Preventing gun injuries and deaths is a public health issue. We have enacted food safety, traffic safety, seat belt and helmet rules, and yet we do nothing to prevent the 82 daily deaths from gunshot wounds. I don't have any personal experience of gun violence but I could, at any time. We do our best to protect people from bad drugs to choking hazards, but we allow them to buy and use guns which are designed to do one thing--kill people.

The president of the US. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, has just agreed to offer the benediction on the night Mitt Romney accepts his party's presidential nomination. Cardinal Dolan says he's going to the convention to pray, not to campaign, but that's not how it'll look to reporters and voters who've heard him and other bishops repeatedly criticize President Obama's policies. However, there is still a way for Cardinal Dolan to demonstrate clearly that he's not endorsing the Romney-Ryan ticket: By using his benediction to pray for the millions of vulnerable Americans who'd be harmed by Paul Ryan's draconian budget plan. The bishops have already condemned the Ryan budget as inconsistent with Catholic teaching because of its "unacceptable cuts" to "essential programs that serve poor and vulnerable people." A prayer for those threatened by these cuts would be perfectly in line with the bishops' stated position and would send a powerful message that the Roman Catholic Church will never be captive to either political party. But to get the attention of Cardinal Dolan and the media before the convention begins next week, we've got to act right away. Sign the petition: Cardinal Dolan, use your benediction at the GOP convention to pray for the least of these who'd be hurt by the Ryan budget.

This bill is skewed towards the wealthy white male. It impedes on the judges ability to use his discretion in deciding the awards of alimony on a case by case basis. Because of this bill obligors (payers) are whafting into courtrooms all over the state after whittling their incomes down to nothing and demanding their alimony be eliminated. This is clogging up the courts and devistating single parent families. If this bill is knocked off of its high horse families will benifit and children will be more secure.

Congressional Office Term Limitation

An Elected official should be setting the best possible example at all times. Delegate Don Dwyer, an Anne Arundel County Delegate said that he regrets his actions, adding that no one should ever drink and operate a motor vehicle or powerboat. This is what he has admitted to; having a blood alcohol content of .2. That is more than 2 times the legal limit. Is this someone we want our children to emulate? Del. Don Dwyer needs to resign!

Many aspiring students from the last decades were saddled with heavy student loan debt loads with high interest rates. Some continue to try to pay off loans incurred as early as the Reagan years when interest rates on some loans were as high as the double-digits and continue to pay interest on capitalized interest on those early loans.They are still trying to pay off their debt, even as they approach or enter into retirement. They deserve the same 3% rate that current new borrowers receive.

there need to be a nationwide recycle program, that will clean up our nation and provide jobs. This type of recycling program will use small to large companies and provide 3.5 million jobs

Discrimination against the poor and homeless is rampant. Infringement of basic civil liberties is a given with current laws. (Vagrancy, loitering etc.) I have been homeless on and off for a few years and I know that Americans can be quite cruel to those who don't fit the capitalist's bill. Bias laws promote bias thinking therefore, I propose that all vagrancy laws be repealed. I also propose that public places provide shelter without bias instead of no loitering and no camping signs.

There are many people affected by the ever growing mental health crisis in this country. Many families have a family member/or know someone who is undergoing a crisis situation as a resut of the mental health dilemma. We need change in legislation and more programs to assist sufferers and their families. Education in schools, work settings, and hospitals are preliminary to dessiminate the "stigma" presented with this issue. "When one is afflicted, we are all affected!" Let's stand together and raise our voices to our Congress on this matter!

The petition is about holding mass media accountable for their stories, and forcing news agencies to tell the truth. Most people, falsely assume, that major news reports represent the truth. Knowledge is power, and people need to have some confidence that they are being told the truth by the media. The issue affects all people who seek the truth. Distributing falsified information and intentionally misleading the public should be a crime when done by the mass media. ******************************* For more details and to locate the source for below quoted texts search for "FOX can lie lawsuit" "The attorneys for Fox, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, argued the First Amendment gives broadcasters the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on the public airwaves." "In its six-page written decision, the Court of Appeals held that the Federal Communications Commission position against news distortion is only a “policy,” not a promulgated law, rule, or regulation. Fox aired a report after the ruling saying it was “totally vindicated” by the verdict."

some Republican-leaning states have recently placed voter supression laws designed to prevent poor, elderly, disabled and those without transportation from voting, under the guise that they are designed to prevent fraud, without no apparent proof. If these laws are effected by states, they should apply only to state elections, and not to federal elections, as these are the domain of the federal government.

It is becoming clear that there is no downside to lying in political ads but this must change. There are no penalities for half truths, lies, or distortions in political campaign ads that would never be permitted in commercial ads. Campaign ads are certainly more important to the public in making informed decisions based on FACTS.