Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network - MUUSAN

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/sept7uuthevote

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UUA Condemns Shooting at Pennsylvania Political Rally Unitarian Universalism believes in the right of free speech and the democratic process.

Happy Pride!

Join UUs at PRIDE Portland 2024 on June 15th!

2024 marks the 10th year that MUUSAN and Maine UUs have
marched in Pride Portland! MUUSAN has already paid the parade
registration for all Maine UU churches -- all you have to do is bring your church banner, your enthusiasm, and your walking shoes! This year's parade theme is Life as Art, if that helps gets your creative juices going!

The parade will kick off at 1pm on Saturday, June 15th, rain or
shine. We will gather at around 11:30am at First Parish before
finding our designated spot in the parade line up. The parade will
wind through the streets of downtown Portland before ending at
Deering Oaks Park.

This is a joyful and festive celebration and we encourage
participants of all ages to attend. Let’s show the world that the UU community stands for love, equality, and inclusivity!

Please put this date on your church calendar and share the
invitation. For questions or to let us know your congregation will
attend, contact Reba at [email protected]
://www.muusan.org/uploads/1/2/7/5/127532690/email__3_.pdf
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The May 11th MUUSAN Network Meeting has been postponed until September! Questions? Contact [email protected]

In early winter, MUUSAN's Gun Safety Action Team selected LD2238 and LD2086 as our priorities for the second session of the 131st Legislature. We testified and showed up at the State House many times in support of these bills. We got one of the two over the finish line! In addition, this year Maine has made significant progress on gun safety reform with LD2224 and LD2237, which many MUUSAN members also came out to support.

LD2238 “An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases,” sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo, requires a 72-hour waiting period after the purchase of a firearm. This bill was allowed to go into law without the governor’s signature.

LD2086 "An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms,” was vetoed by the Governor. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Anne Carney and was amended to update Maine law to include conversion devices, such as bump stocks, in the definition of a “machine gun” and to make Maine law consistent with federal law.

LD 2224 “An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine’s Firearm Laws and Mental Health System” was signed by the governor on Friday. The bill has three major components:

- An expansion of background check requirements for firearm transfers;
- Minor changes to the state’s yellow-flag law; and
- Investments in Maine’s mental health system and violence prevention programs. (Originally Speaker Talbot-Ross' bill LD2237)
https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-legislation-strengthen-public-safety-maines-mental-health-system-2024-04

We give gratitude to the remarkable effort put in by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, many MUUSAN members, and the indomitable Lynn Ellis, who is soon to step down as the volunteer MUUSAN co-chair for the Gun Safety Action Team.

Thank you for your ceaseless efforts to create a safer world, Lynn!

Please note: the MUUSAN Network Meeting that was scheduled for May 11, 2024, has been postponed until the fall. Stay tuned for the new date!

Maine's new gun safety legislation reported on tonight's PBS News Hour - except that they left out the bill to ban assault-style weapons: https://video.mainepublic.org/video/april-18-2024-pbs-newshour-full-episode-1713412801/
Advance to 9 minutes 50 seconds to hear Maine segment of report

PBS NewsHour | Season 2024 | April 18, 2024 - PBS NewsHour full episode | Maine PBS April 18, 2024 - PBS NewsHour full episode

We believe that everyone in Maine should have a safe and affordable place to call home. The time is now to push the legislature to fully fund rent relief.

Agenda for the morning:

10:30-Meet at the State House, Rally with Mainers from across the state, hear from housing justice leaders, media/press will be present

11:00-Holding a line of symbolic keys around the capitol, we'll call on lawmakers to fund rent relief ("you hold the keys!").

11:30-go inside the state house to catch lawmakers in the hall and share your stories and support for rent relief in the budget.

12:30-wrap up the morning with snacks and community.

Let's show up together in solidarity once more to celebrate our growing housing justice community and push legislators to fund rent relief now!

Maine Gun Safety Update:
Public Hearings & Action Day Scheduled!https://www.muusan.org/uploads/1/2/7/5/127532690/gun_safety_march_7.pdf

March 6, 6pm - 7pm on Zoom.

https://www.lwvme.org/civicrm-event/1810?a0=events-calendar&a1=202403

We encourage all Maine UUs to attend! Bring your church banner and MUUSAN signs!

Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ State House Assembly On Saturday, March 2 at noon, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will march and rally in state capitals across the country, bringing the demands of poor and low-wealth people for living wages, healthcare, housing, education, environmental justice, and voting rights direc...

Learn more and register here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/mass-poor-peoples-and-low-wage-workers-state-house-assembly

Maine’s Faith Communities Observe Gun Safety Awareness Sabbath The weekend of February 16-18, 2024, faith communities in Maine are participating in a “Gun Safety Awareness Sabbath,” praying in unity for safety from gun violence for our families, communities, and state. 

Register and join us online on February 10th! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qfu6prDwrEtNOS8xKCdulP8HdIoaiqWQu

Over 1500 people came to rally for new Gun Safety laws in Augusta at the state capitol on Wed., Jan. 3rd. Dave & I estimated that there were likely at least 100 UUs at the rally, including at least 4 UU ministers that we are aware of. Photo of Dave & I standing outside in the LONG line in the cold waiting to get in (after an hour and 40 minutes, we never did). Other UUs DID get in - see photo of Mena Ostapchuk and John Adams below with our state Rep. Lydia Crafts. Patty Kidder & another Sanford UU are standing (blue coat) behind us in our photo. Mary Finn & Melissa Dearborn are further down the long line in another photo. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition asked us to bring signs reading:__(fill in the blank)__ for gun safety - so we did.

As the 2023 calendar year draws to a close, we are reaching out to our friends and supporters near and far. If you have donated recently -- thank you! If you are yet to donate this year, we urge you to support MUUSAN's ongoing faith-based work for justice.

2023 was another very eventful year for MUUSAN, the only organization that links all of Maine’s 26 UU congregations in a single network. We want to share some of the positive changes the generosity and dedication of UU Mainers has made possible. The link below will take you to a brief summary of some of our highlights from the fiscal year ending on June 30th.

As you consider offering your support, please remember we are a volunteer organization with an operating budget of less than $32,000. Your gift in any amount truly makes a difference, and if you convert your donation to a monthly gift it becomes even more powerful. You can use this follow the instructions at www.muusan.org/donate.

Thank you in advance for your commitment to legislative ministry. As people of faith, our UU voices are called to the holy work of speaking out and showing up. We are happy to chat with you directly about any aspect of MUUSAN’s finances or activities, and we encourage you to reach out.

https://www.muusan.org/muusan-highlights-fy-2022---2023.html

With gratitude and warmest regards

MUUSAN Highlights FY 2022 - 2023 Supported or opposed at least 48 bills* in the first session of the 131 st Legislature; Testified on 28 of those bills,* (an increase of almost 60% over the last legislative session) continuing to...

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/232964656613161

Check out this awesome video made by some of our own Norway UU MUUSAN members! Yes on #3! Please share with others!

"Home on the Grid" The Norway "Grannies" are voting YES on question 3 to bring our power back home!

Overwhelmed by the number of referendum questions on the ballot? We have the voter guide for you! The five questions in the linked document below are those that MUUSAN worked on as bills in 2022-23. Within the document, click on each link to read the text of the ballot question, and other links to further your understanding of the issues and to advocate with Letters to the Editor of your local paper.

www.muusan.org