June 28, 2018
Updates
To our Lift Every Voice Oregon IP 43 Team that now numbers in the thousands all around the state of Oregon:
In just over three months we have assembled a grass roots volunteer organization that political experts and pundits are saying has never been done before in Oregon. Many said our effort was impossible. Now they are saying our movement will change the landscape of Oregon for the common good in ways no one could imagine.
Two days ago, we were poised to collect 120,000 signatures by next week to place IP 43 on the November 6 General Election Ballot, to ban the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines. We were organized statewide, poised and ready to make history. Four months ago, even with the youth of this nation saying enough is enough, the NRA thought they had every state legislature and political process under control. They did not see this coming.
So here we are. Let me put this into a sports analogy. It was the first quarter on Tuesday and we were so nimble fast and strong that those who opposed IP 43 could not keep up; we were literally ready to win. So they began to flop all over the field, catching the referee's attention so that the time in the quarter would run out. That is what happened, because every delay tactic to keep the democratic process from moving forward was used. With a call from the referees, whom we highly respect but whose call we fully disagree with, the time of the first quarter has run out
But the contest for our children's future has just begun. The NRA and gun groups think they won a victory today. But the contest for true freedom from violence and fear in this country has just begun. Now we know the NRA's play book and they have no clue about ours.
Now the contest for the safety and wellbeing of our children and youth moves into high gear. We will be refueling for 2020 to put pressure on the 2019 Legislature to be bold and courageous and to get it done in 2019. It doesn't matter who does it, just that we do it now. We are building capacity every day and no one is deterred and the muscle for change is growing every day in the Lift Every Voice Campaign. The NRA should have taken this common-sense measure to protect our children while they had the chance; now they have no clue of the good that is coming next. So recruit your friends; give of your time, talents and treasures; and let's keep building this movement that will not only change Oregon but will transform this nation. Yes, the day is on the horizon when gun violence will be a distant memory and our students can learn and our teachers can teach.
Let's Lift Every Voice and make this happen now.
Let's lift Every Voice and be courageous and bold for our children's sake.
Let's Lift Every Voice and march on 'til victory is won!
God's blessings and peace,
Rev. W. J. Mark Knutson
Updates
To our Lift Every Voice Oregon IP 43 Team that now numbers in the thousands all around the state of Oregon:
In just over three months we have assembled a grass roots volunteer organization that political experts and pundits are saying has never been done before in Oregon. Many said our effort was impossible. Now they are saying our movement will change the landscape of Oregon for the common good in ways no one could imagine.
Two days ago, we were poised to collect 120,000 signatures by next week to place IP 43 on the November 6 General Election Ballot, to ban the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines. We were organized statewide, poised and ready to make history. Four months ago, even with the youth of this nation saying enough is enough, the NRA thought they had every state legislature and political process under control. They did not see this coming.
So here we are. Let me put this into a sports analogy. It was the first quarter on Tuesday and we were so nimble fast and strong that those who opposed IP 43 could not keep up; we were literally ready to win. So they began to flop all over the field, catching the referee's attention so that the time in the quarter would run out. That is what happened, because every delay tactic to keep the democratic process from moving forward was used. With a call from the referees, whom we highly respect but whose call we fully disagree with, the time of the first quarter has run out
But the contest for our children's future has just begun. The NRA and gun groups think they won a victory today. But the contest for true freedom from violence and fear in this country has just begun. Now we know the NRA's play book and they have no clue about ours.
Now the contest for the safety and wellbeing of our children and youth moves into high gear. We will be refueling for 2020 to put pressure on the 2019 Legislature to be bold and courageous and to get it done in 2019. It doesn't matter who does it, just that we do it now. We are building capacity every day and no one is deterred and the muscle for change is growing every day in the Lift Every Voice Campaign. The NRA should have taken this common-sense measure to protect our children while they had the chance; now they have no clue of the good that is coming next. So recruit your friends; give of your time, talents and treasures; and let's keep building this movement that will not only change Oregon but will transform this nation. Yes, the day is on the horizon when gun violence will be a distant memory and our students can learn and our teachers can teach.
Let's Lift Every Voice and make this happen now.
Let's lift Every Voice and be courageous and bold for our children's sake.
Let's Lift Every Voice and march on 'til victory is won!
God's blessings and peace,
Rev. W. J. Mark Knutson
