Last week, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey took a very bold step by announcing that she will be stepping up enforcement of her state's long-standing assault weapons ban. Massachusetts is one of just seven states with such a ban, but for many years, the gun industry has been defying the ban by manufacturing copycat assault weapons that are nearly indistinguishable from the weapons used in Orlando, Newtown, San Bernardino, Aurora, and other mass shootings. There were 10,000 of them sold in Massachusetts last year alone. The NRA and its local affiliate are fighting back hard against Attorney General Healey. They've activated their national network of supporters to draft petitions and organize rallies. And they're flooding the phones of state legislators and Republican Governor Charlie Baker, who initially supported the AG's action but is now starting to cave to NRA pressure. In Attorney General Healey, we have a law enforcement leader who is willing to stick her neck out and stand up to the NRA. It's incredibly important that we stand with her. We encourage you to join this letter/petition.

I'm concerned for my country, concerned about Donald Trump's motives, and concerned for our national security. Donald Trump has now repeatedly encouraged the Russian government to commit espionage and hack U.S. computers, while refusing to provide any documentation showing he does not have financial obligations or ties to Russia. Given Donald Trump will not release his tax returns or otherwise prove his independence, the FBI should launch an investigation to ensure that the Republican nominee for President is not compromised by financial or other obligations to the Russian government.

Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine oppose the corporate power-enhancing, democracy-undermining Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement [TPP]. [1] But even Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, longtime best friend to the Clintons and speaker at the Democratic National Convention, didn't get the memo. When Politico asked whether Clinton would turn around and support the trade deal she opposed during the heat of the primary fight against Bernie Sanders, McAuliffe said: “Yes." After Politico's article appeared, McAuliffe "walked it back" and said that was only what McAuliffe hoped Clinton would do, not what he knew she would do. [2] The same Politico article said Kaine "vocally supports the Obama-backed trade deal" [3] even though three days earlier, Politico reported that Kaine was against the TPP. [4] Urge Senate Democrats to press Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine to clarify and amplify their opposition to the TPP, including from the podium at the DNC, by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/kaine-comes-out-against-trans-pacific-partnership-deal-226064 2. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/terry-mcauliffe-hillary-clinton-tpp-trade-226253 3. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/terry-mcauliffe-hillary-clinton-tpp-trade-226253 4. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/kaine-comes-out-against-trans-pacific-partnership-deal-226064

Let it be clear that this is not an attack on the GOP or the Republican Party. Mr. Trump has made statements I feel are hateful, but to try to take away his Right to Free Speech would equally take away my right to say I disagree. Donald J. Trump on the morning of July 27, 2016, used his Right, but abused that right and broke a strict and well-defined law that should result in his incarceration for a minimum of 5 years, and make him ineligible for any public office in the country of The United States of America indefinitely. Mr. Trump encouraged and gave comfort to Russia to pursue finding emails by a cyber attack. This is not a joke or quip, but breaks the law of our great country! Donald Trump should be held accountable, and I would say the same to anyone who would say such a statement. With Mr. Trump's surge in popularism, we cannot let that jade ourselves in holding him accountable. This is not the case of emails detained in the United States on servers that people question the security of years later. Let us be clear; he did not call on American hackers, of which there are some of the best who hold positions in top companies and having inside information on preventions and backdoors. Instead, he called on a foreign country that he had 15 seconds before called, "disgusting" and "disgraceful" for their alleged actions of hacking, "..another Government's emails of a major political party..." Instead, Mr. Trump aligned and allied himself with the Russian Government and requested they continue a cyber "war" on his country, the United States. That is baffling and repulsive, and that is not what a real American would ever say. Nor a Russian the opposite. He made it crystal clear that he condones and adheres to Russia's unlawful attack. It is inciting and encouraging Cyber-War from another country targeting his own country, and mine, the United States of America. By the Title 18 of the U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason is defined as, "Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)" Donald J. Trump has levied and encouraged a cyber-war or cyber attack from a foreign country. He has adhered, defined as the "commitment" or "acceptance of doctrine," to Russia's disgraceful attempt at inciting chaos in a countries main political party. And he has given them direct comfort by stating they would be paid heavily for doing so. As a Proud and Strong American, I use my Constitutional Right to call on the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and President Barack Obama to bring the charge of "Treason against the United States" against Donald J. Trump. (1) For his aligning and condoning to Russian agendas and illegal activity, and (2) giving comfort abroad by stating they, the hackers believed to be paid by the Russian government, would be rewarded if they succeed in the bounty he placed on the emails of a former United States Secretary of State. Putting the information within those emails would be detrimental and bring repercussions within many other countries, but first and foremost to and against the United States both at home and abroad. Sincerely, Matt Steadman

I have a child in the Birmingham City Schools and I have high expectations of the school district and our community leaders.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is holding its annual policy conference in Indiana this week. But their shadowy lobbying practices shouldn't receive a warm welcome -- sign our petition to Indiana-based Eli Lilly to dump ALEC today! ALEC works behind closed doors to help big corporations like Exxon Mobil, Comcast, Pfizer, & Koch Industries secretly lobby politicians for favorable treatment. They work in secret, shutting voters out of the process, but giving corporate members the same vote as legislators and other elected officials who are elected to do the public's business. Even worse, those corporations get a tax write-off on their contributions, because ALEC claims that it is a "charity." Lobbyists from those corporations and politicians sit behind closed doors to adopt "model" bills that affect everything from the water you drink and air you breathe, the schools your children attend, the size of your paycheck, and your ability to access affordable healthcare and medicine. Public outcry has led over 100 companies, including Ford, Google, Facebook, and more, to cut ties with ALEC. Now, it's time for Eli Lilly to do the same. Eli Lilly touts its corporate commitment to laudable goals like "Improving Global Health" and "Strengthening Communities" -- now it's time to back up their words with action. Sign our petition and tell Eli Lilly to drop out of ALEC today.

Voters in the United States have a right to see how Presidential Candidates have run their personal finances and see if there are conflicts of interest, performance failures or foreign connections to their finances. This is particularly important this election year with a Russian financial connection being hinted at.

Over the past few weeks, Donald Trump has been spouting the line that lots of folks who voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary are going to vote for him in the general election. Well, I think that's bull crap! While we are disappointed that Bernie Sanders is not our nominee, we are ready to unite against the hateful, bigoted, lying Trump, who holds none of the values that attracted us to Bernie in the first place. Add your name to tell Donald Trump that he's delusional if he thinks any voters who supported Bernie are going to come over and vote for him!

GOP vice-presidential nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has just withdrawn from the American Legislative Exchange Council's policy conference, where he was scheduled to give a keynote speech. But he's not the only one that should be withdrawing from ALEC. Sign our petition to Indiana-based Eli Lilly to follow in their governor’s footsteps and cut ties with ALEC for good. ALEC works behind closed doors to help big corporations like Exxon Mobil, Comcast, Pfizer, & Koch Industries secretly lobby politicians for favorable treatment. They work in secret, shutting voters out of the process, but giving corporate members the same vote as legislators and other elected officials who are elected to do the public's business. Even worse, those corporations get a tax write-off on their contributions, because ALEC claims that it is a "charity." Lobbyists from those corporations and politicians sit behind closed doors to adopt "model" bills that affects everything from the water you drink and air you breathe, the schools your children attend, the size of your paycheck, and your ability to access affordable healthcare and medicine. Public outcry has led over 100 companies, including Ford, Google, Facebook, and more, to cut ties with ALEC. Now, it's time for Eli Lilly to do the same. Eli Lilly touts its corporate commitment to laudable goals like "Improving Global Health" and "Strengthening Communities" -- now it's time to back up their words with action. Sign our petition and tell Eli Lilly to drop out of ALEC today.

We oppose the installation of PNM's "AMI" (smart) meters and equipment, if approved by NMPRC, I intend to Opt-out. I want an Opt-out with "NO" fee and want to keep my old Analog meters. Please watch this 5 minute video on price increases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csvmw2frBws and this 3 minute video: "Public Health Physician Warns of Smart Meter Dangers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7L21XOC2wA Need signatures from greater Albuquerque area and Santa Fe plus Las Vegas, Clayton, Ruidoso, Tularosa, Alamogordo, Deming, Lordsburg and Greater Silver City. We want 10,000 signatures before October 6th. PNM has not received permission to install them yet. You can help determine the outcome of this hearing, please sign and help spread the word. Case No. 15-00312-UT

After receiving calls from individuals who said that they would be “uncomfortable” voting at the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR), and others who expressed plans to impede voting by calling in bomb threats to the center on Election Day, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher stripped the ICBR of its status as a poll site. Rather than report the threats or stand strong against bigotry, Susan Bucher instead caved to these anti-Muslim groups and individuals and denied the ICBR community the ability to participate in the most basic function of democracy--the casting of ballots. There are about 80 churches and five synagogues assigned as polling stations in Palm Beach County, but the ICBR is the sole house of worship whose status as a poll site has been revoked. Bigotry should not be codified in policy, and no one should be denied the right to participate in our democracy at any level because of their religion. Susan Bucher must immediately reverse her decision and restore the ICBR's status as a poll site.

The only reference to nuclear issues is the "finger on the button." Yet we are about to spend one trillion dollars on modernizing our nuclear arsenal. The dangers of a nuclear accident, of nuclear waste, and of using nuclear weapons in a conflict are very real. The Doomesday Clock, that symbol of how close we are to that danger is now set at 3 minutes to midnight. Members of the media -- specifically those who interview or moderate the debates -- must question the candidates on nuclear issues.