Terry Rumsey | Delco United

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

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.

Posted by Robin Lasersohn on Nov 13, 2016 in Featured | 1 comment

The Cowardly Lion and Trump

It may be that we cannot fully measure the depth and breadth of our courage until we stare unimaginable danger right in the eye.
Well, we are all about to find out something about ourselves.

We thought long and hard about what to write in this e-mail responding to the election of Donald Trump. We were determined to avoid platitudes such as “it’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good” or “the tough get going when the going gets tough” or “we’ll get them next time” or “hit the donate button.”

So, we’ll share a few observations and a personal decision.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) invested heavily in the election of Donald Trump and maintained steadfast support for his candidacy in spite of – or because of – his racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic exhortations. The NRA is one of the bulwarks of Trumpism.

The NRA will expect to be paid back for their loyalty and blood money and the current composition of the United States Congress poses a grave threat to the minimal checks on gun proliferation that have been established in a nation bludgeoned by gun violence.

More Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, a gun sense champion, than Donald Trump, an NRA apologist. Victorious U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) ran television campaign ads highlighting his support for national background checks on gun sales because he believed that stance would help him win reelection in Pennsylvania. The two leading gun sense champions in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County – Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D) and Jamie Santora (R) – both won reelection. Just because Trump managed to win slim victories in a handful of key states does not alter the fundamental fact that a majority of Americans and Pennsylvanians support sensible gun policies.

Each and every one of us who cares about human rights, peace, and social justice must now figure out how they will fight back in the era of Trump. We understand and respect that this is a time of discernment, discussion, and decision for millions of Americans who care about our country.

After much thought and soul searching, we have decided to stay active with the gun sense movement and fight Trump and Trumpism from that base of operation. We have decided to fight to help preserve the gains of the post-Sandy Hook era and to resist the coming counterattack from the NRA, their Congressional puppets, and their debtor in the White House.

Here is one thing we can say with certainty. We are frightened. We need to find our courage.

If you want to help us to be courageous…and let us help you to be the same…you are welcome at Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy.

Terry Rumsey and Robin Lasersohn, Co-Chairs

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

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.

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.

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.

Posted by Robin Lasersohn 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.

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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.

Posted by Robin Lasersohn on May 23, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Rally Rocks the Rotunda!

On Monday, May 16, 2016, four busloads of Delco United supporters, carrying 135 Delaware County gun sense advocates, departed from Media and Chester and joined over 500 others from across Pennsylvania to pack the Capitol in Harrisburg.

Newly elected State Senator Tom Killion (R-9) said, “In 13 years serving in the House of Representatives, I have never seen a crowd this size in the Rotunda of the Capitol.”

Watch a great video compilation of the event here.

The Delco bus brigades and the big rally at the Capitol received front page coverage in Tuesday’s Delaware County Daily Times. Read the article here.

Also, check out the great television coverage from ABC’s Harrisburg affiliate.

State Representative Leanne Krueger-Brankey (D-161), who was recently endorsed by Delco United as a Gun Sense Champion, greeted the bus riders from Media when they arrived at the Capitol. State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland (D-159, also serving as Mayor of Chester) joined Chester residents in the crowed Rotunda for the historic rally. Mayor Kirkland and his staff played an instrumental role in supporting the organizing to fill two buses from Chester.

State Representative Jamie Santora (R-163), also endorsed by Delco United as a Gun Sense Champion, was a featured speaker at the rally and called for the House Judiciary Committee to allow a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. Newly elected PA Senator Tom Killion, who had been endorsed by Delco United during his election run, “I can’t wait to start my senate career by moving forward with Senate Bill 1049 (comprehensive background checks bill).”

THANKS TO ALL OF THE SUPPORTERS OF DELAWARE COUNTY UNITED FOR SENSIBLE GUN POLICY WHO TOOK TIME TO GET ON A BUS AND RALLY AT THE CAPITOL MONDAY AND ALSO TO THE INDIVIDUALS, CONGREGATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO MADE GENEROUS FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.