Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on May 17, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

33 Arrested at Senator Toomey’s Office

33 Arrested at Senator Toomey’s Office

 

Here’s our accounting report on yesterday’s Demand the Ban action:
One AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was melted down and beaten into a plowshare by the peacemaking blacksmiths from RAW Tools.
 
300 fired-up gun sense advocates marched from Old First Reformed Church of Christto Senator Toomey’s office located inside the federal U.S. Custom House. The spirited throng of marchers chanted, “United We Stand – Demand the Ban!”and “Senator Toomey you can’t hide – Demand the Ban – or step aside.” The marchers then participated in an energetic rally with more, chants, songs, and speeches calling on Senator Toomey to announce his support for a federal assault weapons ban.


100 or more federal and Philadelphialaw enforcement officers were mobilized behind barricades to make sure that nonviolent constituents were blocked from visiting the taxpayer-funded officeof their own U.S. senator.
 
33 courageous nonviolent activistswere arrested for attempting to visit the heavily-defended office of Senator Toomey and then refusing to leave until the senator announced that he would co-sponsor S.2095, Assault Weapons Ban of 2017.

12 individuals from Delaware County  were arrested as a part of the nonviolent civil disobedience action (Julie Breen, Ralph Ciampa, Bill Clinton, Mary Clinton, Jessica Frankl, Peter Friedrichs, Bonnie Hallam, Robin Lasersohn, Fran Sheldon, Paul Sheldon, Terry Rumsey, and Elaine Vetre).
 
One U.S. senator and his 99 colleagues were put on notice that a new, inspired movement to ban assault weapons is committed to organizing a nonviolent direct action campaign that disrupts business as usual until these weapons of war and mass terrorism are forever bannedin the United States of America.

More photos below and even more photos and videos available on our Facebook page — check them out, like the page and follow Delco United.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Jul 18, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Gun fire from sea to shining sea

 

Orlando. Baton Rouge. Minneapolis-St. Paul. Dallas. Baton Rouge, again…and Chester, Philadelphia, and some other city or town in America almost every day of the week this summer.

Hate crime gun violence against LGBT people. Police gun violence against black men. Retaliatory gun violence against police officers. Just “normal” every day gun violence against children, men, and women whose faces will never be seen on CNN or flashed on a million mobile phone screens.

It has been a summer of gunfire followed by shock, grief, vigils, funerals, angry speeches, healing speeches, and a deep sense of foreboding across our nation.

One thing is for certain. We are killing each other with guns.

Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy does not have all the answers to America’s deep-rooted problems.

But we do have one solution.

Pass sensible gun laws…NOW…in Washington, D.C.…in Harrisburg…in State Capitols across the U.S.A.

When Congressman John Lewis sat down on the carpeted floor of the United States House of Representatives on June 23, 2016 and disrupted business as usual in the U.S. Congress, he forever changed the political paradigm about guns in America.

Friend and foe got the message: it was time for action – not words — to stop gun violence.

Just as importantly, he showed us how to fight without guns.

Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy plans to follow the example of Congressman John Lewis in the coming months ahead as we plan creative, nonviolent actions to end gun violence in our community and across our nation.

We hope you can join us.

DisarmHateCapitol

Delco United supporters and allies from CeaseFirePA gather at Lighting the Way Speak Out: the Path Forward on Gun Violence on July 14, 12016 sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus.

DisarmHate Capitol.2DisarmHate Capitol.3

Share
Read More

Posted by on Jun 19, 2016 in News | 1 comment

A Call to Action to Ban Assault Weapons ~ June 18, 2016

 

To U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan,

In the wake of the Orlando massacre, we respectfully call on you to take bold leadership on the issue of sensible gun policy by immediately co-sponsoring House Resolution 4269, which would establish a federal ban on military-style assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines.

There is no legitimate purpose for these weapons in civilian life. There is no legitimate reason why the federal government should continue to make it easy for people with a variety of deranged motivations to walk into a gun store and legally purchase weapons and ammunition that can slaughter—in a matter of minutes— dozens and dozens of our fellow citizens.

How many more have to die before Congress acts?

We are weary of mass shootings, alarmed at the refusal of our elected officials to take any meaningful action, and unwilling to sit idly by while public servants wring their hands and say once again that the issue is too complicated and that nothing will work.

We lovingly urge you to be a brave leader on behalf of your constituents. We ask in the spirit of cooperation and respect that you place the safety and security of our communities above any political considerations, including backlash from the extremists of the National Rifle Association, who consistently act in the interests of gun manufacturers and gun profiteers rather than in the interests of responsible gun owners and ordinary Americans.

It is time.

Thank you,

The 1,038 members of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy and our supporters

 

Share
Read More

Posted by on Jun 19, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

100 Strong March to Congressman Meehan’s Office

100 Strong March to Congressman Meehan’s Office

 

Over 100 supporters of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy participated in a spirited march from the Springfield Friends Meeting House to the office of U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA7) on Saturday, June 18th, in response to the June 11 mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub that killed 49 people. The fired-up gun sense advocates delivered a Call to Action to Congressman Meehan calling on him to support a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Delco United is lobbying Congressman Meehan to co-sponsor H.R. 4269, legislation that would ban assault weapons and large-volume magazines. Read a summary of the bill here.

call to action

call to action.2

Hundreds of motorists honked their horns in support as the marchers, carrying signs and banners calling for an assault weapons ban, proceeded down Sproul Road (Rt. 320) to the Congressman’s Springfield headquarters. Robin Lasersohn, Co-Chair of Delco United, read the group’s Call to Action to Meehan, and then placed a poster-sized placard with the written Call to Action at the front door of the locked building that houses Congressman Meehan’s office. Delco United also e-mailed the Call to Action to the congressman on Friday. Terry Rumsey, Delco United Co-Chair, had spoken with Congressman Meehan earlier in the week, asking him to co-sponsor H.R. 4269.

movita.yancy.banner

The event was covered by the Delaware County Daily Times, KYW News Radio, and three Philadelphia television stations (ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates).

Read sample news coverage here. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/06/18/protesters-march-for-gun-control-in-delaware-county

http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20160618/NEWS/160619662

The Board of Directors of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy would like to thank the more than 500 supporters from Delaware County who took action this past week after the Orlando tragedy by calling or e-mailing Congressman Meehan and Senator Toomey, attending Wednesday’s vigil and die-in, rallying and marching at yesterday’s Call to Action, or doing a combination of all those empowered acts of citizenship.

Delco United asked a lot from you this week.

You gave more than we asked.

Congratulations, you are a part of reinvigorated gun sense movement that will not relent until we have radically reduced gun violence in the United States of America.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Jun 14, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

After Orlando, what do we do?

Shock. Grief. Fear.

These are three basic emotions we are all feeling in the aftermath of the horrific shooting that shattered the peace in an Orlando night club in the early morning of June 12th. As the news media has reminded us repeatedly, it was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States.

Many supporters of Delco United are wondering, what do we do now?
To begin with, we are promoting three actions that we urge you to take in the coming days that will help to transform shock, grief, and fearinto courage, determination, and hope.

First, call U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-7) at 202-225-2011and demand that he support H.R. 4269, legislation that would ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines (See background info and talking points posted below).

Next, come out to a “Vigil for the Victims” of the Orlando mass shooting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 15th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Delaware County Courthouse, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063.  The event will include a “die-in” on the courthouse lawn and a reading of the names of the 49 who were slain. The event is co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County and Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy.

Then, join Delco United in a Call to Action for a Federal Ban of Military-style Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazinesoutside the Delaware County office of U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (D-7) on Saturday, June 18 from 10:30 AM to 12 Noon.  We will call on Congressman Meehan to co-sponsor H.R. 4269.

We will gather at Springfield Friends Meeting, 1001 Old Sproul Road in Springfield, at 10:30 am, for a brief orientation. We will then conduct a short procession to the office of Congressman Meehan, 940 West Sproul Road in Springfield, for a Call to Action for a Federal Ban of Military-style Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazines.

For more information about any of these actions, please email Terry Rumsey or call him at 484-326-1370.

**************
Background Info and Talking Points for Phone Call to Congressman Meehan

Congressman Meehan told Terry Rumsey, the Co-Chair of Delco United, that the death and destruction in Orlando had not changed his long-standing opposition to banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

When you call Congressman Meehan, let him know that it’s time to take action to prevent hate crimes, terrorism, and mass slaughter by banning military-style weapons and accessories designed for war  — not for use in our community gathering places, our houses of worship, and our schools. Let him know that you want him to co-sponsor H.R. 4269.
Ask to speak to the Congressman but be prepared to leave a message with the staff person.

Share
Read More