June 3, 2016 In the News
State Sen. Reuven Carlyle Has Choice Words for the Gun Lobby
The Seattle Times reports:
When the National Rifle Association (NRA) sent out its latest legislative questionnaire, Reuven Carlyle had a choice response ready.
. . .
“As a 2016 candidate and incumbent Washington State Senator, I would be more than willing to respond to your official request by the NRA once your organization has the professional courtesy to respond to the inquiry made in 2014 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and me about your statements linking 21st Century U.S. gun safety procedures with 1930s Nazi policies.”
Carlyle continued:
“Since, as far as I am aware, no one received the personal or professional courtesy of a response about your statements, one may be led to assume ‘indifference, if not outright hostility, toward’ the sensibilities of the broader Jewish community as well as a belief and value system that vitriolic language is belittling to our nation’s civic dialogue.“Thus, please consider this a formal request that you make an official notation in your campaign ratings and material to members that I directly responded to your request with a full and complete willingness to answer your policy questions once you and the NRA provide a response to previous inquires about statements that some may consider vicious and insensitive.”
. . .
Carlyle ended his note by inviting [the NRA] to “a thoughtful, safe, healthy civic dialogue at any time you may wish to engage.”
Read the full story for the Seattle Times here.
Senator Carlyle bravely and powerfully stood up to the gun lobby, and his powerful reminder deserves our applause and our thanks. Click below to add your name to a thank you note for the Senator.