What can I do to support the RKBA?

Trapp

New member
On another thread Abnoc came up with some good stuff to be proactive. I would like to see a thread expounding on that.

Wild: Preach to me. What can I, as a 26yr old military member, do to help "fight the good fight"? How do I get involved locally? I think you should start at the bottom if you want to make a difference. How do I get my foot in the door?

Abnoc: it's easy to say "write a letter". I assume a lot of people are like me. I am not a wordsmith. I don't want to sound like a redneck hell bent on "Gitten r' Done!!" Enlighten us if you will.

Any contributions from the "rooftop voters"?
 
TRapp - no one ever voted my "most eloquent" writer, or anything like that, but nonetheless, here's the text of a letter I sent off to my State Representative urging him to co-sponsor and support legislation that will make MD a "SHALL ISSUE" state as concerns concealed carry law.
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<insert elected official's name>, Greetings

I urge you to sign on to SB 762 as a co-sponsor of this excellent piece of legislation.

The Legislatures of thirty-nine states already see fit to entrust their citizens with the right to carry a concealed handgun upon application. Three of those states are Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania with share significant borders with us; from them we see an insignificant influx of crime.

Our neighbor to the East, DC, does not permit even ownership of handguns, not to mention concealed carrying of them. As an aside, it is refreshing to see that the futility of DC's laws is finally coming under the light of serious discussion. I refer you here for more information <http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20070208-084406-2231r.htm>

As it turns out, prohibition is only a deterrent to law abiding residents; the criminals aren't bothered by niceties of law, and of consequence feel free to prey on residents and visitors to DC, and spill over into Prince George's County (of which I've been a resident since 1963) with relative impunity, certain that given MD's current restrictive laws on law-abiding citizen's rights to carry, they will be unchallenged in their pursuit of ill-gotten gains.

Study after study, as well as a mountain of anecdotal evidence, points to the pact that the only thing a criminal really fears is an encounter with an armed would be victim. As early as 1988 one can read where Orlando, FL saw a tremendous reduction in rape and crimes of violence in general perpetrated against women, once women exercised their right to carry arms.

I point you to two documents, the contents of which you are no doubt intimately familiar, but which bear directly on this discussion. First I quote the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I observe that the Founding Fathers correctly recognized that RIGHTS flow from the Creator - NOT from the permission of elected officials. It therefor follows that RIGHTS can NOT be legislated away by elected officials. Current Maryland Law does alienate me from my rights in that a reasonable concern for personal safety precludes certain lawful activities because of the likelihood of violence against my person or family.

Next, the Preamble to the US Constitution:

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Self protection is a basic right guaranteed by the Preamble: there is no more basic right than the ensurance of Domestic Tranquility; on a National or State level, it means one thing - on a Personal level, it means at a minimum the ability to protect oneself and family against perpetrators of lawlessness.

It is no coincidence that the Second Amendment falls under the Bill of Rights - again indicative of the Supreme Authority from which that right flows:

"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."

Note that there is nothing in this amendment that requires membership in said militia, only that the RIGHT of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Under current Maryland Law, my rights ARE being infringed, and your co-sponsorship of this bill is expected as a first step towards a long-overdue remedy.

I await the pleasure of your response.

Sincerely,
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I think it's of utmost importance to (1) stick to about three points - any more than that and their little brains are likely to overflow, (2) run spell and grammar check) and (3) close out with a request for specific action.

Also, recognize that your letter is likely to be read by an aide if you're lucky, or a volunteer if you're not. Calling your elected official a horses a** is not going to impress him or her in the least, and only reduces your credibility

If you have a choice, send your letter snail mail to your official's LOCAL office (not DC). Mail going to Capitol Hill goes through the DC Brentwood Post Office (home of the anthrax scare) and all mail going through there gets irradiated, and takes several weeks to reach the appropriate office. I know this because my work mail goes through Brentwood, and I get corporate Christmas cards in March.

One more thing - don't use big words - especially those of which you're not certain of the meaning. Nothing says "hayseed" than using big words for their own sake, when it obscures or contradicts your intended position.

My apologies for long-windedness.

All the best,
Rob
 
Legislators are interested in whether you are for or against particular legislation and if you vote. Keep it succinct.

If you have a personal anecdote to add, include it.

Reread what you have written and edit. Sincerity and respect are more important than eloquence.
 
I am by no means a wordsmith. My formal schoolin' ended at high school, though I do have alot of technical training.

The advice given in the posts by Old Gaffer and Let it Bleed is sound advice.

Keep it short and to the point. Proof read your copy and read it aloud to see if it makes sense.

No swearing or threats.

Study some of the posts on this forum. See which ones make sense to you and how the posters view is presented. Use the ones that appeal to you as a template for your letters.

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. (Yes Antipitas, I can learn)

Remember that emotional rants will be used to shine an unflattering light on gun owners.

Thats all I can think of at the moment. Hope it helps.
 
Also, check out the online petition against a new AWB. It will be somewhere in the L&P forum. It's a start.
 
Dont quote law or the constitution. At the stage we are talking about, its policy argument. Dont use phony stats either

WildmaybeweneedatflformletterAlaska
 
"Spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. (Yes Antipitas, I can learn)"

OK, we'll start with the easy stuff. No matter how many times you see it on these threads, "alot" is not a word.

" My formal schoolin' ended at high school, though I do have alot of technical training."
 
Abndoc said:
My formal schoolin' ended at high school... (Yes Antipitas, I can learn)
I quit after my 11th year, joined the Marines and saw the world, er, jungle... Doesn't mean I quit learning.

In other news, Trapp you can help by getting others interested in some of the gun sports. Take someone shooting! Do you hunt? Take someone hunting? Trap? SASS?... Lots of different shooting sports!

Join a gun club. Join the NRA. The GOA. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
 
Excellent advice - especially introducing new folks to shooting for recreation.

You also needn't be a wordsmith to pound yard signs for a pro-gun candidate. Pound pavement going door-to-door for same. Do lit drops. Work a phone bank. Work the polls on election day. Be willing to do whatever scut work is needed. Oh, and don't forget to vote.

Join NRA, GOA and your local organization (here in Virginia, www.vcdl.org is tops).
 
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