As seen by last week's events in Dallas, military-style weapons of war pose a threat to both police officers and public safety. We must ban more from being sold and regulate those in current circulation.

The Democratic National Committee has taken a very meaningful step by including a plank on gun violence prevention in the 2016 Democratic Party Platform. However, given misleading GOP efforts that PRETEND they want stronger gun laws, it is important for the Platform to be precise in its goals. Current language calls for expanding background checks, but is not explicit that they should be for ALL gun purchases. We must distinguish between universal background checks and the weak legislation introduced by Republicans in the House and Senate. The goal of keeping "weapons of war" off our streets mentions assault weapons, but omits large capacity magazines (LCM). Experts agree that banning LCMs would do more to reduce gun deaths than an assault weapons ban alone. The platform calls for keeping guns out of the hands of "violent" criminals. Our standard should be higher; no criminal should have access to firearms. Finally, the plank sets the goal of keeping guns from people with "severe mental health issues." The Platform should take care not to stigmatize those who suffer from severe mental health issues, the vast majority of whom are not violent and in fact are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent acts. The language should be modified to "keeping guns from those with severe mental health issues who may be a danger to themselves or others."

To ensure the governmental protection of civil liberties under due process.

In order to guarantee that criminals, domestic abusers, the dangerously mentally ill and others are denied unchecked access to guns, the State of Florida should enact a law requiring verified comprehensive background checks on all sales of firearms. To date, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has prevented more than two million convicted felons and other dangerous individuals from buying guns. Unfortunately, current federal law requires criminal background checks only for guns sold through licensed firearm dealers, which account for just 60% of all gun sales in the United States. Further, this amendment nullifies the 'default proceed' rule which states a firearm purchase can proceed if not performed in three days by requiring a verified background check. This rule allowed 3,722 gun sales to prohibited persons in 2012.

American civil liberties and my Constitutional rights are being threatened because political rhetoric cannot address a key social-environmental issue, namely the de facto subsidy of alcohol consumption. The CDC report at http://www.cdc.gov/features/costsofdrinking/ presents the facts at hand. guns & alcohol KILL cars & alcohol KILL pills & alcohol KILL sex & alcohol KILL What Is So Hard To Understand? Distributed Beverage Alcohol is simply not paying the social cost incurred by its distribution. This is a key social-environmental issue. There will be plenty of money to fund universal health care, public schools, judicial matters, police, parks, and infrastructure maintenance if the USA makes beverage alcohol pay its way in real dollars. This is no more to ask of drinkers and of the beverage alcohol industry than what voters have insisted smokers and tobacco companies pay for the damage caused by distributed tobacco products. The CDC estimates the real cost of drinking beverage alcohol to be $2.05 per serving. [see http://www.cdc.gov/features/costsofdrinking/ ] . To know this cost of use exists and yet to not tax it commensurately constitutes a de facto subsidy for public intoxication. This cruel absurdity is fostering violence, including gun violence. The States and the Federal Government share equally in this blind duplicity. A majority of gun violence in America, including domestic violence, is caused by alcohol intoxication. Consequently, taxing beverage alcohol use is gun control. This petition calls for the Federal Government to institute a $2 per serving excise tax on distributed beverage alcohol to be shared equally by the States and the Federal Government, and includes this caveat: If convicted of Driving Under the Influence, one loses their right to keep guns in their possession during that correctional period. Clearly, if you can not be trusted to drive a car, you cannot be trusted with an arsenal. Sex & alcohol are likewise a recipe for tragedy because intoxicated sex produces so many unintended pregnancies which lead to abortion. Americans have the right to drink alcohol and the right to use tobacco just as they have a Constitutional right to own guns. These options can co-exist if and only if each pays its own way. The governments do not have any obligation to subsidize these activities. However, any government concerned with public well being and sustainability is obligated to hold in check choices known to have a negative impact. Keep a simple fact in mind: A distributed beverage alcohol excise tax would be a tax no one has to pay because you have the right to make your own beverage alcohol or you can simply abstain. Taxing beverage alcohol use is gun control.

Limiting Gun Magazine Capacity (the number of bullets in a gun) will help to reduce the number of deaths in mass shootings and greatly help potential victims at a massacre to escape or stop the shooter.

This seems like a common-stance middle ground in which all parties can compromise as well as quickly and effectively take action. The United States Department of Justice said, "In general, assault weapons are semiautomatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition that were designed and configured for rapid fire and combat use." How are the streets of Port St. Lucie, Orlando or any other Florida street a combat zone? My home is not a combat zone nor do I want it turned into one. The second amendment fully reads, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Where is the "well regulated militia" aspect? As citizens, we also have a right to liberty and life. Therefore, we need as the people to stand up and begin to regulate this market.

I am a church pastor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our community has been devastated by handgun violence in recent months. An open-carry night at our local baseball game is adding insult to the very real injuries we are struggling to recover from.

Banning assault weapons such as AR-15 is not infringing upon people's right of the Second Amendment. It is rather the right thing TO DO!!. Hunters or civilians have no need to house or carry a weapon that can shoot 15-20 per minute. An AR-15 is a weapon that should only be used for military personnel. BAWN!

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence has been advocating to reduce gun death and injury since 1974. In this historic moment, when we see the Democratic Party making an inspirational stand for gun reform in the House and Senate, it is critical that their leadership be out in front on this issue. Senator Tester has failed that test completely.

We the people support the sit-in Democrats who are demanding action on an epidemic called unrestricted gun violence. Innocent Americans are shot and killed by individuals using assault weapons, and their killers have hardly any government restrictions to perpetrating their crimes. There are shootings at nightclubs, movie theaters, schools, and churches, and the victims are of every race, political party, sexual orientation, and age.

So many of us feel helpless as we watch the Republican-controlled House refuse to bring legislation to the floor. With every signature goal reached, MoveOn will deliver this petition of support to proper authorities at the US House of Representatives. Tell Speaker Ryan to do his job. Thank you.