Posted: 12/18/2012 8:28:46 PM EDT
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Overview
I figured we should get a little more organized with activism efforts. I decided to make a consolidated thread for contact information, tips for contacting representatives, current issues with supporting facts, form letters, etc... Please feel free to copy/paste/tweet/post/forward any of this information to get more people involved. If you have any information or tips to share, please do so. If we work together we'll get more out of our efforts. Let's put up a fight. Don't contact reps that aren't yours. If you send an email to another representative, it will just be forwarded to yours, so you will likely just end up spamming your own. Some exceptions to this rule exist with leadership. Harry Reid doesn't accept non-constituent emails, while John Boehner does. Not sure at this point whether other leaders accept non-constituent emails. Email is preferred over physical letters. Security measures delay the delivery of physical letters by 2 weeks once they arrive. Contact your Representative Contact your Senators Contact the Speaker of the House Boehner Contact the GOP Senate Leaders
House Leaders
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Current Issues
Fiscal Cliff
Current Bills Bill Gun Control
Current Bills Bill: Sen. Feinstein's(D-CA) Gun Control Bill Status: To Be Introduced Q1 2013 Purpose: Ban the sale, transfer, transportation, and possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, with grandfathering. Supporting Facts: 2nd Amendment Form Letter: Click To View Spoiler Bill: Sen. Lautenberg's(D-NJ) Gun Control Bill Status: To Be Introduced 2013 Purpose: Ban high-capacity magazines, with grandfathering. Supporting Facts: 2nd Amendment Form Letter: Click To View Spoiler Generic Facts Out of the 16,000[1] homicides in 2011, approximately 11,000[1] were committed with firearms, while only 323[2] were committed with any kind of rifle. More than twice as many murders were committed with no weapon at all, compared to rifles. Banning rifles is an emotional, not logical, response. 1-2011 Homicide Data, Page 42, Table 2 2-2011 Homicides by Weapon |
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Writing Personal Emails Form letters are convenient, but personal emails are more effective. It appears the best letters are short, personalized, and detailed. A three-paragraph approach is often recommended. In the first paragraph, you should introduce yourself and the reason you are writing. This is your chance to sell yourself as an important constituent. The second paragraph should be the meat of the message. Include details about the topic, cite current bills, cite authoritative sources for data. The third paragraph should conclude the action you want your representative to take. Be bold and tell them you want them to vote YES/NO on H.R.1234. Sample letter Dear Senator/Representative _____, I am writing you today because I am very concerned about H.R.1234. I have lived in AnyState for 20 years, where I own and operate a business selling firearms, accessories, and providing gun training. I currently employ 15 workers full-time, and the effects of H.R.1234 passing would have negative consequences on both my business and my personal liberties. Currently, 35% of my business is directly related to the firearms that would be affected by this bill. A sudden decrease in sales of both those firearms, ammo, and accessories would force me to downsize operations. Additionally, I am a firm proponent of the 2nd Amendment. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This is one of my basic constitutional rights being attacked. As my Representative, I strongly urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1234, as well as encouraging other Representatives to do the same. I hope we can continue to defend our constitutional rights and freedoms. Thank you for your time, and consideration. Sincerely, John Johnson |
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I'm going to go ahead and throw Petitions and Polls in here. While they don't mean much, they do have a small affect on public opinion.
Polls Kansas City Star - http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/18/3971482/dicks-sporting-goods-suspends.html Petitions 1,800 - Security Guards in Schools 3,300 - End Gun-Free Zones 45,400 - Support Gun Owners 5,400 - No AWB |