From Peace Action (http://www.peace-action.org/):
Over the last few weeks, Peace Action and a coalition of 17 organizations have been gathering petition signatures supporting legislation that would make it illegal for the president to unilaterally start a nuclear war. We’re pleased that nearly 150,000 people have signed on so far!
Next Thursday, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) will present this petition on Capitol Hill calling for support of their bill, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 (H.R. 669/S. 200).
Make sure Congress hears from you by adding your name to the petition today at https://petitions.signforgood.com/TrumpNukes.
The threat of nuclear war is the highest it’s been in decades. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists recently moved their famed “doomsday clock” from 3 minutes to 2 and a half minutes to midnight. Midnight represents nuclear catastrophe. They cited President Trump’s reckless and dangerous comments on nuclear weapons as a reason for the change.
U.S. words and actions matter when it comes to global nuclear proliferation.
You might remember when President Trump said “let it be an arms race.” Sadly, the president’s recent budget proposal sets that arms race in motion. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said that a key priority would be “restoring our nuclear capabilities.” He’s referring to the 11% increase in nuclear weapons spending in the proposed budget, an unprecedented increase since the end of the Cold War.
A build up of the U.S. nuclear arsenal will lead to other nations following suit.
More nuclear weapons, paired with dangerous rhetoric and posturing is a disastrous combination that pushes the chances of nuclear war, whether intentional or by accident, perilously higher.
No one person should have the sole authority to launch a civilization ending nuclear war. Currently, there is nothing or no one to stand in a president’s way. We need checks and balances on the president’s nuclear launch authority.
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