I feel ya, Dawg. I'm in the same boat up here. The ones who aren't out and out anti are ignorant and dance to whatever tune the party bosses play.
are there any more folks here who write to their elected officials?
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I feel ya, Dawg. I'm in the same boat up here. The ones who aren't out and out anti are ignorant and dance to whatever tune the party bosses play.
I write my officials and the local papers a lot. Mostly both are a waste of time. Our papers are ultra-liberal and either never post what they disagree with or cut and edit it so much that it’s useless! (space constraints don’t you know)
My two Federal senate critters (NYS) are in the forefront of anything they can do to ban or outlaw guns so sending anything to them is a waste of time. My local Fed rep is good and I do send support letters.
On the local, many are anti-gun and you get the standard reply back. “thanks for sharing your views I will take that into consideration”
This goes both for snail and email and even if you leave a phone message the results are the same.
My two Federal senate critters (NYS) are in the forefront of anything they can do to ban or outlaw guns so sending anything to them is a waste of time. My local Fed rep is good and I do send support letters.
On the local, many are anti-gun and you get the standard reply back. “thanks for sharing your views I will take that into consideration”
This goes both for snail and email and even if you leave a phone message the results are the same.
Faulkner
Member
When a anti-2nd Amendment elected representative never hears from pro-gun folks it just reinforces their belief they are on the right track. The ones you disagree with are the ones that need to hear from you the most.
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My wife works for a State level "Elected Representative"......
In the past few years they have been swamped with what I've come to call "electronic pass through letters"....... the Union (Teachers) or other group, send their members a "Write your Rep." email with a "suggested" letter........ the suggested letter is resent under the (Teachers) name.......
no original thoughts or ideas.....just a mass electronic re-mailing.
IMHO it's no wonder they don't get noticed.........just counted.... to many to respond to..................in any meaningful way.....
Now "thoughtful" original...... correspondence gets noticed......
In the past few years they have been swamped with what I've come to call "electronic pass through letters"....... the Union (Teachers) or other group, send their members a "Write your Rep." email with a "suggested" letter........ the suggested letter is resent under the (Teachers) name.......
no original thoughts or ideas.....just a mass electronic re-mailing.
IMHO it's no wonder they don't get noticed.........just counted.... to many to respond to..................in any meaningful way.....
Now "thoughtful" original...... correspondence gets noticed......
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the ringo kid
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I no longer do. Nobody pays attention to it no matter how its worded.
My worthless Rep. sits atop a 75% pro Democrat district. More than half of his constituents receive a Government check. As long as he preaches his far left the rich folks owe you this BS he keeps his seat. The constitution may as well be a birdcage liner for him.
I might as well be dead as far as he's concerned. It's waste of my time, paper, ink, envelope and stamp.
I can be reloading during this time using the money I've saved.
If that is what she actually said, I would vote for her . . .
OP
model70hunter
Member
Nope, it was $1500.00. And 9 mm was the example.
First they tried frontal assualt and it didnt work. Now it is attacks on lesser issues and they still want us dead and buried.
BS
I write to my senators and rep at least once a month. I never start the e-mail with the traditional "The Honorable etc." BS.
It's unlikely that the guy I'm writing to will ever read the e-mail and that's why my usual opener is "Dear Staffer". Then I let him have it.
Don't kid yourself into thinking that being polite will get you points. I lay things out as I see them.
I write to my senators and rep at least once a month. I never start the e-mail with the traditional "The Honorable etc." BS.
It's unlikely that the guy I'm writing to will ever read the e-mail and that's why my usual opener is "Dear Staffer". Then I let him have it.
Don't kid yourself into thinking that being polite will get you points. I lay things out as I see them.
Rastoff
US Veteran
No, it's not. Allow me to explain...
We have a strong anti-gun movement here in CA. However, it is not fueled by quality reasoning or sensible gun control laws. It is fueled by votes. The elected officials here don't care about guns or crime, they only care about votes. If gun enthusiasm were popular, they'd be the first on the bus to promote guns.
Unfortunately, the people who do write their elected officials most are the anti-gun crowd. Thus, the elected officials think that gun control is what the people want. Since they want the public's vote, they write more and more laws regardless of how effective those laws are.
So, yes, write the letter. Use your own words. Tell them what you think. They do read them, at least someone reads them, and they will respond. If everyone of us were to write letters supporting gun enthusiasm, we could change their minds.
GatorFarmer
Member
I used to. I would send all my letters handwritten in fountain pen ink on nice stationery and sign them with my quasi legal title of Reverend Doctor. I then would receive very nice letters in return from Representatives and Senators, in their official stationery thanking me for my input. I got as far as being on the Christmas card list for the White House, various Senators, etc. I ought have kept it up as I was starting to get invitations to various dinners etc. on the theory that I might be a somebody.
I always tried to write thoughtful letters on real issues. This was back when I was in my prison pen pal phase and I just considered the politicians more of the same.
I always tried to write thoughtful letters on real issues. This was back when I was in my prison pen pal phase and I just considered the politicians more of the same.
I do it a lot,but with low expectations. I think it comes down to very crude metrics--they weigh the letters on a Fairbanks-Morse scale to see which way the wind is blowing and if any jeopardy to their careers is involved.
Then there's the physics--a 2X4 alongside the head probably being the best approach.
That said, I like Jeff Sessions on immigration issues and Curt Gowdy playing Perry Mason.
To paraphrase what John Nance Garner said about the VP slot--the rest aren 't worth a pitcher of warm spit as far as I'm concerned.
God help us all.
Then there's the physics--a 2X4 alongside the head probably being the best approach.
That said, I like Jeff Sessions on immigration issues and Curt Gowdy playing Perry Mason.
To paraphrase what John Nance Garner said about the VP slot--the rest aren 't worth a pitcher of warm spit as far as I'm concerned.
God help us all.
The short answer is yes......
Not real often, but we do when we feel the need.
Not real often, but we do when we feel the need.
I'm with ya' on our U.S. senators/rep. Too busy with their personal agendas. So much for "for the people."
At the local level, however, I generally don't need to write. Doug (county commish), Jim (state rep), and Cale (state senator) are guys I can talk with. All three have been to my home. Won't say we always agree, but for the most part they try to understand a different view.
Legislature opened today. Interesting collection of bills: allow private citizens to carry guns in gov't meetings, a few to better support folks in uniform, and a few good trapping/hunting items. It's a budget year so no time for frivolous social engineering bills. I didn't see anything I need to write them about, other than to say "thanks" and "good luck."
Yes, I do write to officials, and call them and also meet with them in person when they are in the area. The more they are on the opposite side of a position of mine the more I am likely to try to convince them they are wrong. From the anti-gun person to the anti-environmental protections I will argue for my position with all of them all the time.
One suggestion though, Federal Official who get paper mail get it delayed by quite a long time as it goes elsewhere for screening first. E-mail is often quicker and safer and they do get counted.
Also, find out the name of the person for your local area who is the staffer for the elected official. They all have them, even lowly state, town and county officials. Often you get better results by contacting the staffer first then the main person.
One suggestion though, Federal Official who get paper mail get it delayed by quite a long time as it goes elsewhere for screening first. E-mail is often quicker and safer and they do get counted.
Also, find out the name of the person for your local area who is the staffer for the elected official. They all have them, even lowly state, town and county officials. Often you get better results by contacting the staffer first then the main person.
The staffer is the one that gets most (read all in most cases) of the mail coming in. They read it/handle it and if they really like and agree with something they might forward it to their principal.(about 1- 2% of what comes in.
Most staffers have a very huge waste basket next to their desk and most stuff no matter who its addressed to that is where it ends up. They also have a computer that will send out a "thank you I will take that into consideration" with their principals name shown as the sender.
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Correct, which is why addressing the email to the staffer not the principal gets their attention. Butter them up a bit, it's like always making sure the Executive Secretary is treated well. You are more likely to get your opinion across if you ask the staffer about it in a way like "Dear <staffer name, first if you'v meth them, formal if not> I have a real concern about <insert Issue> and I'm trying to find out the best way to explain my position which <agrees or disagrees with> <insert name of principal official> I know that <principal> cares about what <his/her> constituents think and I would like to <give an alternative perspective, explain why I agree or whatever else makes sense in the context of the issue>. I then ask for a way to get that message across or ask when the principal will be in my area and can I arrange a face to face meeting or ask if e-mail is the best way to contact them or something. Make sure that the initial contact asks for something the staffer can provide and ideally one that cannot be handled by a form letter back.
That gets you inside the circle and you are more likely to get your next missive across the desk to the principal involved.
Interesting viewpoint!
Years back as a high ranking representative of my 2,000 person gun club I got to meet many local & state officials. The number 2,000 with many of them in their district opened that door.
I know I did some good, but I was swimming against the tide most times!Dvan34
Member
Unfortunately, for most politicians it is an emotional issue. I have written several times opposing some 2A issue they were pursuing and received letters back thanking me for supporting them. I'm sure they carried my letter in with the stacks they received, claiming they were in support of their bills. When I receive requests to contact my reps in Kalifornia, forget it.
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