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
