MEETING NOTES
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing
February 16, 2013
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing met on February 16, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at the Antique Sandwich Company in Ruston. Present for check-in were Susan H., Colleen, Mark, Sheila, and Carl.
AGENDA
1. SAFE AND JUST ALTERNATIVE BILL (Colleen)
PPJH officially endorsed this proposed legislation. See here for more information.
2. DAVE PURCHASE COMMEMORATION (Colleen)
Discussed the obituary
of Dave Purchase published by the New York Times on Jan. 27, 2013. Dave died on Jan. 21, 2013. The commemoration
for Dave Purchase in Tacoma was well-attended.
3. RESPONSES ON GUN CONTROL (All)
We have received two sympathetic responses to the letter we sent to local legislators on Dec. 29, 2012. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell responded in a letter
dated Jan. 22, 2013, saying that she favors working "to close the loopholes in existing laws that allow criminals and children to gain access to
firearms contrary to the law's intention," e.g. the gun-show loophole. She said that while she "support[s] the Second Amendment," she believes that
"making our state and our country as safe as possible for all people" is possible through "common-sense gun laws and stricter enforcement of
stricter laws." She said she "applaud[ed]" President Barack Obama's "series of legislative proposals and executive actions." She also mentioned
the importance of "making services for the mentally ill and their families more accessible." — Washington State Senator Jeannie
Darneille wrote to us on Jan. 31, 2013, that she will be "an active participant" in a Senate Democratic Caucus "workgroup" that "will be discussing a wide variety of ideas:
increasing the use of background checks, increasing gun tracking, increasing funding for police departments, and evaluating and improving access to
mental health services." Sen. Darneille said she had forwarded our specific suggestions for legislation "to the workgroup staff." She added that
"I cannot help but believe that the increase in gun violence is directly related to the decimation of our mental health treatment services." She also
appealed to us to support the 1/10 of 1% sales tax to expand services in Pierce County, because it will "improve access to mental health and substance
abuse treatment."
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. STEVE AND KRISTI NEBEL IN CONCERT (Colleen)
Steve and Kristi Nebel are performing tonight at 7:00 p.m. at King's Books (218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma).
Respectfully submitted,
Mark