Think back to when you were 18, 19, even 21, did you have need for a automatic rifle? Or even a handgun? So, why would we sell guns to 18 year olds? With no training, little background info, and zero questioning, we let a child buy weapons that kill. Are you comfortable with this? Please help raise this ridiculous legal age limit to something other than 18.

According to the GVA, the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 213 mass shootings in 2022 thus far. In 2021 there were 692, and in 2020: 610. The US gun industry is making record profits while there are record numbers of mass shootings every year. Their sales of these assault weapons is literally supporting domestic terrorism. Blood is on their hands and they must be stopped and held accountable. Our country is living with the terror of gun violence daily; the gun manufacturers have been better protected than our children! This must stop now.

Wausau is just one of the cities in America that lacks adequate affordable housing and shelter space. Wausau is just another city that does not have enough mental health providers, AODA providers, or CRISIS beds for those in need. We are just another community with citizens performing life-sustaining activities, such as sleeping under our bridges or holding a sign that reads "will work for food" outside our Kwiktrip. Wausau is just another society with unhoused citizens. But Wausau is so much stronger than many cities in America. Wausau can stop homelessness. Wausau wants to be the model city for others to follow. Wausau has thousands of humanitarians that are already making a huge difference and we want to keep going. We are figuring out what works. We provide access to treatment, access to housing, access to basic needs, and this works. We create spaces where unhoused citizens can ask for help without judgement and guess what, it works! We are making a difference. Please help by signing this petition. We want to ensure that our unhoused citizens maintain their right to employment and resources essential for their survival and path to recovery. We want to use the method that works.

Nineteen students and two adults were murdered in Texas. Yet the Senate is heading off for a 10-day break rather than voting to pass commonsense, bipartisan, necessary gun violence legislation. Congress can act quickly—both houses passed new laws regarding security for Supreme Court justices after the leaked draft showing that right-wing justices are prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. Our senators and representatives took action on that measure within 24 hours. But the Senate isn't even planning a vote before recess following the deadliest school shooting in a decade, which came on the heels of mass murders in Buffalo, New York, and Laguna Hills, California, within the past ten days. Democrats in the House already passed critical gun violence prevention legislation earlier this Congress—we need Senate action to send these bills to the President. And as we mourn the victims in Uvalde, Texas, we need more than thoughts and prayers—we need votes and laws. The Senate should stay in session and hold these votes. Congress can—and must—act on gun violence and break the grip of the NRA and right-wing media. The House has passed legislation already—tell the Senate to cancel recess, stay in D.C., hold votes, and deliver!

There’s something deeply troubling when attack after attack on our schools, places of worship, and community institutions simply go on without any government response other than thoughts, prayers, and soundbites on cable tv. While there are differences of opinion on the NRA and the exact current day interpretation of the Second Amendment, we should all be able to agree that it’s inappropriate for the largest gun lobbying organization in the world to host a celebratory convention in the very same state as this week’s mass elementary school shooting. Tell the NRA and Houston First Corporation to cancel the convention.

There’s something deeply troubling when attack after attack on our schools, places of worship, and community institutions simply go on without any government response other than thoughts, prayers, and soundbites on cable tv. A right-wing racist gunned down ten community members in a Buffalo, NY supermarket. The attack on a Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Hills, CA was carried out with two legally purchased guns and bags containing incendiary devices and extra ammunition. And the horrifying attack on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX killed at least nineteen students and two adults with weapons legally purchased by the teen shooter. The gun homicide rate in the United States is 25 times higher than that of other developed countries. Congress must act to pass meaningful legislation immediately. Our families are under attack, and shouldn’t have to live in constant fear of our safety for one more moment. We cannot let the NRA’s political agenda win out over what we all know is safest for our own families and communities.

There’s something deeply troubling when attack after attack on our schools, places of worship, and community institutions simply go on without any government response beyond thoughts, prayers, and soundbites on cable tv. A right-wing racist gunned down ten community members in a Buffalo, NY supermarket. The attack on a Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Hills, CA was carried out with two legally purchased guns and bags containing incendiary devices and extra ammunition. And the horrifying attack on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX killed at least nineteen students and two adults with weapons legally purchased by the teen shooter. The gun homicide rate in the United States is 25 times higher than that of other developed countries. Congress must act to pass meaningful legislation immediately. Our families are under attack, and shouldn’t have to live in constant fear of our safety for one more moment. The United States House passed a bill years ago that would require background checks and waiting periods for anyone wanting to buy a gun. These are basic protections we need to start keeping our kids safe, but Republicans in the Senate have blocked it. The bill is up for a vote again in the Senate soon - urge your Senators to pass it - and go even farther to make sure we don’t lose even more elementary school kids.

THE MORAL IMPERATIVE: We are mourning. Children should not be sent to school to die. They deserve to live in a country that is safe, to learn and to grow without the threat of violence in their communities. Hosting the annual meeting of the lobby that has recklessly endangered their lives is a moral affront. THE ASK: We call for a national pledge to boycott the George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel unless the upcoming NRA annual meeting is canceled. We ask that those who sign on exercise our collective power against the assaults and complicity.

How is it that we are in this position again? Mass shooting after mass shooting and now back again at a grade school. The American people should not have to fear for their lives every time they see a movie, go to church, shop for groceries or drop their child off at school. Countries all over the world have taken a stand against gun violence by implementing stricter laws and regulations, resulting in near-immediate results. We demand stricter gun control now. Thoughts and prayers do not cut it anymore.

The kids that are in the foster care system are the kids who the future generation. They will be the ones to lead and teach the generation after them. They need to be cared for, and the best way for these kids to thrive is to be integrated into society with a stable and loving home supporting them!

Big Tech companies can take down and stop profiting off racist violent content like the Buffalo shooting video. Google designated the Buffalo shooting as a “sensitive event,” preventing ads from running on searches related to it. Facebook has not yet decided to demonetize and remove content related to the Buffalo shooting video and replacement theory. The New York Times and Tech Transparency Project found that “Facebook is surfacing the violent video or links to websites hosting the clip next to ads.” Facebook even recommended some search terms for the Buffalo shooting video as “popular searches” on the platform. A study by Media Matters for America revealed that Facebook has profited off over 50 ads from right-wing political candidates pushing the replacement theory and allowed hundreds of similar organic posts from right-wing media outlets. Facebook doesn’t have to profit off this racist violence and white supremacy. Join us in speaking out and demanding action from Facebook. SOURCES: 1. Mac, Ryan. "Buffalo gunman’s video is surfacing on Facebook, sometimes with ads beside it." The New York Times. 19 May, 2022. 2. Gogarty, Kayla. "Facebook profited from ads promoting white supremacist “great replacement” theory." Media Matters for America. 20 May, 2022.

When we were called to serve and protect our nation, we showed up. Congress: the American people are now calling on you for action. It's time to deliver real clean energy security that takes the power back from hostile dictators and greedy corporations.