In this Issue:

President of H4PJ Takes Stand Against Gun Show Advertising
Release of “Red State Blues”
Unveiling of Commissioned Art by Marty Ruiz
Inside the H4PJ Blog: BLART #4
H4PJ Online Action Center: Make a Difference Today!

President of H4PJ Takes Stand Against Gun Advertising

Bill board companies are averse to advertising controversial subject matter.  We need them to understand that we consider gun show advertising to be obscene and a contributor to the rising gun violence in our city. 

You responded to our request for billboard locations in Dallas that allow the advertising of gun shows on their signs.  Now we want to insist that this sort of advertising be removed.

Below is a copy of the letter that the President of Hope for Peace & Justice, Rev. Mike Piazza wrote to the General Manager of Dallas area Clear Channel Outdoor.  We have provided you with the ability to send your own letters of concern through this Action Alert. There is line item text for you to choose from and you can add your own thoughts as well.  You can choose to either email the letter or print it out and send it directly.

Your help in this matter is crucial. 

Dear Mr. Jake Smith,

I am writing to ask you to please decline business from gun shows in Dallas.

Driving my daughters to school, I pass through some of the poorest neighborhoods in America. They also are among the most violent. I noted your billboard along Kiest Ave. (3500 block) yesterday, and I thought about how frightening it would be should my car break down in that part of town with just me and my teenaged daughter.

Because of a loophole in the law, criminals, and even terrorists, are able to purchase as many guns as they wish from unlicensed dealers at gun shows. There are no background checks or waiting. They can buy a gun in the morning and murder someone that very evening. What American thinks this makes us more safe and secure?

A report by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives summarizes the problem:

Gun shows provide a large market where criminals can shop for firearms anonymously. Unlicensed sellers have no way of knowing whether they are selling to a violent felon or someone who intends to illegally traffic guns on the streets to juveniles or gangs. Further, unscrupulous gun dealers can use these free-flowing markets to hide their off-the-book sales. While most gun show sellers are honest and law-abiding, it only takes a few to transfer large numbers of firearms into dangerous hands.

While I support the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, I do not believe it is the intent of that article to arm criminals and terrorists. Yet the National Rifle Association’s knee-jerk resistance to ALL gun regulation has had that very effect. I am asking Clear Channel, as a good citizen, to decline advertisements from gun shows until Congress closes the loopholes that allow those events to arm criminals and terrorists.

There already have been several major instances where campus violence and mass murder have been committed with arms acquired at gun shows. I believe the next step in combating this will be to hold accountable those who profit from promoting these events. I do not believe you would want to be associated with the publicity that may result.

Thank you for being good citizens and good neighbors.

Sincerely,

Rev. Michael S. Piazza
President

Click HERE to Make a Difference!

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Unveiling of Commissioned Art by Marty Ruiz

This past weekend marked the much anticipated launch of Art for Peace & Justice.  The launch was held at Artizen Fine Arts Gallery in conjunction with the annual DADA Walk.  The event was a huge success and attended by artists, art lovers, and supporters of H4PJ alike.

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of a commissioned piece of art which will be used as the featured artwork for Art for Peace & Justice’s inaugural year.

Local artist Marty Ruiz was commissioned to create a piece that expresses the multi-faceted nature of the new program, which utilizes art in its various forms to help create a culture of peace and justice where beauty is valued and preserved for future generations. Marty’s artwork, featuring dramatic use of color, is in great demand across the U.S.

“We are thrilled to have a wonderful artist such as Marty Ruiz create the very first work of art for Art for Peace & Justice.  His work is expressive and full of variety and color.  It is a perfect representation of the concepts we espouse through our organization." said Tim Seelig, Director of Art for Peace & Justice. Signed and numbered Repliques™ are on sale during the show, as will the original work. Proceeds will benefit Art for Peace & Justice.

A Replique™ in the same size as the original sells for $595 and a smaller version for $295.  You can get your copy at Artizen Fine Arts Gallery or Sources of Hope Bookstore.

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Inside the H4PJ Blog

A Roller Coaster: Marriage, Disillusionment and a New Beginning Marriage What an amazing few weeks it has been. We got our daughter married off! That was huge, of course. She married the greatest guy on the earth (well, other than my partner, Shawn). It was a glorious celebration of two people who have gathered to their inner circle one of the most diverse arrays of people imaginable. There was one of everything – from my Southern Baptist minister brother to drag queens! MORE...

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The Real antiChrist: How America Sold Its Soul On Sale now! Bishop John Shelby Spong calls The Real antiChrist, “A searing indictment of popular Christianity by a passionate Christian.” When you sign up to support H4PJ on a monthly basis, we will send you a free copy of Rev. Piazza’s new book. Click here to sign up today!

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H4PJ Online Action Center
Make a Difference Today!

To better equip our supporters to work for peace and justice in their communities, Hope for Peace & Justice launched the H4PJ Online Action Center to help you and thousands of others to contact your elected officials and the media about important issues and legislation.

With the H4PJ Online Action Center you can:

• stay up-to-date on current legislation and votes
• find who represents you at the Local, State and Federal level
• know how your representatives are voting
• email your representatives
• contact local, state and national media organizations
• Sign up for updates on important legislation

The Online Action Center gives you the ability to quickly and effectively cause change. You can easily find out information about important legislation and send alerts to your friends and family. You have been faithful in taking action with the H4PJ Action Alerts and we know you'll continue to help now as well via the Online Action Center.

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