Buffalo, New York. Uvalde, Texas. Two more tragic, devastating shootings now added to a list that is way too long. What will it take to pass common sense gun safety laws? If you are as upset and outraged as I am, I offer you a small action that will help fight off the feeling of despair.
We have an opportunity here in Oregon to act right now: Initiative Petition 17. This would ban ammunition magazines over ten rounds, would start a comprehensive permit process that would contain universal background checks, field training (so that if you want to buy a gun you have to first learn how to use it and how to keep it safe), and would start a database of all registered guns in the state. Research shows banning large magazines is the single best way to reduce gun deaths.
Havurah is an official sponsor of the Lift Every Voice Gun Safety Campaign, as are many other faith-based and peace congregations around the state. LET’S PUT OUT THE EFFORT to help get IP 17 on the ballot, for the safety of ourselves, our children, and our whole Oregon community.
If enough of us sign this petition, we can get it on the ballot in November. Washington, California and 6-8 other states already have these laws on the books; our legislature has failed to act. But the clock is ticking. We need many thousands more signatures to meet our goal, and we only have until July 8 to reach it.
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
1) Go to lifteveryvoiceoregon.com and press on the link to SIGN FROM HOME. All you do is print out the page for IP 17, sign and print your name and address, and mail to the campaign office. Each registered voter in your household can print, sign and mail also. You can also email the link out to all your contacts in Oregon (they must be registered voters) and multiply your effort.
OR
2) YOU CAN BECOME A SIGNATURE GATHERER and go to parks, farmers’ markets, concerts, up and down your block, or anywhere people gather, and request that people sign. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS for the next month, call me, Barbara Gundle, right away. I will give you all the information and materials you need to get started. Please help us reach our goal.
If you want to volunteer for this campaign, but do not want to gather signatures,
you can still donate to the coffers, which will help us hire more paid gatherers, or you can volunteer to work in the office.
If not now, when?
L'shalom,
Barbara
For Lift Every Voice Oregon
