce Gun Violence
A statement from Ceasefire Oregon...
Ceasefire Oregon is proud to be part of Governor Brown's new initiative to reduce gun violence.
Governor Brown's initiative includes:
- Prohibiting purchases of extended-capacity magazines. This type of ammunition enables shooters to fire 10, 30 or even 50 bullets before stopping to reload the gun.
- Expanding the types of relationships that qualify under domestic violence by closing the "boyfriend loophole." This legislation will ensure that people convicted of certain domestic violence and stalking crimes will no longer have access to firearms.
- Closing the Charleston loophole so individuals who should not own a gun are not able to buy one simply because authorities were unable to complete a background check in a few days.
- Strengthening existing law through executive order to give law enforcement the tools needed to track and analyze gun transactions.
- Establishing a work group to review and assess firearms-related domestic violence offenses.
- Directing the Oregon Health Authority, through executive action, to report annually on gun violence, its effect of public health and to recommend policies to reduce gun violence in Oregon.
In addition, Governor Brown calls upon Congress to end gun violence by:
- Banning assault weapons and extended-capacity magazines. (S. 4269)
- Strengthening anti-terrorist legislation so individuals on the FBI's watch list are prohibited from purchasing a firearm in the United States. (H.R. 1076)
Governor Brown's actions are strong, positive steps we can take to stop the gun violence that we witness daily. Please call her office now at (503) 378-4582 to thank her.
To stay up to date on the Governor's actions and to learn what you can do to stop gun violence, visit our website at ceasefireoregon.org and encourage your friends to do the same.
Working together, we can put an end to the scourge of gun violence.
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