Tag: guns

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Dear Williamson County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

The Williamson County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America asked me to send them some campaign handouts for their 9/5/2018 meeting. Instead I sent them each this letter. (PDF)

Dear Williamson County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,

My name is Chad Riden and I’m running for Governor of Tennessee as an Independent.

Katie Edwards contacted me and asked for some campaign materials for your meeting because my campaign has been given the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction for standing up for gun violence prevention and recognizing gun safety.

Like you, I support criminal background checks on all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses. Responsible gun owners know that supporting the Second Amendment goes hand in hand with common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence.

Instead of slick campaign propaganda designed to prove I’m everything to everybody, I’m sending you this letter. I’m not writing this to ask you for your vote. I’m writing to THANK YOU for what you’re doing right now at this meeting. Standing up for common sense gun laws is not a popular thing to do (yet) in Tennessee. You are on the front lines of an uphill battle against people who are armed with both guns and a lot of money.

I told Ms. Edwards that my 15-year-old daughter and all of her friends think our current gun laws are inadequate. They feel very strongly about a lot of issues that seem like a longshot in Tennessee. They can’t vote.. YET.. but in 2-4 years, they will be active voters and they will stand up for what they believe in like we’ve never seen before. Change is coming. Our children will be the votes we need for all of these things. They will vote for what is right because that’s what YOU have taught them. Thank you for that. Thank you for being good moms.

My mother always says, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” and that’s why I’m running for Governor. I am fed up with bipartisan politics and the hypocrites at all levels of government. Our elected offices go to the highest bidder and rich candidates backed by their elite friends spend millions on advertising claiming to be just like us.

As an Independent candidate my chances of winning this election are slim to none. I keep saying my goal is to push the conversation in a positive, progressive direction.. but honestly, I just want my daughter to be proud of the things I’ve said and done. Someday, if not already, your kids will think about the work you’re doing right here, right now and they will be proud.

Thank you again for everything you do.

– Chad Riden

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stances on various issues and whatnot

Here’s my response to an email I received covering quite a few issues. If you have any questions for me, please give me a yell any time.

–
Chad Riden
615-829-6187
chad at chad riden dot com

Sat, Aug 11, 2018, 8:16 AM:
Dear Mr. Riden,

My name is Taner Guske and I am contacting you in regards to your run for Governor. I have not found much information on your campaign so I was wondering if you might be willing to answer some questions on issues we face today. This information is to help myself and my friends and family make better educated decisions in the upcoming election. Thank you for time.

Sincerely,
Tanner Guske

What is your stance on:

legal/ illegal immigration and sanctuary cities?

America has always been a melting pot and that blend of cultures is our greatest strength. We should always welcome refugees and have a clear path to citizenship for immigrants. Illegals are already here, working in terrible conditions for crappy pay or worse, being abused or enslaved. Instead of wasting money on a wall, we should embrace those who are already here and help them become full citizens. I think it’s a shame sanctuary cities are even necessary, and I support those communities for standing up for what they believe in.

gun rights?

I support criminal background checks on all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses. Responsible gun owners know that supporting the Second Amendment goes hand in hand with common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence. My campaign has been given the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction for standing up for gun violence prevention and recognizing gun safety.

addressing school safety?

That’s a broad spectrum of things, but in general I do want to fund public schools better so they have the resources and staff needed to be a safe environment for learning. I think the best preventative care is having teachers, counsellors and support staff in place who are truly connected with the students and engaged with each of them in a way where warning signs don’t get ignored and kids who are troubled get the positive attention they need before they lash out in negative ways.

addressing the opioid crisis?
legalization of medical or recreational marijuana?

I support legalized cannabis in all forms for recreational and medical use. Multiple studies have shown that after states legalized cannabis, the number of opioid prescriptions and the daily dose of opioids went way down.

Instead of prison, I like prosecution-led residential drug treatment diversion programs that divert nonviolent felony drug offenders to community-based residential treatment.

TennCare?

I support MedicareForAll, and the expansion of TennCare. I also like the suggestions The Rural Health Information Hub offers including: Frontier Extended Stay Clinics (FESC) which help seriously ill patients or injured patients who cannot be immediately transferred to a hospital; and Team-based care models, such as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs), which extend primary care services in rural communities. Telemedicine is a fantastic way for patients to see specialists in a timely manner no matter where they are. County health departments and school-based clinics seem like a no-brainer to me.

Tennessee infrastructure?

I’d like to build high speed rail connecting Bristol to Knoxville to Nashville to Memphis and Knoxville to Chattanooga with regional light rail transit supporting those hubs. I’d like to deploy fiber optic internet as a public utility to the entire state and make sure every school and home is connected. Our bridges need to be checked and repaired if necessary. That’s a lot of good paying construction jobs out there just waiting to be done.

abortion?

Pro abortion. I’m for women’s rights to choose as guaranteed by Roe v Wade and am against the chipping away at that right on the state level by restricting access in various sneaky ways.

Tennessee’s budget?
Tennessee’s tax laws?
the government’s role on the economy?

I’d like to tax ONLY the top 1% of Tennesseans for 3% of their income. That won’t pay for everything but it’ll make me feel good. Our sales tax is super high and that affects poor people disproportionately more than anyone else. I’d like to see that change. I’d like to see a state-wide minimum wage increase to $15 an hour.

death penalty?

In general I don’t like it, but I’m not sure what to do about the people on death row. I definitely don’t like for profit prisons and would end those contracts.

rehabilitation/ incarceration of non-violent offenders?

I’d rather focus on rehabilitation than incarceration.

how to improve schools?

I think this comes down to money. (like so many things, right?) Politicians SAY they’re pro-education but I don’t think ANY elected official should make one penny more than the lowest paid teacher in Tennessee. In a recent article about me, the Tennessee Tribune said, “If Metro (Nashville) paid 6,106 city employees the same as first year teachers, the city would save $106 million a year.” I’d rather bump up the pay of teachers than cut everybody else down to their level, but if that’s the rule I’ll bet we’d see teacher pay increases pretty quickly.

Some schools open late when it’s cold because the HVAC systems are so out of date that the building can’t sustain life. If we could improve our education facilities state-wide, that’d create construction jobs in just about every community.

Earthship Biotecture in Taos, NM has developed systems that take waste materials like old tires, bottles and cans and build environmentally friendly sustainable structures that provide their own water, electricity and food production without the need for HVAC and with a negative carbon footprint. I’d like to build structures with that method to replace the outdated buildings and “temporary” trailers I see behind so many of our schools. Check out the “Garbage Warrior” documentary. They’re doing pretty incredible work and all it takes is a group of people willing to help. The trash/materials used is already in abundance EVERYWHERE.

As part of my fiber optic internet as a state wide public utility plan, I’d want to connect the schools first. I want to issue cheap tablets to each student and deliver their text books and handouts and information all electronically and eliminate paper as much as possible. Access to information and technology is the key to absolutely everything else and it’s as important as running water or electricity.

school vouchers?

I’m against vouchers and Charter / for-profit schools. We need strong, well funded public schools.

global warming?

It’s real. I’m a big believer in science. Never thought that’d be controversial, but here we are.

environmental legislation?

My dad’s mom, Grace Riden taught high school in the 70’s and 80’s and was recognized by the Tennessee state legislature for her environmental conservation programs decades and decades ago. My mom started the first municipal recycling program in McMinn County in the late 80’s. I’m an Eagle Scout who walks around parks picking up all the trash I see habitually. I want to protect our beautiful state and it’s natural resources.

Thanks for writing. I hope I answered these questions to your satisfaction. I’m generally for common sense things (I think) and am against voter suppression, discrimination, racism, sexism, hate, fear, and ignorance. There’s a lot of work to be done.

Thanks,

Chad Riden
615-829-6187
http://ChadRiden.com
http://Twitter.com/ChadRiden
http://YouTube.com/ChadRiden
http://Facebook.com/Chad.Riden

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Seven Answers for Chattanooga Times Free Press’ Clif Cleaveland, M.D.

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate logo

My name is Chad Riden and I’m an Independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee. I read Clif Cleaveland, M.D.’s June 26th, 2018 piece in the Chattanooga Times Free Press entitled “Seven questions for Tennessee’s candidates for governor” in which Doctor Cleaveland wrote, “A survey of websites of candidates for Tennessee Governor show few specifics regarding health care… Seven questions need answers.” I agree that these issues are too important to go unanswered. Here are my responses:

1. Is access to health care a right or a privilege?

A right. I support #MedicareForAll. Medicare is more efficient than private insurance companies whose primary concern is profits.

2. Do you favor expansion of TennCare?

Yes.

3. How would you improve health-care manpower and facilities in poor counties?
How can they be stabilized?
What role do you see for telemedicine and mobile clinics for underserved areas?
Would enhanced services by county health departments or school-based clinics provide solutions?

I like the suggestions The Rural Health Information Hub offers including: Frontier Extended Stay Clinics (FESC) which help seriously ill patients or injured patients who cannot be immediately transferred to a hospital; and Team-based care models, such as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs), which extend primary care services in rural communities. Telemedicine is a fantastic way for patients to see specialists in a timely manner no matter where they are. County health departments and school-based clinics seem like a no-brainer to me.

4. Is there a role for the state in addressing rising costs of prescription drugs?
Could the state facilitate importation of less expensive drugs from Canada?

Yes. Many states offer State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) to help residents pay for prescription drugs. Also, just an FYI: I don’t know how helpful it is but as a resident of Tennessee, you and your family already have access to a free statewide Prescription Assistance Program (PAP): https://www.tennesseedrugcard.com/

5. How do you propose addressing illicit use of opioids, methamphetamine and cocaine?

I support legalized cannabis. Multiple studies have shown that after states legalized cannabis, the number of opioid prescriptions and the daily dose of opioids went way down.

Instead of prison, I like prosecution-led residential drug treatment diversion programs that divert nonviolent felony drug offenders to community-based residential treatment.

6. What is the role of state government in addressing high rates of childhood obesity?
Can state government promote healthier diets and increased recreational exercise?
Or is this meddling in personal matters?

I agree with the CDC suggestion that the best course of action is a comprehensive approach to addressing childhood obesity in schools with a focus on nutrition and physical activity with programs following the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.

7. What is the role of state government in addressing gun-related violence and accidents involving firearms?

I support criminal background checks on all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses. Responsible gun owners know that supporting the Second Amendment goes hand in hand with common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence. My campaign has been given the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction for standing up for gun violence prevention and recognizing gun safety.

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate logo

I hope I answered these questions to your satisfaction. Thank you for helping raise awareness about these important issues. As Governor of Tennessee, my main focus would be economic revitalization spurred by implementation of fiber optic internet as a state-wide public utility. I support our public schools and don’t think any elected official should make one dime more than the lowest paid teacher. I’m for unionized labor, anti-discrimination laws, #MedicareForAll, and the legalization of Cannabis. I’d like to build high speed rail connecting Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Bristol and regional transit systems. I’m against outsourcing State tasks to for-profit businesses (including and especially charter schools and privatized prisons), voter suppression, discrimination, racism, sexism, hate, fear, and ignorance. There’s a lot of work to be done.

Chad Riden
615-829-6187
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RiDEN4TN/