I spent the weekend of the 8-9th, and part of the 7th, at my Sisters house in Butler County. I was there for a Pirates baseball game and a concert featuring the band O.A.R. I had a great time playing with my Nephew, annoying my Sister, and even made a rare appearance at a family reunion.
What I did not expect was the ballgame itself to take nearly 4 hours! I had to abandon the post-game concert as I did not like the idea of driving the country roads that it takes to get to Sister's home late at night. I did manage to get a bit lost and ended up in a neighbor's driveway. The neighborhood, which is well-armed, was already on edge as a criminal was on the loose.
The next day, while doing an on-line course, I realized how close I may have come to being a Renisha McBride, the African-American woman who was shot on a front porch after being in an accident. Pennsylvania, you see, has a "Castle Doctrine" law. I am not sure a driveway is considered part of the house, but the owner could have, without asking any questions, shot at me. A strange car pulling into a driveway at night, especially in light of what had transpired, may have been seen as a threat.
The on-line course got me to thinking about something else. The N.R.A and their allies like to trumpet the murder rates in large cities,but ignore the accidental shootings, etc that happen in so many of the rural areas that make up their base. About the only person I know who keeps track of this is progressive radio host David Waldman. Of course, to the N.R.A, it seems that any gun death, accidental or otherwise, is a "price of freedom".
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
A Point of Intersection and The NRA Loses Standing
At services today, during our general prayers, we offered a prayer for those killed last week in Charlestown, South Carolina. Much has been made about the sentiments of the shooter, and it may have sprurred a renewed interest in legislative action. With an election coming up, that seems a bit unlikely.
But those tragic events may be an opportunity for two movements that have seemed to existed in parallel, but never quite intersected, until now.
The shooting in Charleston was not just another mass shooting, it was a mass shooting at an African-American church. It also seems that the shooter may have targeted the church because it was African-American.
Could this be the opportunity for the "Black Lives Matter" movement and the movement for "Gunsense" to start collaborating? The two groups don't seem to be overlapping very much. When I went to an event sponsored by Heeding God's Call of Harrisburg, and then a movie sponsored by Harrisburg's contribution to "Black Lives Matter", I was one of only two people at both.
It's been suggested that the reason police are so aggressive to people of color, is that they presumed they are armed at all times, laws to limit straw purchases, or require stolen guns be reported, are among those opposed by the National Rifle Association. As a response to this fear, we say "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws passed.
The death of Trayvon Martin and the Tuscon Shooting were not that far apart, perhaps it's time to for the two movements to start working more closely.
But those tragic events may be an opportunity for two movements that have seemed to existed in parallel, but never quite intersected, until now.
The shooting in Charleston was not just another mass shooting, it was a mass shooting at an African-American church. It also seems that the shooter may have targeted the church because it was African-American.
Could this be the opportunity for the "Black Lives Matter" movement and the movement for "Gunsense" to start collaborating? The two groups don't seem to be overlapping very much. When I went to an event sponsored by Heeding God's Call of Harrisburg, and then a movie sponsored by Harrisburg's contribution to "Black Lives Matter", I was one of only two people at both.
It's been suggested that the reason police are so aggressive to people of color, is that they presumed they are armed at all times, laws to limit straw purchases, or require stolen guns be reported, are among those opposed by the National Rifle Association. As a response to this fear, we say "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws passed.
The death of Trayvon Martin and the Tuscon Shooting were not that far apart, perhaps it's time to for the two movements to start working more closely.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Beyond a Fashion Statement
I'm #WearingOrange because I've seen what guns and violence have done to my hometown pic.twitter.com/S0MMeUzRBB
— HarrisburgUnderFire (@HarrisburgU_F) June 2, 2015
Tuesday, June 3, I joined thousands of people to participate in "Wear Orange" day. This event, organized by Everytown For Gun Safety, was to call attention to issues of guns and gun violence in America.
It looks like is was an impressive show of support, and some of the responses from the "Redneck Taliban" were an indication that the message was sent and received. This also is a further indication that Everytown, Mom's Demand, etc are not going away anytime soon. Unlike the Million Mom's Movement of the early part of the 21st Century, this movement for sane and rational gun laws seems to have legs!
But wearing orange is not enough. With the 2016 primary elections less than a year away, an effort needs to made to "Vote Orange", to make firearms policy an issue not only in the Presidential election but in the elections for United States House and Senate, and state races also! I am not saying that firearms policy need be the main issue, but the Democrats putting a background check, etc plank into their platform cannot hurt, especially with the GOP field looking like they're mainly aiming for the mobile estates.
I am sure candidates in some States and districts may fear the National Rifle Association and it's "Insurrectionists", but money from Everytown and boots on the ground from Mom's Demand may calm some of those fears.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Answering The Call
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
A local community member also engaged Chief Carter in a spirited discussion.
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
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| Photo By James D'Angelo |
He also reminded the guests that this is a long struggle.
Monday, April 20, 2015
History, Repeating?
April 19, 1995 was an ordinary day for me. I went to my classes at Rochester Institute of Technology, and took a break for my afternoon workout.
While this was going on, I saw footage of a bombing in Oklahoma City. I dismissed it as part of the regular programming. When they announced that the director of the F.B.I was going to be speaking, I realized that this was not a plot twist.
My first thought, like many Americans, was foreign terrorists. The 1st World Trade Center bombings had passed, and I figured some foreign group had decided to try an attack on a softer target. In the weeks and months to come, it was revealed that the attack had been the effort of domestic extremists.
That tragedy in Oklahoma City seemed to make the end of the militia movement, but they may have only looked dead.
The election of Barack Obama has sparked a rise in "patriot groups". These groups have found a political voice with the "Tea Party" and may have re-armed. Much of the rhetoric from the National Rifle Association can sound like that which came from the militia movement of the 1990s.
Could we see another attack like Oklahoma City. As the "Redneck Taliban" that make up the membership base of the N.R.A see their vision of America more and more threatened, they could make a try. A federal court building, and Internal Revenue Service Office or even an ATF office could all be targets.
Of course, with Islamophobia being a large part of the conservative mindset, a mosque may be a more likely target.
While this was going on, I saw footage of a bombing in Oklahoma City. I dismissed it as part of the regular programming. When they announced that the director of the F.B.I was going to be speaking, I realized that this was not a plot twist.
My first thought, like many Americans, was foreign terrorists. The 1st World Trade Center bombings had passed, and I figured some foreign group had decided to try an attack on a softer target. In the weeks and months to come, it was revealed that the attack had been the effort of domestic extremists.
That tragedy in Oklahoma City seemed to make the end of the militia movement, but they may have only looked dead.
The election of Barack Obama has sparked a rise in "patriot groups". These groups have found a political voice with the "Tea Party" and may have re-armed. Much of the rhetoric from the National Rifle Association can sound like that which came from the militia movement of the 1990s.
Could we see another attack like Oklahoma City. As the "Redneck Taliban" that make up the membership base of the N.R.A see their vision of America more and more threatened, they could make a try. A federal court building, and Internal Revenue Service Office or even an ATF office could all be targets.
Of course, with Islamophobia being a large part of the conservative mindset, a mosque may be a more likely target.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Harrisburg To Stand For Sanity
On April 25, at 1:00 PM, the Harrisburg Brethren In Christ Church will host a call to action "Standing in Solidarity For Sensible Gun Laws".
Among the planned speakers are; Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, State Representative Patty Kim and Executive Director of Heeding God's Call, Bryan Miller.
The city of Harrisburg is one of several cities in Pennsylvania that is seeing laws challenged by outside, and likely manufacturer-funded, organizations.
Heeding God's Call is a national organization with four main focal points; Public education about the dangers of illegal guns, working with sellers to end illegal straw purchases of handguns, legislative activities, and networking with communities of faith.
I plan to be at this event and will have a full report, including photography.
Among the planned speakers are; Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, State Representative Patty Kim and Executive Director of Heeding God's Call, Bryan Miller.
The city of Harrisburg is one of several cities in Pennsylvania that is seeing laws challenged by outside, and likely manufacturer-funded, organizations.
Heeding God's Call is a national organization with four main focal points; Public education about the dangers of illegal guns, working with sellers to end illegal straw purchases of handguns, legislative activities, and networking with communities of faith.
I plan to be at this event and will have a full report, including photography.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Escalating The Cycle?
A few weeks ago, I finally got around to getting a "Million Hoodies" hooded sweatshirt. I actually thought that it may be too little, too late. Then I saw what happened in South Carolina, where it seems that a police officer shot a man fleeing from him, then planted evidence.
It is one in another case of unnecessary, lethal, force being applied to a person of color. A few have speculated that there's a mentality where the police are starting to see any person of color as a threat. So how does any of this tie into common-sense firearms laws?
It may have to do with that police see any person of color as armed and dangerous. Those firearms, likely illegal., may be black market, from a straw purchaser or even the result of a private purchase. The legislation that could stop any of these avenues; reporting laws, purchase limits and expanded background checks, are all opposed by the NRA and its allies.
Of course, the folks that saw George Zimmerman as a hero may also see the officer in South Carolina the same way.
It is one in another case of unnecessary, lethal, force being applied to a person of color. A few have speculated that there's a mentality where the police are starting to see any person of color as a threat. So how does any of this tie into common-sense firearms laws?
It may have to do with that police see any person of color as armed and dangerous. Those firearms, likely illegal., may be black market, from a straw purchaser or even the result of a private purchase. The legislation that could stop any of these avenues; reporting laws, purchase limits and expanded background checks, are all opposed by the NRA and its allies.
Of course, the folks that saw George Zimmerman as a hero may also see the officer in South Carolina the same way.
A Reason To Be
Every movement has its 'fringe'. The gun [manufacturers] lobby has the "Open carry" and even a "Constitutional carry" camp. There is a small faction among the "gunsense" community that would like to see private ownership of firearms banned and the 2nd Amendment be repealed.
I don't see that as good idea. It plays into the "insurrectionist" camp and fuels the fear their political arm relies on. Also the 2nd Amendment is in the Constitution for a reason. At the time of our country's founding, there was little in the way of a standing Army and the United States was basically a frontier nation.
Just as most other Amendments of the Constitution have been interpreted to reflect changing times, the 2nd may need the same thing. Groups like Moms Demand and Everytown see this.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The Next 'Redneck Rebellion'?
I was at a "visibility" focused on the minimum wage and other economic issues and in the course of conversing with one of the participants, the group in Harrisburg that is part of the "Black Lives Matter" movement came up. I mentioned how I felt that this group "dropped the ball" a bit by not doing a visibility or action at the 2nd annual, National Rifle Association sponsored, outdoors show. The other participant mentioned safety concerns that could have stemmed from that.
That inability to see the consequences of an action or decision by the part of the NRA was demonstrated again in their successful efforts to force the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to shelf a proposal to ban ammunition that could penetrate body armor.
I understand that their opposition is likely based on both the groups absolutist interpretation of the 2nd Amendment and their close ties to manufacturers. But I also see this as fitting into the "Insurrectionist" mentality of many of the group's members.
The argument could be made, "Criminals may have body armor too." Perhaps, but the odds of that happening are small. Few burglars or even street thugs will likely have armor, a mass shooter maybe.
I think this has more to do with readying to fight law enforcement or the American military in the revolution that many NRA members seem to think is likely, if not necessary. As many members see America becoming more diverse and urban, they see the political power, especially at a national level, threatened. They can win victories at the state and local level, and for now can hold their ground at the Federal level. But they may know that at some point, that may shift.
If only they would at the history of these insurgencies. The Whiskey Rebellion and the Civil War were both cases where rural folks took on the United States and lost. Do these "Redneck Taliban" think they'll have different results.
Of course these are folks whose reality is shaped by first person shooter games and the rest of the "culture of violence".
That inability to see the consequences of an action or decision by the part of the NRA was demonstrated again in their successful efforts to force the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to shelf a proposal to ban ammunition that could penetrate body armor.
I understand that their opposition is likely based on both the groups absolutist interpretation of the 2nd Amendment and their close ties to manufacturers. But I also see this as fitting into the "Insurrectionist" mentality of many of the group's members.
The argument could be made, "Criminals may have body armor too." Perhaps, but the odds of that happening are small. Few burglars or even street thugs will likely have armor, a mass shooter maybe.
I think this has more to do with readying to fight law enforcement or the American military in the revolution that many NRA members seem to think is likely, if not necessary. As many members see America becoming more diverse and urban, they see the political power, especially at a national level, threatened. They can win victories at the state and local level, and for now can hold their ground at the Federal level. But they may know that at some point, that may shift.
If only they would at the history of these insurgencies. The Whiskey Rebellion and the Civil War were both cases where rural folks took on the United States and lost. Do these "Redneck Taliban" think they'll have different results.
Of course these are folks whose reality is shaped by first person shooter games and the rest of the "culture of violence".
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Missing a Connection
February 26, 2015 was the third anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of an armed, Neighborhood Watch, volunteer; the shooter would be acquitted thanks in part to Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
Trayvon was but one in a long list of well-publicized shootings; Tuscon Arizona, Aruora, Colorado, Ft. Hood Texas, Newtown, Connecticut, etc. There have been more mass shootings since Newtown, and there will likely be more.
But there has been another development since Newtown, incidents of people of color being killed at the hands of police officers. The shooting of Mike Brown and the strangulation of Eric Garner seemed to fill Twitter with the hashtags of "Hands Up--Don't Shoot" and "Black Lives Matter".
There would seem to be an opportunity here to bring this movement and the movement for common-sense firearms laws together. I am sure there have been informal or coincidental connections, but I have yet to see a group like Moms Demand Action sit down officially with the Million Hoodies Campaign.
Now I realize the two groups goals do not precisely match up. Moms Demand is concerned with keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals, while Million Hoodies is more concerned with police and justice issues. But they do have one common thread, they are trying to protect individuals.
Forming an alliance would have a another advantage. It may take one of the main criticisms that the "Redneck Taliban" have about groups like Moms Demand. That they are little more than suburban soccer moms with little better to do. Never mind that I hear little about the National Rifle Association reaching out into urban areas. Perhaps that dates back to the Mumford Act, or that the birth of the NRA as the political wing of America's insurgents seems to follow from race riots and the rise of the Black Panthers.
Trayvon was but one in a long list of well-publicized shootings; Tuscon Arizona, Aruora, Colorado, Ft. Hood Texas, Newtown, Connecticut, etc. There have been more mass shootings since Newtown, and there will likely be more.
But there has been another development since Newtown, incidents of people of color being killed at the hands of police officers. The shooting of Mike Brown and the strangulation of Eric Garner seemed to fill Twitter with the hashtags of "Hands Up--Don't Shoot" and "Black Lives Matter".
There would seem to be an opportunity here to bring this movement and the movement for common-sense firearms laws together. I am sure there have been informal or coincidental connections, but I have yet to see a group like Moms Demand Action sit down officially with the Million Hoodies Campaign.
Now I realize the two groups goals do not precisely match up. Moms Demand is concerned with keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals, while Million Hoodies is more concerned with police and justice issues. But they do have one common thread, they are trying to protect individuals.
Forming an alliance would have a another advantage. It may take one of the main criticisms that the "Redneck Taliban" have about groups like Moms Demand. That they are little more than suburban soccer moms with little better to do. Never mind that I hear little about the National Rifle Association reaching out into urban areas. Perhaps that dates back to the Mumford Act, or that the birth of the NRA as the political wing of America's insurgents seems to follow from race riots and the rise of the Black Panthers.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Harrisburg In The Crosshairs and Beware of "Pixel Dust"
A Twitter follower informed me of the National Rifle Association's consideration to sue the city of Harrisburg under the law that gives groups the right to sue cities. Among ordinances the NRA sees as infringing on the 2nd Amendment are prohibitions on discharging a firearm in the city limits and a law requiring that stolen firearms be reported. Mayor Eric Papenfuse believes these ordinances are sensible and responsible, and are for the safety of police and residents.
On an administrative note, I hope to make some changes to this blogs layout. I've been working with WordPress and thing I can transfer some of those skills to this site.
On an administrative note, I hope to make some changes to this blogs layout. I've been working with WordPress and thing I can transfer some of those skills to this site.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Two Years(+1 Day)
Two years ago, on December 14, I headed to my job at a help desk. I was excited more for the evening, as I was going to be picking up a new smart phone. My mood was dampened by an incident at a small elementary school in Connecticut. I, like many, thought that 20 kids and 6 adults would be enough to get America to wake up and confront its culture of guns and violence.
Success has been mixed though. Efforts at the Federal level have been stymied by the NRA and their political 'hired guns'. The new Congress is likely to be very, very unfriendly to efforts to advance any efforts to pass what many, if not most, see as reasonable, common sense, restrictions. Of course, the people that the NRA rely on for support are far from reasonable in the opinions of many.
At the State level, their have been some gains. Washington, weeks after a mass shooting, passed strict background check laws this year. But there have also been setbacks, my home state of Pennsylvania has given the NRA the power to sue cities who attempt to pass laws to require reporting of stolen weapons or to secure firearms. As cites, especially larger cities, may be a laboratory for 'gunsense'.
One area where there have been great advances is on the social front. Efforts by Moms Demand Action to get businesses like Starbucks and Target to have "No guns in the store" policies, while lacking any legal force, further send a message that open carry of firearms is socially unacceptable. There are efforts underway to divest from firearms manufacturers, much like what was done against South Africa and the tobacco industry.
Where do advocates for common-sense legislation go from here. I think they need to look to become part of greater alliances. Joining with groups like Move to Amend, that work to reduce the political power of corporations like the manufacturers that bankroll much of the NRA, and the growing new civil rights movement that has sprung up in the aftermath of Ferguson, would give groups like Everytown and the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence a greater voice.
One thing, much to the surprise of the NRA and their allies, is that voices for what seem to many like reasonable limits on types of firearms, and background checks to keep weapons out of the hands of felons and the insane, are not being silenced. It seems that each shooting, whether it involve 26, 3 or even one, is only making calls for 'gunsense' louder.
Success has been mixed though. Efforts at the Federal level have been stymied by the NRA and their political 'hired guns'. The new Congress is likely to be very, very unfriendly to efforts to advance any efforts to pass what many, if not most, see as reasonable, common sense, restrictions. Of course, the people that the NRA rely on for support are far from reasonable in the opinions of many.
At the State level, their have been some gains. Washington, weeks after a mass shooting, passed strict background check laws this year. But there have also been setbacks, my home state of Pennsylvania has given the NRA the power to sue cities who attempt to pass laws to require reporting of stolen weapons or to secure firearms. As cites, especially larger cities, may be a laboratory for 'gunsense'.
One area where there have been great advances is on the social front. Efforts by Moms Demand Action to get businesses like Starbucks and Target to have "No guns in the store" policies, while lacking any legal force, further send a message that open carry of firearms is socially unacceptable. There are efforts underway to divest from firearms manufacturers, much like what was done against South Africa and the tobacco industry.
Where do advocates for common-sense legislation go from here. I think they need to look to become part of greater alliances. Joining with groups like Move to Amend, that work to reduce the political power of corporations like the manufacturers that bankroll much of the NRA, and the growing new civil rights movement that has sprung up in the aftermath of Ferguson, would give groups like Everytown and the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence a greater voice.
One thing, much to the surprise of the NRA and their allies, is that voices for what seem to many like reasonable limits on types of firearms, and background checks to keep weapons out of the hands of felons and the insane, are not being silenced. It seems that each shooting, whether it involve 26, 3 or even one, is only making calls for 'gunsense' louder.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Harrisburg Stands Up, and A Small Win in The General Assembly
Earlier this week,about 100 people gathered on lawn of the Martin Luther King Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a vigil to remember the 61 victims of shootings in Harrisburg since 2009.
The event, organized by the Harrisburg Chapter of Heeding God's Call, featured a reading of the names, songs, speeches and poetry.
Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Richard Negrin, said he weary of these makeshift monuments and recounted watching his father die from gunshots from a sub-machine gun.
Both Negrin and Representative Patty Kim voiced their support for universal background checks for all firearms.
When the PA General Assembly adjourned for the weekend, House Bill 2011 was still on the table, efforts to push this bill, which would allow the National Rifle Association to sue cities which try to pass laws to do things like require reporting of stolen firearms, require safe storage of firearms, or ban guns from parks, were stymied by the efforts of CeaseFire PA.
The bill may come up for a vote this week, and CeaseFire has created a tool to send a letter to the editor of local newspapers.
The event, organized by the Harrisburg Chapter of Heeding God's Call, featured a reading of the names, songs, speeches and poetry.
Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Richard Negrin, said he weary of these makeshift monuments and recounted watching his father die from gunshots from a sub-machine gun.
Both Negrin and Representative Patty Kim voiced their support for universal background checks for all firearms.
When the PA General Assembly adjourned for the weekend, House Bill 2011 was still on the table, efforts to push this bill, which would allow the National Rifle Association to sue cities which try to pass laws to do things like require reporting of stolen firearms, require safe storage of firearms, or ban guns from parks, were stymied by the efforts of CeaseFire PA.
The bill may come up for a vote this week, and CeaseFire has created a tool to send a letter to the editor of local newspapers.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Harrisburg Confronts Ferguson and Panera Gets Gunsense
On Monday, September 8, Harrisburg Hope held a forum at the Midtown Scholar bookstore to discuss the shooting death of an African-American teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.
Democratic Representative Patty Kim, co-sponsored the discussion, which also featured Harrisburg Police Chief Tom Carter, Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico, Harrisburg Council Member Jeffery Baltimore and five representatives of the community.
The militarization of police forces, and the over-policing of neighborhoods were brought up several times. And D.A Marsico mentioned that the militarization is the result of suspects being more heavily armed in many cases.
The lack of African-Americans on the force was also brought up. The event was criticized for not having enough African-American youth present, and it was suggest that an event be held in a neighborhood.
The pattern should be a familar one by now. "Open Carry" advocates, as a show of force or ego, enter a store or other business. Customers get scared, and take to Twitter or other social media. Pressure from groups like Moms Demand Action leads to a boycott and the company has to create a "No Guns" policy.
The bakery/cafe chain Panera Bread took a more proactive approach. After months of negotiations and meetings with Moms Demand Action, the store announced that they are urging customers to leave their guns at home.
Now I realize that these are polices, not laws. But they do send the message that the majority of us do not America to look like Afghanistan, etc. It also may be another signal that gun ownership is, much like smoking, becoming a socially unacceptable behavior.
Democratic Representative Patty Kim, co-sponsored the discussion, which also featured Harrisburg Police Chief Tom Carter, Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico, Harrisburg Council Member Jeffery Baltimore and five representatives of the community.
The militarization of police forces, and the over-policing of neighborhoods were brought up several times. And D.A Marsico mentioned that the militarization is the result of suspects being more heavily armed in many cases.
The lack of African-Americans on the force was also brought up. The event was criticized for not having enough African-American youth present, and it was suggest that an event be held in a neighborhood.
The pattern should be a familar one by now. "Open Carry" advocates, as a show of force or ego, enter a store or other business. Customers get scared, and take to Twitter or other social media. Pressure from groups like Moms Demand Action leads to a boycott and the company has to create a "No Guns" policy.
The bakery/cafe chain Panera Bread took a more proactive approach. After months of negotiations and meetings with Moms Demand Action, the store announced that they are urging customers to leave their guns at home.
Now I realize that these are polices, not laws. But they do send the message that the majority of us do not America to look like Afghanistan, etc. It also may be another signal that gun ownership is, much like smoking, becoming a socially unacceptable behavior.
Monday, September 8, 2014
A Giant Shows Gunsense
Kroger Foods continue to feel the pressure from groups like Moms Demand Action to adopt a "No guns" policy. Now I realize that these polices have no real legal weight, but they do send the message that most people do not like seeing people openly carrying weapons in a grocery, etc store.
In the course of tweeting, I ended up asking if Carlisle, PA based Giant Foods had a policy on weapons, and soon had my answer:
I have to say that part of this doesn't surprise me. Since Pennsylvania is not an "Open Carry" state, though I am surprised that Pennsylvania's "Trailer Park Caucus" hasn't proposed such legislation.
Now I wonder about the other major grocery stores in the midstate region; what policy do Weis Markets, Karns Foods, Wegmans, Shur-Fine, or Wal-Mart have?
Perhaps this is an issue CeaseFirePA could take up?
In the course of tweeting, I ended up asking if Carlisle, PA based Giant Foods had a policy on weapons, and soon had my answer:
@HarrisburgU_F We have a zero weapons policy. We welcome gun owners to shop in our stores, just not while they are carrying their firearm.
— Giant Food Stores (@GiantFoodStores) September 5, 2014
I have to say that part of this doesn't surprise me. Since Pennsylvania is not an "Open Carry" state, though I am surprised that Pennsylvania's "Trailer Park Caucus" hasn't proposed such legislation.
Now I wonder about the other major grocery stores in the midstate region; what policy do Weis Markets, Karns Foods, Wegmans, Shur-Fine, or Wal-Mart have?
Perhaps this is an issue CeaseFirePA could take up?
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
A Few More in The Foot?
The National Rifle Association, perhaps to try and soften its perception among many as the political arm of America's insurgents, likes to tout it's effort to teach gun safety. Kind of odd since over the last two weeks, the organization has put a few shots in it collective foot.
The first was their recent attack on Mom's Demand Action founder Sharon Watts. The basis of this was that she, and her allies, are too busy trying to make sure that high-capacity weapons stay out of the hands of the insane and abusive to perform the household duties. The response was to be expected as mothers and other women called the NRA out on their antiquated views of a woman's role.
Of course, such ideas from the NRA should come as no surprise. Much of the NRA's membership is likely rural and male. Many of them still may cling to the idea that a woman's place is in the home; "fetch me my Natty [Natural Ice] and make me a baby," may be the way many NRA members see their wives, girlfriends, etc.
If the women aren't playing the role of "good wife", etc. They may be a sort of "redneckgaliban", believing that their firearms, which are more likely to be used against them than against any attacker, protect them.
Next has been the NRA response to a 9-year old inadvertently killing her instructor at a shooting range. A group that claims to teach and promote gun safety seems to have little issue with allowing a 9 year old to handle an UZI. They even published a piece on how young people could have fun at a gun range. Now I will say I have problem with a 9 or 10 year old using a BB gun or an air rifle to 'plink' at cans, or even targets. But most people with any sense would seem to have an issue with anyone under 16 at least handling an automatic weapon.
Also, we have another company that has been invaded by "Open Carry" advocates, this time it is the grocery store chain Kroger. '#GroceriesNotGuns", is trending on Twitter, but folks need to realize that Kroger is more than just grocery stores. My readers in the Harrisburg area need to be away that Turkey Hill convenience stores and Littman jewelers are both owned by Kroger. Perhaps #gasnotguns and #gemsnotguns would work well in the midstate.
The first was their recent attack on Mom's Demand Action founder Sharon Watts. The basis of this was that she, and her allies, are too busy trying to make sure that high-capacity weapons stay out of the hands of the insane and abusive to perform the household duties. The response was to be expected as mothers and other women called the NRA out on their antiquated views of a woman's role.
Of course, such ideas from the NRA should come as no surprise. Much of the NRA's membership is likely rural and male. Many of them still may cling to the idea that a woman's place is in the home; "fetch me my Natty [Natural Ice] and make me a baby," may be the way many NRA members see their wives, girlfriends, etc.
If the women aren't playing the role of "good wife", etc. They may be a sort of "redneckgaliban", believing that their firearms, which are more likely to be used against them than against any attacker, protect them.
Next has been the NRA response to a 9-year old inadvertently killing her instructor at a shooting range. A group that claims to teach and promote gun safety seems to have little issue with allowing a 9 year old to handle an UZI. They even published a piece on how young people could have fun at a gun range. Now I will say I have problem with a 9 or 10 year old using a BB gun or an air rifle to 'plink' at cans, or even targets. But most people with any sense would seem to have an issue with anyone under 16 at least handling an automatic weapon.
Also, we have another company that has been invaded by "Open Carry" advocates, this time it is the grocery store chain Kroger. '#GroceriesNotGuns", is trending on Twitter, but folks need to realize that Kroger is more than just grocery stores. My readers in the Harrisburg area need to be away that Turkey Hill convenience stores and Littman jewelers are both owned by Kroger. Perhaps #gasnotguns and #gemsnotguns would work well in the midstate.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
A Question of When
This week, the trial in the death of Renisha McBride began. It's a story that we've heard before; African-American shot and killed by a person claiming "self-defense". We heard it with Trayvon Martin and with Jordan Davis in Florida. This case in Michigan will likely work along the same lines, the shooter will claim they felt threatened, the same "Thug Defense" that George Zimmerman and Michael Dunn used to avoid murder charges will be invoked in some form.
The McBride case though, represents a case that I could see happening in Pennsylvania. This case involved an incident at the shooters house, not a street or a gas station. This could fall more under the "Castle Doctrine" than the "Stand Your Ground" that Dunn and Zimmerman invoked. This defense, coming from an alliance between the American Legislative Exchange Council and the National Rifle Association, gives a homeowner the right to use deadly force against what they perceive as a threat, no opportunity to retreat or flee needs to be presented.
A situation like the McBride case could easily happen in Pennsylvania. An African-American or Hispanic, travelling through a rural community, gets lost, has car trouble, or even gets in an accident. They go to a house to ask to make a phone call, etc. The owner, seeing a person of color, without asking any questions, fires a shot.
What would such a case mean to Pennsylvania? I'd like to think it would be watched by folks like Al Sharpton, Melissa Harris-Perry, etc as another example of how the lynching tree may now be the barrel of a gun. The case being in that locality would likely mean a lilly-white jury that would probably accept the "Thug Defense" that the shooter might make.
When, or if, the shooter were acquitted, there would probably be calls for a boycott of Pennsylvania, and James Carville's classic description of Pennsylvania of "Pittsburgh in the West, Philly in the East and Alabama in between" would be demonstrated once again.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Putting Money Where Our Hearts Are
Commerce can be a political act; millions remember not buying grapes or lettuce as a sign of solidarity with farm workers, the fall of apartheid in South Africa was aided by efforts to get countries to divest. I am not immune from this; I do not shop at Wal-Mart as I don't approve of their labor practices.
The economic front in the battle for gunsense, like many struggles, is a complex one. There are efforts underway like the "Unload Your 401K" campaign to, much like what was done against South Africa, to get people to stop having their money fund those that arm America's insurgents and back their political arm .
There's also the retail front; it has become all too common to see "Open Carry" advocates seem to invade stores, and frightened customers turn to social media to get that store to create a "No guns please" policy; Starbucks and Jack In The Box did this. But other companies seem reluctant; Home Depot, Target and Subway all find themselves under pressure to urge their customers to leave their weapons at home or in their vehicles.
It's beginning to get hard to keep up, and keep the pressure on. I will confess I bought Father's Day and my Mom's Birthday cards from Hallmark, a company that has been under some pressure as they do not have a policy against open carry.
But I can see it being worthwhile as well. Who wants to shop at a place where people are carrying rifles out in the open. This is America, not Afghanistan. Also, businesses that allow open carry could be seen as needing to cater to the "Redneck Taliban". I can see a store like Wal-Mart, etc doing that, but a place like Target, more associated with the suburban mother that the residents of the mobile estates?
Friday, June 13, 2014
Don't Agonize--Organize.
We have reached that tipping point again. The shootings in California, Las Vegas, Seattle and Portland have political leaders including President Obama and Nancy Pelosi taking about taking some action to deal with gun violence.
The shootings in Las Vegas may have also shined a light on the anti-government sentiments of many of those that the gun lobby and the manufacturers that it in reality represents rely on to keep both of them in business.
But this may not be the best time to push for legislation. I can understand the desire to get Senators and Representatives on the record on what seem like common sense reforms as background checks, magazine limits and bans on assault weapons.
But there are obstacles in the way, the main one is that this is a election year. Many Senators are up for re-election, and casting a vote against the National Rifle Association may put their seat at risk. If the Senate does go to the Republican Party, efforts at any sort of reasonable gun legislation will be impossible for at least two years.
What may be a better option is to make legislation that most people see as reasonable a part of the campaign. Get candidates on the record of whether or not they support common sense gun reform. This could be a great test of the power of Everytown, can the money of Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the ground and social media reach of Moms Demand Action overcome the NRA and it's insurrectionists?
The shootings in Las Vegas may have also shined a light on the anti-government sentiments of many of those that the gun lobby and the manufacturers that it in reality represents rely on to keep both of them in business.
But this may not be the best time to push for legislation. I can understand the desire to get Senators and Representatives on the record on what seem like common sense reforms as background checks, magazine limits and bans on assault weapons.
But there are obstacles in the way, the main one is that this is a election year. Many Senators are up for re-election, and casting a vote against the National Rifle Association may put their seat at risk. If the Senate does go to the Republican Party, efforts at any sort of reasonable gun legislation will be impossible for at least two years.
What may be a better option is to make legislation that most people see as reasonable a part of the campaign. Get candidates on the record of whether or not they support common sense gun reform. This could be a great test of the power of Everytown, can the money of Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the ground and social media reach of Moms Demand Action overcome the NRA and it's insurrectionists?
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Mine, Mine, Mine!
Insanity has been defined as, "Doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results". It would seem that the "Open Carry" community, to no ones surprise, would fit this definition. Their latest target was a Home Depot in Texas.
If what has happened when these folks have invaded places like Sonic Drive In and Chipotle is any indication, the results should go something like this. People who were scared take to twitter, etc and under threat of a boycott the company relents and announce a policy discouraging it's customers from carrying firearms into their stores. Instead of showing force, the open carry activists have put another hole in their foot and further made gun ownership a social stigma.
I can't help but think that these open carry advocates are, in a sense, showing the "I, me, mine" mentality that makes up so much of the American Right. Never mind what other shoppers or customers may think or how they may feel, that gun owner has the right to keep and bear, openly, their weapon. A few dead children, etc, are merely a price of their freedom.
If one looks at right-wing thinking, it is all about the individual; my money, my property, my guns. Their view of "their America" is one that is predominately White, Heterosexual, Fundamentalist Protestant, and rural. This notion of individual rights does have limits though. It does not extend, in many cases, to a woman's body or the rights of two individuals of the same gender to marry.
Perhaps this is why the Right-Wing view, according to many, is fading. In a culture where music, pictures, and even resources are shared, the notion of the sovereign individual may seem outdated. One can only hope that the American culture of guns and violence may go the same way.
If what has happened when these folks have invaded places like Sonic Drive In and Chipotle is any indication, the results should go something like this. People who were scared take to twitter, etc and under threat of a boycott the company relents and announce a policy discouraging it's customers from carrying firearms into their stores. Instead of showing force, the open carry activists have put another hole in their foot and further made gun ownership a social stigma.
I can't help but think that these open carry advocates are, in a sense, showing the "I, me, mine" mentality that makes up so much of the American Right. Never mind what other shoppers or customers may think or how they may feel, that gun owner has the right to keep and bear, openly, their weapon. A few dead children, etc, are merely a price of their freedom.
If one looks at right-wing thinking, it is all about the individual; my money, my property, my guns. Their view of "their America" is one that is predominately White, Heterosexual, Fundamentalist Protestant, and rural. This notion of individual rights does have limits though. It does not extend, in many cases, to a woman's body or the rights of two individuals of the same gender to marry.
Perhaps this is why the Right-Wing view, according to many, is fading. In a culture where music, pictures, and even resources are shared, the notion of the sovereign individual may seem outdated. One can only hope that the American culture of guns and violence may go the same way.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Open Carry--Shoot In Foot
It's become a familiar routine on my Twitter feed; a group of "Open Carry" advocates, brandishing their weapons, enter a business. It's probably more a matter of bravado or a case of "because we can--we will".
The customers, rightly so, become frightened and they take to social media. Soon a group like Moms Demand Action and their allies start a campaign, hashtags like; #burritosnotbullets, directed at Chipotle, #shakesnotshotguns, directed at Sonic drive-ins or #ribsnotrifles, directed at Chili's start trending on Twitter.
The companies often get the message and request that customers leave their weapons at home, or in the car; Starbucks, Jack-In-The-Box and Chipotle have all done this. Open Carry Texas has begun to urge its members to stop bringing their weapons into businesses, perhaps because they realize that such shows of force are only helping to advance the cause of groups like Mom's Demand, etc.
I see what these companies are doing as part of a larger social effort, similar to what happened over time with smokers. As I have stated before, I see parallels between the gun lobby and the tobacco lobby. A product, essentially designed to kill, makes every effort to resist efforts to restrict it. They rely on political power and the power of their customers.
But overtime, a stigma becomes attached to the product. Using it becomes socially unacceptable, they are confined to certain sections, or are even barred totally.
With tobacco, the result is fewer and fewer people taking up the habit. We can only hope the same thing happens with firearms.
The customers, rightly so, become frightened and they take to social media. Soon a group like Moms Demand Action and their allies start a campaign, hashtags like; #burritosnotbullets, directed at Chipotle, #shakesnotshotguns, directed at Sonic drive-ins or #ribsnotrifles, directed at Chili's start trending on Twitter.
The companies often get the message and request that customers leave their weapons at home, or in the car; Starbucks, Jack-In-The-Box and Chipotle have all done this. Open Carry Texas has begun to urge its members to stop bringing their weapons into businesses, perhaps because they realize that such shows of force are only helping to advance the cause of groups like Mom's Demand, etc.
I see what these companies are doing as part of a larger social effort, similar to what happened over time with smokers. As I have stated before, I see parallels between the gun lobby and the tobacco lobby. A product, essentially designed to kill, makes every effort to resist efforts to restrict it. They rely on political power and the power of their customers.
But overtime, a stigma becomes attached to the product. Using it becomes socially unacceptable, they are confined to certain sections, or are even barred totally.
With tobacco, the result is fewer and fewer people taking up the habit. We can only hope the same thing happens with firearms.
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