The Arctic is one of the very last frontiers left and we need to protect whats left of the Arctic and its animals.

The Arctic is an amazing place, home to whales, polar bears, and other amazing creatures. We need to act now to protect it for future generations.

UPDATE: While the National Guard will not be involved, the Missouri State Police have taken over policing operations in Ferguson, while the FBI is providing technical assistance to Ferguson Police. St. Louis County Police have withdrawn from Ferguson on Gov. Jay Nixon's orders. Thanks to all for your support. Last night there was peace in Ferguson. ---------------------------- Over and over again during the Civil Rights Movement, presidents and governors mobilized the National Guard to protect the civil rights of citizens when local institutions refused to recognize them. In 1957, the National Guard escorted the Little Rock 9 to their first day at an integrated public school. In the 1960s, the National Guard helped integrate public universities in Mississippi and Alabama. Today, it is evident that the National Guard is needed in Ferguson, Missouri, where a white police officer shot and killed Mike Brown, an unarmed black teenager who reportedly had his hands in the air. Residents who protested Mike's death were met with police in riot gear and military vehicles. On Wednesday, police shot peaceful protesters with rubber bullets and attacked them with tear gas canisters, some of which exploded into nearby residents' yards — gassing sleeping families and children. They even used a torture device called a sonic cannon to try to disperse crowds. Even journalists weren't safe from local police. Officers attacked and arrested Wesley Lowery (Washington Post) and Ryan Reilly (Huffington Post) on Wednesday afternoon simply for recording them -- slamming one into a soda machine and knocking another's head into a glass door. Then, more reporters were shot with rubber bullets and gassed along with protesters. It was a gut-wrenching, sickening scene. I may live in St. Louis now, but Ferguson was once my home. My mom lived there for 10 years. And what I see happening to my former community at the hands of local law enforcement officers makes me sick, and it makes me angry. This isn't Afghanistan. It's not a war zone. But the police are treating United States citizens like enemy combatants, violating their civil rights at every turn. We can't trust local police not to hurt folks in Ferguson for peacefully assembling to protest unjustifiable state violence. And so, like leaders 50 years ago did during the Civil Rights Movement, our leaders today must take bold, swift, and decisive action. Tell President Obama and Governor Jay Nixon to protect the citizens of Ferguson from the cruel excesses of local police by sending in the National Guard.

it is our hope to channel this collective anger into effective policy.

This petition is being drawn up in hope of allowing citizens their rights, and as a tool to ease the tension in Ferguson, Missouri.

We need more law that will help the victims of domestic violence. As it is now, a victim cannot bring forward any damaging testimony against her abuser. The state says it makes them look like a bad guy. A victim can only talk about the day the restraining order was broken and only bring forward a witness that was present that day. We all know abusers do not abuse in front of others and violate restraining orders in front of others. Let your signatures be seen. Let victims of abuse know they don't stand alone.

Because I want to get our freedom and food choices back

I have rented my entire adult life, and I've been paying someone else's mortgage long enough. I don't want to pay more money to property owners that is not justified or warranted for them to review a rental application.

Due to the increased nationwide incidence of police abuse of power, brutality, harassment, and especially, the continued militarization of local police forces, it has become necessary that there be a greater checks and balances system in place to protect citizens and our officers. Body or lapel cameras have already been successfully implemented in places such as Rialto, California, and New York City, New York. A recent article written by Fox News said the following about a success last year with a camera trial: “The police department in Rialto, Calif., concluded a yearlong University of Cambridge study last year that found an 89 percent drop in complaints against officers during the camera trial. The chief has since mandated its deployment to its roughly 90 sworn officers.”(1) As you can see the impact of such legislation has been found to be highly effective in other cities. Here are many benefits of enacting such legislation: *Body cameras act as a supplement to dashboard cameras allowing a clearer picture of incidents from the officer’s perspective. This benefits prosecutors/defense in illustrating a clear argument, reducing litigation time and cost. *Greater accountability for officers, which can reduce problematic enforcement behavior, and also serves as a means to exonerate officers from false and malicious claims, thereby saving time and legal costs to the taxpayer. *Identifying problem and/or rogue officers and creating opportunities for coaching and development or necessary disciplinary action.(2) *Footage can be used for training and educational purposes, leading to proper law enforcement. *According to a paper published on policefoundation.org, studies show that when people are aware they are being recorded or watched, they are more likely to behave in a submissive or more socially acceptable way, thus potentially resulting in de-escalated police interactions.2 *When citizens are aware police are being recorded as well, it can foster trust in law enforcement resulting in more positive interactions. We, the People of the State of Missouri, are hereby formally requesting by way of petition that you immediately implement the usage of lapel or body cameras equipped with audio recording on all law enforcement officers in our state. This would include, but not be limited to, all officers in the local police departments, FBI, SWAT, ATF, correctional officers, sheriffs, county deputies and security guards. Undercover officers will not be required to wear these devices; however, officers should not be used as “undercover” to circumvent this law. Additionally, when undercover officers use a wire or other such recording devices, either on or off their person, the recordings of such data shall be made immediately available to the public as soon as it is legally safe to release such information, i.e. such as when a case has been brought to trial and the matter has been closed. We formally request and demand the following: 1. You draft, support, and enact legislation requiring all local and federal members of law inforcement to wear audio and video recording devices during each of their shifts. Law enforcement that shall be required to wear such devices include, but is not limited to, the following: local police departments, FBI, SWAT, ATF, correctional officers, sheriffs, county deputies, and security guards. 2. Such legislation should be enacted as soon as administratively possible, but not later than June 1, 2016. 3. You allocate and secure continued funding for the use of audio and video recording devices for each officer to wear on their person while carrying out their duties. 4. Create a website where recordings are readily available to the public to view and listen to as soon as administratively possible. This information shall be available without Freedom of Information requests or other formal requests to the police or other law enforcement offices. 5. Such legislation should include wording that prohibits law enforcement officers from intentionally deactivating or rendering their recording devices incapable of recording. If this behavior becomes a pattern with an officer, he or she shall be subject to disciplinary action and termination. 6. Law enforcement officers shall either notify citizens they are being recorded during interaction or conspicuously wear such notification. 7. Law enforcement officers shall give citizens the opportunity to decline recording of their interaction with law enforcement on a case by case basis. If the citizen declines, it must be recorded. 8. Law enforcement officers who disable their recording devices during an incident who later receive a formal complaint shall not be given the usual benefit of the doubt by the court and the court shall lean in favor of the accuser unless there is a preponderance of the evidence that the officer is not guilty of the accusation(s). 9. Citizens shall be given the opportunity to notify the police department at a later date, within thirty (30) days, that their interaction be thrown out, erased, or not made public. 10. This legislation shall be extended to correctional officers in the State or Federal prisons located in Missouri now or in the future. *Others are free to copy the language of this petition to start a petition for their own state. *Upon state approval an official petition will be circulated for signatures.

A Level 3 sex offender is living in a school district, as well as directly behind a park and ice skating rink. The man was convicted of rape and abuse of a 7-year-old and should not be allowed to live in this area, which is heavily populated with small children.

Rep. David Valadao voted for a federal budget that would, according to the Economic Policy Institute, slow the economy and cost 1.1 million jobs next year -- and 3 million jobs in 2016. Paul Ryan's congressional budget would cut $137 billion from SNAP (food stamps), $125 billion from Pell Grants, and $16 billion to block grants for Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, and child care for working-poor families. It would cut some $300 billion from education funding. We need to send Congressman Valadao a strong message so that he knows we don't support these budget priorities. We have a chance to make an impact over the next few weeks as Rep. Valadao is on recess and making public appearances. We want him to work for a budget that creates jobs and gives everyone a fair shot in life. If enough of us sign, Rep. Valadao will know exactly where his district stands. MORE INFORMATION: "By Ignoring Economic Reality, Ryan Budget Would Slow Recovery, Cost Jobs," Economic Policy Institute, April 1, 2014 http://goo.gl/tNExVy "Ryan Plan Gets 69 Percent of Its Budget Cuts From Programs for People With Low or Moderate Incomes," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 8, 2014 http://goo.gl/RuW0nQ

Rep. Jeff Denham voted for a federal budget that would, according to the Economic Policy Institute, slow the economy and cost 1.1 million jobs next year -- and 3 million jobs in 2016. Paul Ryan's congressional budget would cut $137 billion from SNAP (food stamps), $125 billion from Pell Grants, and $16 billion to block grants for Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, and child care for working-poor families. It would cut some $300 billion from education funding. We need to send Congressman Denham a strong message so that he knows we don't support these budget priorities. We have a chance to make an impact over the next few weeks as Rep. Denham is on recess and making public appearances. We want him to work for a budget that creates jobs and gives everyone a fair shot in life. If enough of us sign, Rep. Denham will know exactly where his district stands. MORE INFORMATION: "By Ignoring Economic Reality, Ryan Budget Would Slow Recovery, Cost Jobs," Economic Policy Institute, April 1, 2014 http://goo.gl/tNExVy "Ryan Plan Gets 69 Percent of Its Budget Cuts From Programs for People With Low or Moderate Incomes," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 8, 2014 http://goo.gl/RuW0nQ