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Guest Editorial: I Lost My Son to Gun Violence. Please Vote Yes on Initiative 594.
thestranger.com ^ | 10/6/2014 | Richard Martinez

Posted on 10/06/2014 10:52:52 AM PDT by rktman

Just a few months ago, I was at work as an attorney and the proud father to Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, my only son. But after Chris was killed in the mass shooting in Santa Barbara on May 23, 2014, my work suddenly seemed unimportant. I resolved to honor Chris’s life and the lives of so many others who have been killed by preventable gun violence by taking action to address the heartbreaking cycle of gun violence in our communities—and to urge others to join me in the fight.

Washington State is on the brink of taking that kind of meaningful action. I was in Washington recently, where I had the chance to share with voters why I strongly support Initiative 594, the state ballot initiative that would close the loophole in Washington’s background check system.

(Excerpt) Read more at slog.thestranger.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 2a; banglist; guncontrolnazis
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Yet another out of stater pleading with the citizens of WA to further infringe on their rights. I'm sure nannie bloomers, moms lookin' for a little 'action', mark and gabby giffords, the brady bunch and the rest of these dim bulbs will be brightening your day before it's all said and done. Sorry about seattle and the giant lib populace that will no doubt control the outcome of this POS initiative.
1 posted on 10/06/2014 10:52:52 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman

I forgot to mention that as of this morning, approx 300 million(give or take) guns just laid around and did nothing. Odd eh?


2 posted on 10/06/2014 10:54:27 AM PDT by rktman ("The only thing dumber than a brood hen is a New York democrat." Mother Abagail.)
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To: rktman
My friend just lost his son to car violence.

So let's pass meaningful car bans.

3 posted on 10/06/2014 10:55:50 AM PDT by Lazamataz (First we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.)
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To: rktman

They say they are against “gun violence” and then promote laws that only apply to legal, peaceful gun owners.


4 posted on 10/06/2014 10:58:40 AM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: rktman
It's a sad story and emotion is overriding his common sense.
He will be responsible for many many deaths of other people's children if yet another deadly anti-gun law goes through.

If you take guns out of the hands of the good guys, that bad guys know this.
Worse, the government, other governments, and illegal invaders know this.

Gun control laws make orphans and childless parents because less guns in the hands of good people doesn't take guns away from the lawless.

5 posted on 10/06/2014 10:58:40 AM PDT by PATRIOT1876
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To: rktman
Ok, so 'TheStranger' is an indie alternative newspaper.

We were expecting rationality from the people who view Obama as right-wing?

6 posted on 10/06/2014 10:59:54 AM PDT by Lazamataz (First we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.)
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To: rktman

What about the other 2 that were stabbed to death? Were is the ‘I lost my son to knife violence’ legislation? Didn’t he also run over someone as well? Where is that car legislation?


7 posted on 10/06/2014 11:00:16 AM PDT by ColdOne (I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11)
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To: Lazamataz
“So let's pass meaningful car bans.”

ban pedestrians and bicycles, not cars!

8 posted on 10/06/2014 11:01:23 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: Lazamataz
My friend just lost his son to car violence. So let's pass meaningful car bans.

I lost my father and grandmother to old age violence. Let's ban old age too. Oh wait, that's what Obamacare is supposed to do. Nevermind.

9 posted on 10/06/2014 11:03:50 AM PDT by eldoradude (It doesn't matter how many it takes, the lightbulb has already been stolen.)
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To: rktman

“preventable gun violence”

There is no such thing. Guns, knives, baseball bats, frying pans, ropes, cars and trucks etc... are inanimate objects lacking any propensity to do anything.

Human beings have the ability to be violent, commit violent acts, have a propensity towards violence etc...

“Gun violence” is a made up construct that “sounds good” as well as subliminally connects a thing with an act in order for the reader, viewer or listener to automatically link an object with a behavior and then make the reflexive judgement that the propagandist strives for.


10 posted on 10/06/2014 11:04:36 AM PDT by Stormdog (A rifle transforms one from subject to Citizen)
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To: Lazamataz
*My friend just lost his son to car violence.
So let's pass meaningful car bans. *

I hope the Left never thinks this up by themselves.
They would LOVE to ban cars because some ignorant public school teacher told them that fossil fuels are evil because Bill Nye the Non-Science Guy said so.

p.s.
Louis Nye knows a thousands times more about Science than Bill Nye does....and he's been dead for 9 years.

11 posted on 10/06/2014 11:05:19 AM PDT by PATRIOT1876
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To: ColdOne

What about the other 2 that were stabbed to death? Were is the ‘I lost my son to knife violence’ legislation?

...

The Ruling Class is afraid of guns, not knives.


12 posted on 10/06/2014 11:06:54 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: rktman

Nah, the guy lost his son to a criminal using a gun, not “gun violence”.


13 posted on 10/06/2014 11:06:57 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Moonman62

Guns and gardening - two things that are very “dangerous” to the ruling class.


14 posted on 10/06/2014 11:07:46 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: rktman

Sorry but the tragic loss of someone’s child does not trump my right to own and carry a gun.


15 posted on 10/06/2014 11:09:03 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: rktman
On September 12, 2014, my husband took his own life, using a handgun. He was considerate enough not to use his every day carry weapon, which is really mine and registered to me. He used a gun that I didn't know he had, but again, he was considerate. He had all the registration papers set aside, to help me provide the police the needed paper trail. As I had never seen the gun, my prints were not on it.

Did I have a tragic boating accident with my guns? Hell no. I was wearing a gun when I went to the hospital to meet the ambulance, I had to go back at the door when I realized where I was. (We both have CPLs). As per usual, every time I left home to visit him, I wore my gun. I would secure it for times at the hospital and police station.

Bottom line: I am soooo sorry for this bereaved father. I understand his need to make something good come from his loss.

I also choose to make something good come out of my loss. After I sell my house and clean up the mess, I will begin designing a “Suicide Victim's Advocate” program. In our state, every county has a Victim's Rights Advocate-that person is the liaison between the victim and the prosecutor's office.

In my case, there is no one person that I can call and ask about evidence or the investigation. I have to bother the police when they are doing things way more important than answering my questions. I propose that suicides’ families are victims, and therefore should be provided with the same assistance as a crime victim. This person would liaise between the police and the survivors.

No one has dared asked me how I can still put on my gun every time I head out the door, and keep it close when at home. Well, sillies! The gun didn't do it, the owner did. If he hadn't a gun, he would have used another method. I choose to help myself by helping others, not taking away their freedoms. So, there it is. Again, guns do not kill people, people kill people. Oh, and a little off-topic, but pertinent. If you haven't already, please talk with your loved ones about the Gift of Life donation. My husband was able to help 2 people live, just with his organs. I haven't heard yet from the Eye bank, but I really hope his sparkling green eyes are showing the world to some sweet little kid!

16 posted on 10/06/2014 11:12:14 AM PDT by blu
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To: rktman

Yeah, I just checked and my guns didn’t move an inch—I guess they’ve just been lying there, well-behaved and quiet. For the life of me, I can’t understand what’s gotten into all those violent guns out there.


17 posted on 10/06/2014 11:14:14 AM PDT by dinodino
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To: Lazamataz

“My friend just lost his son to car violence.”

We lost our firstborn to car violence. Violence was action of a sixteen year old who got his licence a couple of weeks before driving on the wrong side of a two lane road, and he already had a ticket for 50 something in a thirty five zone during that short time.

Did I say undocumented? Nah.......


18 posted on 10/06/2014 11:15:18 AM PDT by litehaus (A memory tooooo long)
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To: Lazamataz

Well, let’s see. A good friends son was lost due to negligent handling of him and his buddies with a shot gun. Two guys I worked with committed suicide with guns. One shotgun and one pistol. Another guy I worked with did himself in with the tried and true running car in closed garage. Do we ban friends, negligence, enclosed garages, running cars or just go for the guns.


19 posted on 10/06/2014 11:18:20 AM PDT by rktman ("The only thing dumber than a brood hen is a New York democrat." Mother Abagail.)
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To: MrB

20 posted on 10/06/2014 11:19:56 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (You know what, just do it.)
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