AIUSA Group 342 meeting
15 January 2025 (online only)In attendance (via Zoom): Barbara, Frank, Marsha
GREETINGS AND CHECK-IN
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION (Bob's report, delivered by Barbara)
- The PA Supreme Court has blocked Philadelphia's efforts to have stronger gun laws (because a city isn't legally allowed to have stricter laws than what a state has)
- Gun Violence by the Numbers (2024 report)
- significant declines in gun violence and gun sales (sign that pandemic surge has abated)
- US Supreme Court upheld the federal law preventing domestic abusers from owning guns
- Federal funding for gun violence research has increased since 2020 ($137 million)
- In 2024 there was an 18% average decrease in homicides across 277 US cities (43% in Philly, 31% in DC)
- Ghost guns: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) says that in 2022 it could trace only 1% of ghost guns back to individual purchasers
WRITE FOR RIGHTS
- Great news! Neth Nahara of Angola (on whose behalf we send cards at our November 2024 meeting) has received a presidential pardon after spending 16 months in jail.
- Barbara presented the case of Joel Paredes (Argentina), who was blinded when police fired rubber bullets at a peaceful protest he attended.
- In the e-mail announcing this month's meeting, Barbara included sample W4R letters to send to governement officials
- Background information and action items for year's W4R cases can be found at write.amnestyusa.org
AIUSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
- February 21–23 in Detroit
- This will be a HYBRID event with a virtual option
- Information available at https://www.amnestyusa.org/agm2025
DISCUSSION OF GROUP GOALS FOR 2025
- Are there ways we can increase local outreach?
- AIUSA is actively working on protections for immigrants, who will be at increased risk under the new administration
- Take on a new case file? (Barbara will inquire about this)
- Barbara would like other group members to help with putting together actions, letters, petitions, etc.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 19 March, 7:30 pm (hybrid)
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