The tragic mass shooting in Orlando that killed or injured more than 100 people for who they are is the latest in a scourge of gun violence plaguing our country. It doesn't have to be this way. We the undersigned have had #ENOUGH of gun violence at the hands people who have no business owning a gun. We call on Congress to take immediate action to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, terrorists, and dangerously mentally ill people by passing Brady Bill 2.0 - legislation to expand Brady background checks to all gun sales. We've had #ENOUGH of the gun violence that kills 33,000 people killed every year and we've had #ENOUGH of the politicians who enable it.

The differences in crime rates between the US and other developed nations have exponentially more to do with liberal social policies that create a more functional society, and thus more functional citizens with less need for violence and self harm, than they do with the alleged benefits of restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. Single payer mental and physical healthcare, economic justice, an end to the Drug War: a progressive society reduces violence and self harm, as it results in a less dysfunctional less violent society. And these reforms, not being tied to the rights hot button issue, have an actual chance of passing into law, by sidestepping their strongest point of resistance. We must reject both extremist positions of deregulation on the one hand and prohibition on the other, and adhere to the full intent of the Second Amendment: a well regulated citizens militia. Let's examine just one of these measures: Half of all US violence, including and particularly 'gun violence' is perpetrated by gangs and cartels according to the FBI. http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment The primary reason for existence of gangs and cartels is exploiting the $400 billion /year US drugs black market. Other activities are secondary/opportunistic. To put out a fire, you remove fuel and/or oxygen. Legalize, regulate, tax, educate. Continue to interdict foreign shipments and crack down on gangs. Their money dries up, they can't attract new members or support their operations. Use proceeds from taxes on same and former drug war spending to implement single payer healthcare with addiction treatment on demand. No more wasting Billions per year - one Trillion so far - creating a black market for psychopaths to exploit. No more wasting billions per year ruining the lives of people that have harmed no one. No more wasting billions per year militarizing our police forces, eroding our own rights, and creating for profit prisons. No more overwhelmingly disproportionate victimization of minorities. No more incarcerating casual users and small time dealers with hardened criminals in gang run prisons, creating criminal universities in every state and hardened criminals where there were none. This alone would yield vast savings and improve countless lives. Let's move to another: TWO THIRDS (21,175) of the 32,000 ‘gun deaths’ per year commonly cited in this conversation are suicides. Not violence. Suicides. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm Let that sink in. These people need help, not paternalistic rhetoric. And that means social services. Remember those? We liberals are supposed to be really good at those. When did that change? When we started barking up the wrong tree. When effort that should be concentrated on expanding the services that will help these people started instead being focused on pointless restrictions that will prevent nothing. If you agree that murder is a public health crisis then you have to accept the notion that the remedy is medical. Therefore, abandon the farce that is gun control and concentrate on fixing the mess that is the mental and physical health care system in this country.

This is a clear use of hate speech targeting the LGBTQ community.

While this great nation allows us freedom of speech, there also should be consequences when that speech is directly encouraging others to commit acts of terror against the citizens of the United States. Pat Robertson and his pulpit of hate have gone unchecked for too long.

El Paso. Las Vegas. Dallas. Orlando. Sandy Hook. Aurora. San Bernardino. What do these horrific shootings have in common? Assault weapons. Assault weapons were used to murder five people in Dallas, 49 people in Orlando, 26 people in Sandy Hook, 12 people in Aurora, and 14 people in San Bernardino. Right now, these military-grade weapons are available for purchase online, at trade shows, and through gun brokers across our nation. They have become the weapon of choice for mass shooters. Assault weapons have no place in our cities and towns. They have no place on our streets. We need to ban all assault weapons now, while moving quickly to enact commonsense gun reform.

As a resident of Texas and a proud gay american, I am outraged and demand real action be taken.

I hope this petition convinces the Governor of the significant support for my pardon and highlights my civic contributions. My art should represent Tennessee nationally and internationally. At present I cannot accept shows outside the US. I have also lost prestigious personal and professional national opportunities due to the felonies’ stigma. https://www.facebook.com/Please-Pardon-Artist-James-Andrew-Hearn-661515917345058/

When is enough enough? NOW. Stop mass killings!

In the hours after the largest mass shooting in American history(Florida Gay Nightclub Shooting/Massacre), Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick tweeted this: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Choosing silence in the face of injustice/tragedy is one thing, but to virtually condone violence(a hate crime at that), is unconscionable and outright disgusting; and is behavior that should not and will not be tolerated by any person, let alone a political office holder.

People who have bipolar disorder, PTSD, or seizures like I do need to have marijuana legalized.

The American Public Deserve the Truth

I am an alumnus of the University of Illinois. I support Bernie Sanders' call for tuition-free public college. When I was a freshman at the University of Illinois in the Fall of 1982, a semester's tuition was $598. Compared to today, that's virtually free. What Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois legislature are doing is going in the exact opposite direction. By failing to pass a budget that assures state support for public higher education, they are threatening the future of the University of Illinois. [1] Urge Bruce Rauner and the state legislature to pass a budget that funds public higher education without further delay by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/04/opinion/higher-education-in-illinois-is-dying.html