Protecting Voting Rights

Guns, votes and D.C.

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By Angela Canterbury

Last Thursday, the Senate finally approved at least one vote in Congress for the long-disenfranchised citizens of the nation’s capital. That was the hand that giveth . . .

The other hand promptly took away the commonsense gun control laws put into place by the locally elected government of Washington, D.C.

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) offered an amendment to the D.C. House Voting Rights Act (61-37) that – should become law – could make D.C. one of the most free-wheeling,-gun-toting places in the country. It passed by 62-36. That’s right – more guns got one vote more than democracy.

First of all, what business does Congress have removing safeguards on selling and possessing firearms that meet the standards set by the highest court? The D.C. Council recently amended its local gun laws to comply with a Supreme Court ruling. There is no sound reason for Congress to use extraordinary powers to pre-empt the democratic will of the people of D.C. – especially to make the city less safe. More

Guns, Votes and DC

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On last Thursday, the Senate finally approved at least one vote in Congress for the long-disenfranchised citizens of the nation's capital.  That was the hand that giveth . . .

The other hand promptly took away the common-sense gun control laws put into place by the locally-elected government of Washington, D.C.

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) offered an amendment to the D.C. House Voting Rights Act (61-37) that – if it should become law - could make D.C. one of the most free-wheeling-gun-toting places in the country.  It passed by 62-36.  That's right – more guns got one vote more than democracy.

First of all, what business does Congress have removing safeguards on selling and possessing firearms that meet the standards set by the highest court?  The D.C. City Council recently amended its local gun laws to comply with a Supreme Court ruling.  There is no sound reason for Congress to use extraordinary powers to preempt the democratic will of the people of D.C. – especially to make the city less safe. 

This gun measure is more than symbolism, or politics:  It's about public safety.  Specifically, the gun amendment would undermine federal anti-trafficking laws, repeal D.C.’s ban on military-style weapons, allow teenagers to possess semiautomatic assault rifles, and prohibit D.C. from passing laws that could “discourage” gun possession or use, by anyone – even children or felons.

And exactly what do gun laws have to do with the right to vote?  House leadership should not consider this or any other non-germane proposal with this civil and voting rights bill.  This is about righting a historic wrong and bringing more democracy to the so-called capital of the free world.  

It seems some in Congress think it is within their power to rule over the more than half a million people who live in the District of Columbia, even if those people have no democratic representation in Congress. This has got to change. It's time to tell members of the House that We the People are more powerful than the gun lobby who are pushing to have their interests imposed upon District residents. 

The House likely will vote on the bill on Wednesday, March 4.  Hopefully, they will walk our nation's democratic talk and do right by the people of D.C. by restoring their voting representation in the House AND rejecting any attempts to undermine their local democratic government.  If they succeed, members of the House will then need to negotiate with the Senate for the removal of the dangerous and unnecessary gun amendment.  President Obama should not have to consider whether to sign a divisive gun measure into law at the same time he acts to return voting rights to the citizens of the District.

If you live outside of Washington, D.C., please feel enfranchised to give your rep. a nudge to take a stand for more democracy now.  District residents can thank their non-voting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for tirelessly fighting for their rights.

D.C. residents can die in combat but have no say in Congress

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originally posted by Joe Newman on Citizen Vox

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Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left.

You can march off to battle,

But steer clear of the polls.

Fight for us, die for us

but don’t forget your role.

– from “The New Cadence” by Estilito Diaz

Unlike previous rallies in support of D.C. voting rights,
the one today in front of the U.S. Capitol was different. There was a
sense that the fight to give the District of Columbia a seat in
Congress might be gaining momentum. As people all over the country are
saying, it’s a new day.

It doesn’t hurt that the D.C. Voting Rights Act has supporters in
high places. President-elect Barack Obama has indicated he’ll support
the act, D.C.’s Delegate to the House of Representatives, Eleanor
Holmes Norton, told the supporters gathered for the Veteran’s Day
rally.

“He told me he will sign the bill,” Norton said. “It’s up to us to get him a bill to sign.”

More

D.C. residents can die in combat but have no say in Congress

,

3023119698_39848762a5

Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left.

You can march off to battle,

But steer clear of the polls.

Fight for us, die for us

but don’t forget your role.

— from “The New Cadence” by Estilito Diaz

Unlike previous rallies in support of D.C. voting rights, the one today in front of the U.S. Capitol was different. There was a sense that the fight to give the District of Columbia a seat in Congress might be gaining momentum. As people all over the country are saying, it’s a new day.

It doesn’t hurt that the D.C. Voting Rights Act has supporters in high places. President-elect Barack Obama has indicated he’ll support the act, D.C.’s Delegate to the House of Representatives, Eleanor Holmes Norton, told the supporters gathered for the Veteran’s Day rally. More

Fireworks, Barbecue and a Vote for DC

As we celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, cookouts and a relaxing day off of work, the promise of our democracy remains unfulfilled for many.

More than half a million people live in the capital
of the United States without voting representation in Congress.
Citizens of the District of Columbia pay U.S. taxes, fight and die for
the U.S. during wartime, and are governed by the laws that Congress
passes.  And yet, shockingly, DC citizens have only a non-voting
delegate in the House of Representatives.

This gross injustice could be righted soon – but we
need your help.  The Senate is considering a floor vote on the DC Voting
Rights Act, which the House passed in April.  There are some senators
who are considering blocking this bill, even after it passed overwhelmingly out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.   Senators have not blocked a
piece of voting rights legislation since the days of Jim Crow. 
Now is not the time to turn back the clock.

Citizens in the District of Columbia don’t have senators of their own to call, so they need you to stand up for them and our democratic values.  Contact your senators today and urge them to vote for the DC Voting Rights Act!

We can’t claim democracy for other countries or hope
to clean up Washington if taxpayers in the nation’s capital continue to
be disenfranchised.

Let your senators know that it’s high time that DC citizens have voting representation in Congress.  It’s the patriotic thing to do.

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