NUKES: Your Call to Your Congressman Matters

It's time to bring nuclear weapons under control. The PEOPLE instruct Congress, and Congress lays down the law. (As in: the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016"!)

Nuclear weapons on alert . . .
Put the BRAKES on!
Call Congress: SUPPORT Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016
(Share this message on Twitter.)

The conventional wisdom we've been stuck with is:

* we can't get rid of nuclear weapons
* with nuclear weapons, the president alone gets to call the shots
* ordinary people don't have a voice, so the best thing they can do is try not to think about it

But there's a new paradigm, with roots in the US Constitution:

Governance flows from the people up;

that applies to nuclear weapons

just like it does to everything else!

Today in the US Congress, Representative Ted Lieu and Senator Ed Markey introduced the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016," asserting, in part:

"A first-use nuclear strike 

conducted absent a declaration of war by Congress 

would violate the Constitution."

and hence establishing . . . 

"PROHIBITION: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may not use the Armed Forces of the United States to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless such strike is conducted pursuant to a declaration of war by Congress that expressly authorizes such strike."

(See full press release on he "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016.")


Every US citizen should be on the phone to their congressman . . .  Go to Find Your Representative / Contact Your Senator to get contact information for your representative and/or senator. Call them and say . . .

"I am deeply concerned about the threat of nuclear weapons."

"I agree Congress must re-assert its authority over war, including nuclear weapons."

"I urge my representative to co-sponsor the 'Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2016'"

Each person who acts participates in creating a new reality:

* we CAN get ride of nuclear weapons
* with nuclear weapons, the president alone DOESN'T get to call the shots
* ordinary people DO have a voice

Tell Congress to put the brakes on nuclear weapons.


Related posts

Elaine Scarry demonstrates that the power of one leader to obliterate millions of people with a nuclear weapon - a possibility that remains very real even in the wake of the Cold War - deeply violates our constitutional rights, undermines the social contract, and is fundamentally at odds with the deliberative principles of democracy.

(See Reviews of "Thermonuclear Monarchy: Choosing Between Democracy and Doom" by Elaine Scarry )











There are three centers of power that will impact nuclear disarmament: the President, the Congress, and the people. One of them will have to make nuclear disarmament happen.

(See Countdown to U.S. Nuclear Disarmament (With or Without the Politicians) )








The decision about whether to live with the threat of nuclear annihilation is our decision. Are we capable of making sure the messengers -- Obama, Congress, the other agents of government -- hear their instructions from us clearly?

(See NEEDED: Heroes to Bring About Nuclear Disarmament )