I was making my round of phone calls today while driving home from work and actually spoke to a delegate for about 30 minutes. I won't say who it was, but they are pro 2A and think this legislation is total ********. I dont want to say wel'll "win" because I don't think you can "win" a right you already have.
They offered me tips on how to better our chances:
1. The legislature doesn't care if we threaten to move our families and businesses. Saying this only gives them a lesser opinion of us.
2. We need vocal women. Many guys own guns, but the legislature wants to see women and mothers, not the typical "gun owning guy."
3. Tell them your education - college, graduate school, etc... They will take your opinion more seriously. If you have a degree of any sort tell them, otherwise they will assume you are uneducated. If you went to trade school instead of college, tell them that too. They want to see educated and well-informed people.
4. Don't wear NRA and MSI gear when testifying. You will be immediately labeled as a "gun nut" and discredited. I asked the delegate this specifically and they said it is important. I'm a proud NRA member (and I just joined MSI this week), but I want them to think of me as an indvidual, 6-Pack, and not just "another NRA/MSI member."
5. Give alternatives. Yeah, this law is ******** and we all know it, but we need to address how to fix our violence problem (such as enforce the numerous laws on the books, less plea bargaining for criminals, etc...).
6. We need all the support we can get in Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George's County. Try to get anyone you know in these areas to talk to their representatives.
7. We need more hunters to show opposition to his legislation. So far, it's mostly been the more vocal assault rifle owners. We need hunters!!!
8. This legislation may likely be split into multiple pieces because some in congress have trouble only with the licensing portion. We need to target these people and inform them, otherwise you can bet a good portion of this will make its way into the Annotated Code of Maryland!
9. When contacting representatives, make sure you provide them with more than "it's my right to own these guns." Give examples (ie: flash suppressors haven't been linked to any crimes, no one has been bayonetted in even the worst parts of Baltimore, pistol-grip stocks do absolutely nothing to a weapon's function...).
10. Show up and testify on Feb. 6. They are expecting a large turnout, we don't want to disappoint them.
Maybe we could set up a Google Docs account so people can upload their talking points for peer review. If anything is going to the legislature it should be error free! This is something we can all do even if we can't attend the hearings: peer review documents.
They offered me tips on how to better our chances:
1. The legislature doesn't care if we threaten to move our families and businesses. Saying this only gives them a lesser opinion of us.
2. We need vocal women. Many guys own guns, but the legislature wants to see women and mothers, not the typical "gun owning guy."
3. Tell them your education - college, graduate school, etc... They will take your opinion more seriously. If you have a degree of any sort tell them, otherwise they will assume you are uneducated. If you went to trade school instead of college, tell them that too. They want to see educated and well-informed people.
4. Don't wear NRA and MSI gear when testifying. You will be immediately labeled as a "gun nut" and discredited. I asked the delegate this specifically and they said it is important. I'm a proud NRA member (and I just joined MSI this week), but I want them to think of me as an indvidual, 6-Pack, and not just "another NRA/MSI member."
5. Give alternatives. Yeah, this law is ******** and we all know it, but we need to address how to fix our violence problem (such as enforce the numerous laws on the books, less plea bargaining for criminals, etc...).
6. We need all the support we can get in Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George's County. Try to get anyone you know in these areas to talk to their representatives.
7. We need more hunters to show opposition to his legislation. So far, it's mostly been the more vocal assault rifle owners. We need hunters!!!
8. This legislation may likely be split into multiple pieces because some in congress have trouble only with the licensing portion. We need to target these people and inform them, otherwise you can bet a good portion of this will make its way into the Annotated Code of Maryland!
9. When contacting representatives, make sure you provide them with more than "it's my right to own these guns." Give examples (ie: flash suppressors haven't been linked to any crimes, no one has been bayonetted in even the worst parts of Baltimore, pistol-grip stocks do absolutely nothing to a weapon's function...).
10. Show up and testify on Feb. 6. They are expecting a large turnout, we don't want to disappoint them.
Maybe we could set up a Google Docs account so people can upload their talking points for peer review. If anything is going to the legislature it should be error free! This is something we can all do even if we can't attend the hearings: peer review documents.
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