Archive for North Carolina

Moms, children to hold Mother’s Day events in 8 states to raise gun violence awareness. Details here!

guns mothers day Christina-Taylor Green

A press release from Mayors Against Illegal Guns:

MOMS, CHILDREN TO HOLD MOTHER’S DAY EVENTS IN EIGHT STATES TO RAISE GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
 
Gun Violence Survivors Will Deliver Mother’s Day Cards to Senators Who Voted Against Background Checks on Friday, Rally Against Gun Violence on Saturday
Roxanna Green, Daughter Killed in Tucson Mass Shooting, Releases Video Message
 
Mothers, children, and others who have been affected by gun violence will gather in eight states for Mother’s Day events this Friday and Saturday to raise gun violence awareness. This week those affected by gun violence gathered to create Mother’s Day cards for their U.S. Senators, urging them to stand with moms across the country to prevent gun violence. They will deliver those cards to their U.S. Senators at Friday events and rally to end gun violence at events on Saturday. Recent independent polls that have found that more than 90 percent of Americans support background checks for all buyers.  
 
Americans can sign a Mother’s Day card urging their Senator to take action on gun violence here.
 
In addition, to mark Mother’s Day and the nationwide events, Roxanna Green, whose nine-year-old daughter Christina-Taylor Green was killed in the 2011 Tucson mass shooting, released a video message. Link to the video here.
 
The events and rallies will be held in states of Senators who voted against bipartisan legislation proposed by NRA A-rated Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey that would have closed the loopholes that make it easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns, including: Senators Kelly Ayotte (NH), Richard Burr (NC), Saxby Chambliss (GA), Dan Coats (IN), Jeff Flake (AZ), Dean Heller (NV), Johnny Isakson (GA) and Rob Portman (OH).
 
Event details are below (all times local.)
 
ARIZONA
 
Tucson
What: Mother’s Day Card Signing Rally – Mothers will then deliver cards to Senator Flake’s Tucson office 
Who: Jocelyn Strauss, Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action; Mayors Against Illegal Guns, concerned citizens
Where: Fort Lowell Park: 2900 North Craycroft Rd, Tucson
When: Saturday, May 11, 10 AM
 
 
GEORGIA
 
Atlanta
What: Moms Demand Action Mother’s Day Walk and Rally Against Gun Violence 
Who: Co-chapter head of Moms Demand Action of Georgia Piyali Cole, Co-chapter head of Moms Demand Action of Georgia Melinda Ennis, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned Georgians
Where: Piedmont Park, 400 Park Dr. NE, Atlanta
When: Saturday, May 11, 11:00 AM 
 
INDIANA
 
Indianapolis
What: Mothers deliver Mother’s Day cards to Senator Coats’ Indianapolis office
Who: Moms Demand Action Chapter Lead Nicky McNally; Joantyonette (Tony) Grundy, whose husband and son were both shot and killed in Indianapolis; Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned Hoosiers
Where: Senator Coats’ Office: 10 West Market St, Indianapolis
When: Friday, May 10, 11:00 AM 
 
NORTH CAROLINA
 
Charlotte
What: Mother’s Day Rally against Gun Violence
Who: Susanne Rallis of Moms Demand Action, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned North Carolinians
Where: Freedom Park, 1500 Princeton Avenue, Charlotte 
When: Friday, May 10, 3:15 PM
 
Winston Salem
What: Mother’s Day Rally against Gun Violence and Petition Delivery 
Who: Brandon Dandy, who lost his brother to gun violence; Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned North Carolinians 
Where: Senator Burr’s Winston Salem Office: 2000 West First Street, Winston Salem, NC 
When: Friday, May 11, 2 PM 
 
Durham
What: Mother’s Day Rally Against Gun Violence 
Who: Kaaren Haldeman of Moms Demand Action; Joslin Simms, who lost her son Rayburn eight years ago to gun violence; Yolanda Bagley, who lost her son Jelani four months ago to gun violence; Brenda James, who lost her son Randolph five years ago to gun violence
Where: Sister Cities Grove at Durham Central Park, next to the Durham Farmer’s Market at 501 Foster St, Durham, NC 
When: Saturday, May 11, 11:30 AM 
 
NEVADA
 
Las Vegas
What: Mothers and children deliver Mother’s Day Cards to Senator Heller
Who:  Local activist and concerned mother of four Leisa Moseley, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned citizens 
Where: Lloyd D. George Federal Building, 333 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas 
When: Friday, May 10 at 4 PM
 
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE
 
Nashua
What: Mothers and children deliver Mother’s Day cards to Senator Ayotte’s Nashua office
Who: Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Granite State Progress and concerned Granite Staters 
Where: Senator Ayotte’s Nashua Office: 1444 Main Street, Nashua 
When: Friday, May 10 at 12:00 PM 
 
 
OHIO
 
Cleveland
What: Moms Demand Action Mother’s Day Walk and Rally Against Gun Violence
Who: Cleveland lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Jane Burgett; Pastor Kristine Eggert, Disciples Christian Church; Christina Antenucci, MD, Doctors for Healthcare Solutions; Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned citizens
When: Friday, May 10 – 11:00AM
Where: Public Square, Corner of Ontario St. and West Superior Ave, Cleveland
 
Columbus
What: Mother’s Day Rally Against Gun Violence
Who: Mother of gun violence victim Felicia Saunders, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned citizens
When: Friday, May 10 at 4:30 PM
Where: Worthington Village Green: corners of SR 161 and High St, Columbus
 
PENNSYLVANIA
 
Pittsburgh
What: Mother’s Day Rally Against Gun Violence
Who: Marsha Grayson, mother of Honor Student Jeron Grayson who murdered while home on Spring Break; Ms. Sharon Fields of Healing Wounds Family Support Group; Reggie Roberts of Ceasefire-PA, State Rep. Ed Gainey and Mayors Against Illegal Guns 
When: Saturday, May 11, 11:00  AM 
Where: Rodman Street Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman Street, Pittsburgh

What I will not write about today

frustrated24

Sometimes I get so frustrated and/or disheartened and/or annoyed by some of the news stories of the day that I can’t bring myself to write about them. Here are a few recent reports that made my blood pressure hit the roof. I am avoiding delving into them at length out of concern for my physical and mental health.

 bush embassies dead smaller

There is no there there. This is nothing but a partisan politics, embarrassing conspiracy theories, and a witch hunt. Now stop wasting our time.

Need a palate cleanser? Me too! Majority In Virginia Supports Stricter Gun Laws. So there.

See what I mean? So who’s up for a couple of Margs or a trough of wine?

drunk wine classy

Wednesday Links

The Internet’s amazing.

Larry Flynt Endorses Mark Sanford; Calls Him ‘Sex Pioneer’.

Black Ministers v. GOP: 17 Arrests as NAACP Protests Extreme Right-wing Agenda in North Carolina

This is 2013, not 1963, right? You gotta wonder when you see headlines like the one above.

“Business Is Business”, or, “Weiner Triumphs… “

The First Gundamentalist Church of Gun

Work in Massachusetts Is Just Beginning

Royal Succession in Amsterdam: Holland Greets Its New King and Queen

French president sells wine cellar to balance budget

Absolutely Southern France For the lottery winners among you.

What I will not write about today

frustrated21

Sometimes I get so frustrated and/or disheartened and/or annoyed by some of the news stories of the day that I can’t bring myself to write about them. Here are a few recent reports that made my blood pressure hit the roof. I am avoiding delving into them at length out of concern for my physical and mental health.

See what I mean? So who’s up for a couple of Margs or a trough of wine?

drunk drink more wine

Live Streaming Video- President Obama taps Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx to run Transportation 2:10 ET

Source: Charlotte mayor to be nominated for transportation secretary

anthonyfox

With PBO’s ears and now this guy, I’m sensing a “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” vibe in the Obama cabinet.

(CNN) – President Barack Obama will tap Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday to become his next transportation secretary, a White House official with knowledge of his decision said Sunday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Foxx would replace Ray LaHood, who said in January he wouldn’t serve a second term. Foxx, first elected mayor in 2009, helped lead last summer’s Democratic National Convention in the Queen City.

He also championed the completion of an additional runway at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, though Foxx doesn’t have any specific experience as a transportation executive.

Foxx will be the first African-American Cabinet nominee of Obama’s second term. Currently, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is the only African-American to lead a Cabinet agency.

What I can’t believe I’m writing about today

huh what'd they say

I've recently introduced a new feature, What I Will Not Write About Today of news items that are so frustrating and/or disheartening and/or annoying that I can’t bring myself to write about them. Here are a few recent reports that I can't believe I did write about today:

Via Taegan, here are a couple of today's eye-popping stories. Follow the links for more:

"I am the senator. You are the citizen. You need to be quiet."

– North Carolina State Senator Tommy Tucker (R), quoted by the Raleigh News and Observer, to Goldsboro News-Argus publisher Hal Tanner who was opposing legislation to change public notice requirements for local government.

***

Sanford Sons Met His Girlfriend at Victory Party: Jenny Sanford confirmed: "That was indeed Bolton's first intro and both boys were quite upset and visibly so."

***

And this jaw-dropper, via my pal @Crutnacker:

tweet mitch mcconnell guns

When you follow their link, you see this entry from Mitch McConnell's Facebook Page on which his campaign mocks gun safety efforts by Democrats. "Nice!"….

mcconnell campaign FB guns

Here are some of the comments under that post:

Bill Cox: Thank you Mr. McConnell. As always, I am glad to see your continued support of the 2nd Amendment and our gun rights.

Steve Robertson: Wow a politician actually does something right for a change. Thank you.

Thomas Wilson: What is a meme?

Jeff Wheeler: My man Mitch! Don't let the Imam start writing executive orders!!!

Bear Gibson: They can have our guns one bullet at a time.

If you need more right wing talking points, link over to the page and read the rest. There were some anti-Mitch responses, too.

I cannot believe I wrote about that today.

fainting