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Link between rates of enslavement and gun ownership - No Hate In Our States

8/23/2022

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Historical rates of enslavement predict modern rates of American gun ownership

No Hate In Our States
​

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Photo credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The above headline is from United Kingdom based Phys.org, an online source of science, research and technology news. 

​A recently-published article on research done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison states that: 
The higher percentage of enslaved people that a U.S. county counted among its residents in 1860, the more guns its residents have in the present, according to a new analysis by researchers exploring why Americans' feelings about guns differ so much from people around the globe.

More than 45% of the world's civilian-owned firearms are in the United States, where just 5 percent of the world's people live. This disparity may have something to do with the way the majority of American gun owners view gun ownership.

"Gun culture is one case where American Exceptionalism really is true," says Nick Buttrick, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of psychology. "We are really radically different even from countries like Canada or Australia, places that have similar cultural roots."

Pew Research Center surveys show two-thirds of Americans who own guns say it's a way to keep themselves safe, while in other countries, people are more likely believe the presence of a gun adds risk and danger to their lives, considering, for example, the far higher rates of homicide and suicide in households with guns. Gun culture scholars have also explored the role of race in American gun attitudes for some time, Buttrick says, and the two may be linked.


Read more about this fascinating research here.

PACG Webmaster
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Proposed Iowa gun amendment - Action Alert

8/23/2022

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Learn about Iowa's proposed reckless gun amendment - Action Alert
Tuesday, September 13th at 7:00 pm

Ridgecrest Village 
4130 Northwest Blvd
Davenport, IA (map) 


AAUW IA Davenport-Bettendorf
​

On September 13th, the American Association of University Women -  Iowa (AAUW-Iowa) will present a program on the Reckless Gun Amendment at 7:00 pm in the Koning Chapel at Ridgecrest Village, 4130 Northwest Blvd, Davenport. This program is open to the public. We urge you to attend to learn more about this proposed amendment.

The Proposed Iowa Constitutional Amendment language is as follows: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny. 

This reckless gun amendment will be on the ballot on November 8, 2022. (Read an article from the Gazette about the bill.) This article from Ballotpedia explains the history of the Iowa Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment (2022), details the supporters and opposition, and explains how it got on our ballet for November.
​

This amendment is not the Second Amendment. Most states have gun rights language in their state constitutions that mirrors the US Constitution's Second Amendment. The proposed Iowa amendment goes beyond the Second Amendment. It puts the right to possess and carry a gun without any infringement above the right to public safety for our communities and children. The Reckless Gun Amendment could lead to the invalidation of any reasonable gun safety measure that keeps Iowans safe.

Rosanne Krubsack
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"Fight Injustice in Iowa" campaign goes live in August

8/14/2022

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"Fight Injustice in Iowa" - OHF QCA billboard campaign goes live in August

One Human Family QCA

Our “Fight Injustice in Iowa” billboard campaign will soon be in place!
 
Here are the locations and dates of posting for our billboards:
​

2814 State Street, Bettendorf (map) – August 15
400 West 2nd Street, Davenport (map) – August 15
53rd Street east of Brady, Davenport (map) -September 12
621 East Kimberly, Davenport (map) – September 19
 
We do not as of now know which signs will be up at which locations.  But as of tomorrow, you can start checking them!

Rabbi Henry Jay Karp
One Human Family QCA

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Support the QC Gun Buyback Program - Action Alert

6/3/2022

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Support the QC Gun Buyback Program - Action Alert
Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 am to noon

Moline Police Department
1640 6th AV
Moline, IL (map)


Moline Police and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities
The Moline Police Department, along with Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities, have begun a gun buyback program. The Facebook post about this event includes the following information: 

Gun violence continues to be an epidemic in our community and country. 

Together we can do something about it, by removing unwanted guns from our closets, drawers and homes before they go into circulation as criminal commerce. 

On June 25th, the Moline Police Department and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities will host a gun buy back event from 9am-12pm.

If you have an unwanted firearm you can turn it in for cash, no questions asked and no identification needed. We will give you $100 for handguns/shotguns and $200 for magazine fed semi-automatic rifles.


PACG is asking members to call the Chief of Police at this non-emergency number to express your support for this brave action: 309-797-0401. Please leave a message of gratitude for this initiative. (Note: although this is a non-emergency number, the same operators answer emergency calls so please be patient if you are asked to hold.)

Any positive changes in our country’s current gun safety measures bring about improvement step-by-step, helping to provide a safer, better life for our local community and our nation!

Deb Sperry
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March for Our Lives rally - Action Alert

5/31/2022

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We Want Change! March for Our Lives Rally - Action Alert
Saturday,  June 11 at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

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Vander Veer Botanical Park
215 W Central Park AV
​Davenport, IA 52803 (map)


Moms Demand Action - QC


The Quad Cities chapter of Moms Demand Action is sponsoring this peaceful March for Our Lives rally. 

In light of the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX—which claimed 21 lives, 19 of which were children—let us peacefully gather in unity to demonstrate our solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those who wish to no longer live in fear of gun violence. Activists are Marching in Washington, DC and across the nation.

March For Our Lives (MFOL) last marched in 2018, which resulted in the passing of some lifesaving legislation in states across the country. It's time to hit the streets once again. 

An official MFOL March has been scheduled in DC on Saturday, June 11 demanding that President Biden and lawmakers take action immediately to stop the mass shooting epidemic. Organizers from the Quad Cities are putting on this local march around Vander Veer Botanical Park to honor the 100+ children and adults killed by guns in this country every single day and to demand that our lawmakers enact common sense gun reform. 

This is an entirely peaceful and cooperative demonstration that welcomes families and people of all ages. Our goal is to gather in unity to demand a safer future for all of us. 


Join us in the next chapter in our fight. If you are not in the QC area, find a march near you.

PACG Office Manager
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Iowa Is Better Than This! Webinar - Community Event

1/30/2022

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"Iowa is Better Than This! Lamenting Iowa's Discriminatory Legislation" - A Free Hybrid Webinar
Wednesday, February 16th at 5:00 pm

In Person and Via Zoom

One Human Family and Numerous Organizations


Over the past year, the Iowa Legislature has considered and/or passed legislation that does not represent "Iowa Nice" values. We need to be heard as we Lament these actions!

Join us in this statewide Lamentation so our legislators know that these policies are not acceptable in a state that cares for all people. Let your voice be heard! We have options for online participation (via Zoom) and in-person sites across the state.

We lament the past to serve as a warning for the future!

For more information, go to OneHumanFamilyQCA.org. Read their statement, attached below.

Online Zoom Registration here.

In-Person Registration here.

Allison Ambrose
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iowa_is_better_than_this_statement_2022.pdf
File Size: 219 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Davenport Bearing Witness to End Gun Violence - Of Interest to Our Community

3/9/2021

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Davenport Bearing Witness Works to End Gun Violence
Date/time and location to be determined

Davenport Bearing Witness

As you probably are aware, gun violence is increasing in our community. Davenport Bearing Witness has been holding brief vigils on sites where gun violence have occurred. The group is also working on legislative actions regarding guns and gun violence.

PACG members and friends are invited to participate.

If you would like to be added to the email distribution list, contact John De Taeye.
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Prevent Gun Violence - PACG Event

7/21/2013

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Quad Citians to Prevent Gun Violence
Thursday, July 25th, 4pm til 5:30pm

201 West 2nd
Davenport, IA


We will picket outside of Senator Charles Grassley's office in downtown Davenport to educate the Senator about majority support for universal background checks and the need to limit the sale of combat-style assault weapons and ammunition. 

Please join your neighbors to make your voice heard. Bring a sign!
​
For more information contact:
Bill Sherwood
amcclus406@msn.com
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PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

8/1/2008

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Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

PACG Peace Forum

In light of the recent tragic shootings at the Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN, where one of Davenport's former congregants Monica Castaneda and her family now attend, all are encouraged to stand together with the QC Unitarian Community at the Unitarian Church on Sunday at 10 a.m (August 3). The church will hold a special service of healing and remembrance for the shootings at Knoxville 's Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. All are welcome. 

A labyrinth/walking meditation and journaling will be available before and after the service for those who mourn and are seeking peace—for themselves, for others and for the earth. Rev. Butts will lead the service.
 
 We stand up for justice, for tolerance and to offer support and consolation to the church community in Knoxville.  There will be no peace until we can accept one another.  

I send along a letter from Monica Castaneda about what happened last weekend and one of the lessons she took from it.

Dear Friends:
Last Sunday morning my husband made banana pancakes for breakfast. I was sitting there admiring the eating capacity of our two boys, 5 and 2, and how my husband has been increasing the quantities in his recipe over the months to satisfy their morning hunger and still have some to carry in their lunch box to go to church. After breakfast I got the kids and myself ready to go. Then I saw my husband walk to the bathroom saying he was going to shower. We were already running a little bit late and I was surprised to see he wasn't ready and hadn't even showered yet. He said, "Why don't you go ahead with the boys and I'll meet you there later." I agreed, but when I got to the kitchen to fetch their lunch box with the pancakes I changed my mind, and decided that it was more important for us to be together as a family on a Sunday morning than to be on time. I could as easily have left, annoyed at my husband's tardiness on such a special day as this. You see, I had promised my kids that I would take them to see the play "Annie Jr." that the children of our church had put together during summer camp. That morning I listened to the voice of love, instead of to the voice of annoyance and I will forever be grateful for it.

We got to the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN at 10:21, right after the first police car arrived. In fact, the police car passed us on Kingston Pike and I felt the first pang of fear when I saw him turn on the driveway to our church. The second pang came when we saw the officer get out of the car with what looked like a sniper's rifle. Then a couple of young women told us there had been a shooting and while I was trying to convince myself this was probably a quarrel or a burglary, they shouted "people have been shot, you have to leave!" At that time they didn't know that the perpetrator had been submitted and disarmed by members of the congregation.

I am sure you have heard the rest in the news.

Now that the initial shock is over, I am once again reminded that there are many things in life that I cannot control, some over which I don't even have a say, but there are also many things in my life in which I can make a difference. One of these is my home, what I put in it and how I take care of it. The care of my home cannot be separated from the care of my family. At times like these it is even more important that I create a tranquil and loving atmosphere in our home. We have many friends that were touched by this tragedy in a variety of degrees. It is important that we stay loving and centered ourselves so that we can provide support and comfort where needed. This applies to us adults as well as to our children.

Work to make your home into an embrace of love. Let go of things that you don't use, don't like, don't love, and those things that are reminders of bad times. Make sure all the living beings in your home, people, pets and plants are thriving. Fix what can be fixed, hire help for what you cannot do yourself. Make a plan, budget your time and your resources. Make sure to leave some time every day to recharge your batteries, to do something that nourishes you and that you enjoy. These are the basics of a happy home.

And when you need to choose between the voice of love or the voice of fear, anger or annoyance, always choose the voice of love.

May you be blessed by Feng Shui!

Monica P. Castaneda
monica@fengshuiforu s.com


Cathy Bolkcom
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 Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG)
 1212 W. 3rd St, Suite 3D, Davenport IA  52802    
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