From: [i--h--a] at [delphi.com] (Gary Prince)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Contacting your elected officials
Date: 29 Jun 1994 00:03:31 -0400

The following is from the July issue of Dillons' "the Blue Press".  They
encourage mass distribution of the articles printed in the "Press".

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"I'm Frustrated...I'm Angry...I'm Gonna Tell my Congressman!"
     -by Mark Pixler (the Blue Press, July 1994)

     "...I'm gonna tell my congressman!"  Good choice.  The single most
effective thing you as an individual gun owner can do is write to the
senator and representative from your district and let them know how
strongly you feel about your right to keep and bear arms.

     Skeptics (and those too lazy to do anything but sit around and bitch
about the current state of affairs) may tell you it's pointless to write to
these people about gun issues, but the fact is, politicians want to stay in
office.  They do keep track of their mail, and when a number of people feel
strongly enough about something to take the time to write letters, it gets
their attention.

     "Why not just call their local office?"  That's better than doing
nothing at all, but folks in the know will tell you that a letter carries
much more weight than a phone call.  Again, it's because phone calls are
easy.  Anyone can sit down long enough to dial a phone, put in his or her
two cents worth, hang up and feel just self-righteous as hell..It takes
more effort to write a letter, the politicians know this, and it does carry
more weight.

     "I signed one of those form letters last weekend at a gun show-the guy
said he was going to send them to my senator."  Was it printed on nice,
soft paper?  Because that kind of form letter is more likely to be recycled
into bathroom or facial tissue for all the good it will do.  Let me ask you
this: When you get a form letter in your junk mail, what do you do with it? 
Well, that's exactly what the folks in Washington do with them, too!

     "OK, OK, I'll Write...But I don't know what to say!"  You don't have
to say much at all.  In fact, the shorter the better.  Don't copy some form
letter, don't start quoting Shakespeare, or the bible, or whatever.  All
you have to do is write a short note explaining that you are a law abiding
citizen, a registered voter (if you're not, get yourself registered before
you write) and a gun owner.  Tell your senator or representative that you
are not willing to give up your freedom.  Tell them that you will vote for
them if they support you and against them if they don't.  But whatever you
tell them-say it in your own words.

     A few hints:

     Keep it short (ONE page, maximum) and to the point-don't try to cover
     all your legislative beefs with one letter.  Don't tie in your
     feelings on gun rights with the abortion issue, prayer in the schools,
     welfare reform, family values, Murphy Brown, NAFTA, term limits,
     military base closures, Bosnia, the Trilateral Commission, Whitewater,
     Waco, Randy Weaver, whether or not Clinton inhaled, the New World
     Order, etc.  Save those for your next letter, next week.

     Type the letter if possible, or write legibly.  If your handwriting
     looks like hieroglyphics and you don't have access to a typewriter or
     word processor, have a friend with legible handwriting write the
     letter for you.

     Don't get nasty. Repeat: Don't get nasty.  Nothing will get your
     letter thrown into the trash quicker than indulging in name calling or
     the use of obscenities.  However therapeutic it may be to write such a
     letter, it is counterproductive and self-defeating.  So, I recommend
     writing two versions of your letter: First, write the one you want to
     send and then write the one you can send.

     Don't forget to thank the senators and congressman who support Second
     Amendment issues.  Not all politicians are anti-gun.  You might want
     to let them know you appreciate their support - whether or not they
     are from your district.  If your senator or representative votes the
     way you want, don't forget to follow up your original letter with a
     thank you note.

          Address the letter like this:

          The Honorable...
          US Senate
          Capitol Building
          Washington, D.C. 20510

          The Honorable...
          US House of Representatives
          Capitol Building
          Washington, D.C. 20510

     Keep the pressure on.  Once you get started, you'll find that writing
     your elected officials periodically will help ease the feelings of
     frustration that can come with being a gun owner in today's
     legislative climate.  Write often, call often.  Ask for more
     information about any pending legislation and how your senator or
     representative plans to vote on it.  The more you keep in contact, the
     more pressure your elected representatives feel

     Write to your state and local representatives as well.  Some of the
     most oppressive of all gun laws are state laws and local ordinances. 
     The only way you can make a difference is by letting local politicians
     know how you feel.  Remember, the numbers show that very few gun
     owners care enough about their gun rights to get involved in the fight
     to preserve them.  If you don't do it, then who will?

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Gary Prince          |             No free man shall ever be
[I--h--A] at [delphi.com] |             debarred the use of arms.
                     |                 -Thomas Jefferson
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                   Clinton and Gore, Gone in FOUR!!!