Tag Archives: Rita Kestenbaum

Steve Israel Brings Out His BIG GUNS on Long Island

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 22, 2018

Rep. STEVE ISRAEL – the former N.Y. Congressman now on his second literary campaign – packed Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine last Friday night when his new novel “Big Guns” made its Nassau County debut at the neighborhood book store/cafe bar in Rockville Centre.

Rockville Centre, New York, USA. April 20, 2018. R-L, Author STEVE ISRAEL and Moderator RITA KESTENBAUM hold Israel’s newest novel BIG GUNS at special event for the former Congressman’s book at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Rockville Centre, New York, USA. April 20, 2018. R-L, Author STEVE ISRAEL and Moderator RITA KESTENBAUM hold Israel’s newest novel BIG GUNS at event for former Congressman’s book. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

“Big Guns” is a satire about America’s 800-rounds-gorilla gun lobby, a feckless Congress, and the small fictional town of Asabogue on Long Island’s East End. 

Rockville Centre, NY, USA. April 201, 2018. L-R, Rep. STEVE ISRAEL and Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN pose for photo at special event for Nassau County debut of the former Congressman's (NY - Dem) newest novel BIG GUNS - a satire of the strong gun lobby, weak Congress, and a small Long Island town. Event was held at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine store. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Rockville Centre, NY, USA. April 201, 2018. L-R, Rep. STEVE ISRAEL and Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN pose for photo at special event for Nassau County debut of the former Congressman’s (NY – Dem) newest novel BIG GUNS – a satire of the strong gun lobby, weak Congress, and a small Long Island town. Event was held at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine store. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Moderator RITA KESTENBAUM – a gun-control activist, non-profit founder, and former Hempstead Town Councilwoman whose daughter was senselessly shot to death while away at college – introduced Israel after brief words from a couple of local officials, including Hempstead Town Supervisor LAURA GILLEN who told how, early in her legal career, she quit after her first day on a job when she learned the NRA was a major client of the firm.

Rockville Centre, NY, USA. April 201, 2018. Sitting facing audience, Rep. STEVE ISRAEL speaks at event for the former Congressman's newest novel BIG GUNS, at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine. Left of Israel is Moderator RITA KESTENBAUM. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Rockville Centre, NY, USA. April 201, 2018. Sitting facing audience, STEVE ISRAEL speaks at event for the former Congressman’s newest novel BIG GUNS, at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine. Left of Israel is Moderator RITA KESTENBAUM. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

With the sharp insight and wit noted in reviews of “Big Guns” and his debut novel “The Global War on Morris,” Israel shared details of his writing process and general experiences with fellow Congress members, especially while in the privacy of the Senate elevator, that helped shape the novel Congress. 

The first time I covered this event’s author and moderator together was a 2016 Panel on Preventing Gun Violence that then-Congressman Israel co-hosted with Hillary Clinton in Port Washington, with Rita Kestenbaum as one of five panelists who lost a family member due to gun violence.

Friday night, when asked if he saw a chance for more effective gun-control laws, Steve Israel mentioned – with fettered optimism I happen to share – the social media savvy Never Again movement created by teen survivors of February’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High mass shooting. 

Rockville Centre, New York, USA. April 201, 2018. Rep. STEVE ISRAEL signs book for a fan at special event for the former Congressman's newest novel BIG GUNS, at Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine store. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Rockville Centre, New York, USA. April 201, 2018. STEVE ISRAEL signs book for a fan at special event for the former Congressman’s newest novel BIG GUNS. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

After the Q&A, Israel signed copies of his book, with the line of “Big Guns” toting fans trailing into the bar in the next room.

CONTACT ME


Related posts:

    • 2018/08: Gov. Cuomo Endorses Liuba Grechen Shirley for Congress
    • 2018/03: Bellmore-Merrick Students Walkout to Protest Gun Violence: Déjà Vu
    • 2016/04: Hillary Clinton Panel on Gun Violence Prevention, Port Washington
Port Washington, New York, USA. 11th April 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, has a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. S. Israel, and with activists who lost family members due to shootings. © 2016 Ann Parry, annparry.com

Hillary Clinton Panel on Gun Violence Prevention, Port Washington

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
April 13, 2016

This Monday, HILLARY CLINTON and moderator Rep. STEVE ISRAEL held a discussion on gun violence prevention, to a full house at the Landmark Theater in Port Washington. The panel included five women who each lost a relative to gun violence.

Port Washington, New York, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, has a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. STEVE ISRAEL and activists who lost family members due to shootings: (L-R) RITA KESTENBAUM who lost her daughter Carol at Arizona State University; MARIE DELUS who lost her nephew Pierre-Paul Jean-Paul in Queens; ERICA LAFFERTY SMEGIELSKI who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand the Sandy Hook Elementary School Principal in Newtown CT; NATASHA CHRISTOPHER who lost her 15-year-old son Akeal in Brooklyn; and SANDY PHILLIPS who lost her daughter Jessica Ghawi in Aurora, Colorado theater shooting. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, and Rep. STEVE ISRAEL have panel discussion with 5 activists on gun violence prevention. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

One by one, the five activists shared – relived – their stories of loss and how they became gun control activists.

Port Washington, New York, USA. April 11, 2016. ERICA LAFFERTY SMEGIELSKI, who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, has serious expression as she shares her personal story of loss of a loved one due to gun violence, during a discussion with Hillary Clinton and other activists on gun violence prevention. HILLARY CLINTON, the leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, called for stricter gun control legislation. Clinton had several Long Island events scheduled this day, and the New York presidential primary is April 19. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. ERICA SMEGIELSKI, who lost her mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, is a panelist on gun violence prevention discussion. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

RITA KESTENBAUM lost her daughter Carol shot at Arizona State University.

MARIE DELUS lost her nephew Pierre-Paul Jean-Paul shot in Queens, NY. 

ERICA SMEGIELSKI  lost her mother, Dawn Lafferty Hochsprungand, the Principal killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, CT.

NATASHA CHRISTOPHER, lost her son Akeal, 15, shot in Brooklyn, NY.

SANDY PHILLIPS lost her daughter Jessica Ghawi, 24, killed in theater shooting in Aurora, CO.

Port Washington, New York, USA. 11th April 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, leading Democratic presidential primary candidate, purses her lips during a discussion on gun violence prevention with Rep. S. Israel, and with activists who lost family members due to shootings. The activists shared their stories of personal loss, and Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from New York, called for stronger gun legislation and vowed to take on the gun lobby NRA National Rifle Association. Clinton had several Long Island events scheduled this day, and New York presidential primary is April 19. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, USA. April 11, 2016. HILLARY CLINTON, Democratic presidential primary candidate, listens during a discussion on gun violence prevention. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann Parry.com)

The panelists supported Clinton’s call for tougher gun control legislation and vow to take on the gun lobby – NRA National Rifle Association.

And the security screening I and other Press went through was even stricter than it was for Hillary Clinton’s Book Signing two summers ago. Monday it involved a police dog, a variety of scanning equipment, police and agents checking people and their equipment multiple times and places – and more.


  • UPDATE April 8, 2021 – President Biden announces new executive actions on gun control CNN Politics

Hillary Clinton in Port Washington:  my PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME


Related posts:

    • 2018/08: Gov. Cuomo Endorses Liuba Grechen Shirley for Congress
    • 2018/04: Steve Israel Brings Out His BIG GUNS on Long Island
    • 2018/03: Bellmore-Merrick Students Walkout to Protest Gun Violence: Déjà Vu