FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE OF THIS POST, GO JOHN KELLY’S SEPT. 19 BLOG!
[Editor’s note: By now, most of you know that assisted suicide proponents ramrodded a bill through the California special session convened to work on the state’s Medicaid budget, after the bill was killed in the regular session. Too many legislators chose to ignore the documented record of abuses under the virtually identical Oregon and Washington laws. John Kelly has put together the information on what you can do to stop this dangerous bill before it’s too late. And if you’re in need of inspiration and hope, look at what the disability community did to help defeat assisted suicide by a vote of 330 to 118 in the UK, in A Matter of Life and Death.]
Veto! Veto! Veto!
It’s time for Gov. Jerry Brown of California to veto assisted suicide bill AB2x 15, which passed the State Senate Friday, September 11. Governor Brown must veto a bill that tells old, ill, and disabled people that suicide is good for us. He must stop a bill that plays on our huge social inequalities to fully fund the only medical “choice” less well-to-do people and people of color never asked for. Suicide for certain people must never be declared a social benefit!
Now we have the chance to win an historic victory for social justice and disability rights.
So Many Ways We Can Help Stop Assisted Suicide
1. Get out the Word. Talk to, write to, message, Facebook every like-minded person you know, ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, and ask them to do likewise.
2. Telephone Governor Jerry Brown’s office at 916-445-2841.
Say something short like “For old, ill, and disabled people, please veto the assisted suicide bill.” Or say “For misdiagnosed people.” Or people without insurance. Suicidal people. Young bullied people. People of color. People abused by family and caregivers. Intellectually disabled people. Autistic people. Native people. Immigrants. Newly injured people.
3. Email Governor Jerry Brown in Easy-to-Follow Steps
Go online to the contact form.
At “Purpose of communication,” click “Need Help.”
At “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR SUBJECT” click on “Legislation Issues/Concerns.”
Click on the box for wanting a reply to your email.
Ask Governor Brown to VETO the assisted suicide bill AB2x 15 .
A few lines are plenty! Plenty of material at Second Thoughts homepage.. If you are out of state, You can say this bill threatens everyone in the country. Look at Diane Coleman’s letter to the California assembly. And John Kelly’s letter is here.
4. Tweet Governor Brown at .@JerryBrownGOV (Remember to put the “DOT first!)
Plenty of sample tweets at #AssistedSuicide #BlanketImmunity @NotDeadYetUSA @JohnBrianKelly @2ndThoughtsCT @DREDF @NoSuicideCA @autselfadvocacy @NCILAdvocacy and so many great advocates!
5. Write a Letter or Send a Fax
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 558-3160
Remember, every single thing you to get the message to Governor Brown will be crucial to our victory. Do what is most comfortable!
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If you’d like help with talking points, go to Second Thoughts, DREDF or the NDY Toolkit.