Tips for Talking to Reps in Person?

Allen65 · Feb 12, 2019

I'm thinking of stopping by Rep. Malone's office to voice my opinion about some of the most egregious anti-2A bills that will be up for review in the House Judiciary Committee on the 25th. He represents my district, so hopefully I'll be able to get an audience with a staffer, or, if I hit the jackpot, his Chief of Staff.

Does anyone have any tips from prior experience speaking with their reps offices besides the basic dress professionally, stay cool, and have your specific arguments thought out already?

MDFF2008 · Feb 12, 2019

Make an emotional connection to the issue. One thing I've learned working in at a college for 10 years now, in today's day and age, people respond to emotional connections.

If you are concerned for your daughter's safety, that has more impact than rattling off facts.

welder516 · Feb 12, 2019

When you are talking face to face , don't reach down and adjust your junk . It makes the conversation very weird , I had a guy that was looking for a job one time and it made things odd . I ask him if he had some sort of issue and I was not going to talk to him while he was adjusting .

True Story

PowPow · Feb 12, 2019

Why settle for anything other than Delegate Malone himself? Set up a time in advance. Insist on 15 minutes sometime in the next 10 days. Make yourself available on his schedule if possible. Let him see the look on your face. Only Malone is the one casting the vote - the staffers are there for cover.

Art3 · Feb 12, 2019

Trying to beat the fat old white man in cammo stereotype, my technique is to bring my wife and let her do the talking. Can you do that? No, don't bring MY wife, bring your own. Or do you have children (preferably mixed race) that could accompany you?

Maybe be prepared to educate them on existing laws. I remember last year, during testimony, one of the legislators asked, "what's an HQL" :facepalm:

Allen65 · Feb 12, 2019

Art3 said:
Trying to beat the fat old white man in cammo stereotype, my technique is to bring my wife and let her do the talking. Can you do that? No, don't bring MY wife, bring your own. Or do you have children (preferably mixed race) that could accompany you?

Maybe be prepared to educate them on existing laws. I remember last year, during testimony, one of the legislators asked, "what's an HQL"

My wife is a strident anti and SJW. Not the messaging I'm looking for. Maybe I could borrow your wife after all?

I don't do the camo thing; I'm a nerdy old electronics engineer. An oxford or polo shirt, navy sport jacket and khakis would be the style. Maybe a tie, if I want to look particularly serious. No pocket protector, though. I'm a nerd, not a geek.

Art3 · Feb 12, 2019

Allen65 said:
My wife is a strident anti and SJW. Not the messaging I'm looking for. Maybe I could borrow your wife after all?

I don't do the camo thing; I'm a nerdy old electronics engineer. An oxford or polo shirt, navy sport jacket and khakis would be the style. Maybe a tie, if I want to look particularly serious. No pocket protector, though. I'm a nerd, not a geek.

Heck no! You already dun messed up yours somehow! :rolleyes:

That's a shame about her. I guess explaining that gun control has its roots in Democrats trying to keep guns out of the hands of recently freed or unsegregated black folks wouldn't tickle her SJ button?

dontpanic · Feb 12, 2019

Call thier office and find out when they will be there. This has always worked for me. You can also check what committees they are on and don't visit thier offices while those committees are in session.

I talk to my rep every year.

They also regularly hold town halls in thier district. Or the very best way is to volunteer your time canvassing for them. That is when they actually listen to you. I met and talked to Mike Miller for 10 minutes doing this. There is no better way to get one on one time with a politician

fidelity · Feb 12, 2019

welder516 said:
When you are talking face to face , don't reach down and adjust your junk . It makes the conversation very weird , I had a guy that was looking for a job one time and it made things odd . I ask him if he had some sort of issue and I was not going to talk to him while he was adjusting .

True Story

Did you shake his hand afterwards?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

montoya32 · Feb 12, 2019

Allen65 said:
I'm thinking of stopping by Rep. Malone's office to voice my opinion about some of the most egregious anti-2A bills that will be up for review in the House Judiciary Committee on the 25th. He represents my district, so hopefully I'll be able to get an audience with a staffer, or, if I hit the jackpot, his Chief of Staff.

Does anyone have any tips from prior experience speaking with their reps offices besides the basic dress professionally, stay cool, and have your specific arguments thought out already?

I don't believe he is in favor of the bills. Aim for the antis or fence riders. Chairman of the committees, rookie legislators.

Art3 · Feb 12, 2019

montoya32 said:
I don't believe he is in favor of the bills. Aim for the antis or fence riders. Chairman of the committees, rookie legislators.

Can't hurt to be sure the ones on our side know the score though. Didn't a few of our "allies" mistakenly vote for HB1302 at first because they didn't know we were against it?

montoya32 · Feb 12, 2019

Art3 said:
Can't hurt to be sure the ones on our side know the score though. Didn't a few of our "allies" mistakenly vote for HB1302 at first because they didn't know we were against it?

Yes, but Malone is a decent one. JMO, but I would just email him and ask his opinion before wasting time visiting him if he is already opposed to the bills. Spend the time going after those looking to take our Rights.

Biggfoot44 · Feb 13, 2019

Be specific .

Don't just say such & such Bill sucks . Refer to specific sections in the Bill by number and letter .

hodgepodge · Feb 13, 2019

Allen65 said:
I'm thinking of stopping by Rep. Malone's office to voice my opinion about some of the most egregious anti-2A bills that will be up for review in the House Judiciary Committee on the 25th. He represents my district, so hopefully I'll be able to get an audience with a staffer, or, if I hit the jackpot, his Chief of Staff.

Does anyone have any tips from prior experience speaking with their reps offices besides the basic dress professionally, stay cool, and have your specific arguments thought out already?

Then you're in my District, #33. Mike Malone and Sid Saab are solid 2A.

Heather Bagnall is a Bloomberg-loving, Kool-Aid drinking fool. I will be trying logic, but I think she's immune. I'll be trying emotion, but guns are bad. Then there's my toxic masculinity.

welder516 · Feb 13, 2019

fidelity said:
Did you shake his hand afterwards?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Not even , i stood 4 feet away with a look of horror :sad20:

Allen65 · Feb 13, 2019

hodgepodge said:
Then you're in my District, #33. Mike Malone and Sid Saab are solid 2A.

Heather Bagnall is a Bloomberg-loving, Kool-Aid drinking fool. I will be trying logic, but I think she's immune. I'll be trying emotion, but guns are bad. Then there's my toxic masculinity.

Talking to Bagnall is on my to-do list. But unlike Malone, she's not on the Justice Committee, so she's only relevant as a vote on the final bills later in the MGA session. That gives a few extra weeks to come up with a way to communicate with her without losing my cool.

Allen65 · Feb 13, 2019

Biggfoot44 said:
Be specific .

Don't just say such & such Bill sucks . Refer to specific sections in the Bill by number and letter .

Yup. The idea is to point out specific issues with specific portions of bills, as well as describing likely harm to law abiding constituents.

Allen65 · Feb 13, 2019

montoya32 said:
I don't believe he is in favor of the bills. Aim for the antis or fence riders. Chairman of the committees, rookie legislators.

I'm much more likely to be able to get an audience with my own representatives. That would be Malone, Bagnall, Saab, and Sen. Reilly.

Allen65 · Feb 13, 2019

hodgepodge said:
Then you're in my District, #33. Mike Malone and Sid Saab are solid 2A.

Heather Bagnall is a Bloomberg-loving, Kool-Aid drinking fool. I will be trying logic, but I think she's immune. I'll be trying emotion, but guns are bad. Then there's my toxic masculinity.

Luckily, I doubt she'll get re-elected. It's a red district, and she only won because Tony McConkey was, well, Tony McConkey. In the long run we're better off without him if we can get someone into that job in the next election who will have the respect of his or her colleagues.

ironpony · Feb 13, 2019

Would it be a good starting point to ask if they have read (and understand) the bill being questioned? IIRC very no one even read HB1302, "We were told to vote for it".

Tips for Talking to Reps in Person?

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