Something I've noticed...

[jnevis]

In my unscientific research scanning the web about all the "Ban it" articles on Yahoo and Fox, the more anti rhetoric that is in the article the visible comments refute them and state that bans don't work.  Very few of the comments support the banning of any firearm, let alone reinstating an AWB. 

Has there been enough of a idealology shift that people are realizing bans fail, or is it just the cross section of comments being posted?  That being said, since politicians don't actually listen to thier constituents, will it do any good to contactthem at tell them not to pass anything resembling the Clinton ban?

Discuss as needed

[PegLeg45]

I say make contact regardless...... it might do some good with some and not with others.
I'm afraid that if another AWB comes to fruition, the only way to send a message is with the ballot box.....and we all know how that has been working.

One problem is that even if the majority of citizens are against a ban, they end up sitting on their hands and actually doing nothing ....thinking that someone else will take care of it.

[kmitch200]

I say make contact regardless...... it might do some good with some and not with others.
One problem is that even if the majority of citizens are against a ban, they end up sitting on their hands and actually doing nothing ....thinking that someone else will take care of it.

^^^^THIS^^^^^

[santahog]

My Congressman (Aderholt) has a FB page, so I can attach his name to anything that needs to come back and bite him in the butt. So if he's smart, he'll at least look at the way the comments are trending on a topic.. It saves writing him and paying the postage to have him brush me off in a letter.. 

[JLawson]

Contacting your Representatives - both House and Senate (both State and Federal) - does and WILL make a difference.  It has been said that politicians view one letter as representing approximately 100 constituents.  One phone call represents about 10 constituents.  What you say and how you say it significantly affects the impact your communication will have.

Any letter or phone call resembling an angry rant or conveying a "You better not do so and so..." attitude will do NO good.  Office staff will pay attention to thoughtful, respectful, and informative communications that clearly and simply state your position on an issue.  "For" and "Against" scores are kept and staff screeners will pass the best of the letters on to the elected official.

One last suggestion... multi-format is better.  A phone call, followed up by a letter, and then reinforced with an email or a fax is better than an email by itself.  These multiple communications should not be mere duplicates of one another.  Each should be slightly different in content or approach.  This will provide your Representative's office with different perspectives on the same issue.  It may also be the case that different staff members are assigned to the various streams of correspondence - one for the phone, one for email and social media, and someone else for letters and faxes.  This means your message will be reviewed by more than one staff member and will be even more powerful.

Choose your words as carefully as you choose your ammo and fire away!  Reload often and you WILL make a difference.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

In my unscientific research scanning the web about all the "Ban it" articles on Yahoo and Fox, the more anti rhetoric that is in the article the visible comments refute them and state that bans don't work.  Very few of the comments support the banning of any firearm, let alone reinstating an AWB. 

Has there been enough of a idealology shift that people are realizing bans fail, or is it just the cross section of comments being posted?  That being said, since politicians don't actually listen to thier constituents, will it do any good to contactthem at tell them not to pass anything resembling the Clinton ban?

Discuss as needed

I'm worried about that J.
Prior to the election such posts were running about 1 in 10 for Obama, but he won anyway.

[PegLeg45]

Contacting your Representatives - both House and Senate (both State and Federal) - does and WILL make a difference.  It has been said that politicians view one letter as representing approximately 100 constituents.  One phone call represents about 10 constituents.  What you say and how you say it significantly affects the impact your communication will have.

Any letter or phone call resembling an angry rant or conveying a "You better not do so and so..." attitude will do NO good.  Office staff will pay attention to thoughtful, respectful, and informative communications that clearly and simply state your position on an issue.  "For" and "Against" scores are kept and staff screeners will pass the best of the letters on to the elected official.

One last suggestion... multi-format is better.  A phone call, followed up by a letter, and then reinforced with an email or a fax is better than an email by itself.  These multiple communications should not be mere duplicates of one another.  Each should be slightly different in content or approach.  This will provide your Representative's office with different perspectives on the same issue.  It may also be the case that different staff members are assigned to the various streams of correspondence - one for the phone, one for email and social media, and someone else for letters and faxes.  This means your message will be reviewed by more than one staff member and will be even more powerful.

Choose your words as carefully as you choose your ammo and fire away!  Reload often and you WILL make a difference.

Yes.

Letters and emails that are worded in thoughtful, respectful, and articulate ways will have much better traction than a rant. Having had multiple contacts with both my Senators and my US Rep, they tend to listen and focus better when you act decent and act like you have a brain that can connect two thoughts.

[tombogan03884]

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=21233.msg266194#msg266194

Just sent to my Congresswoman. (Kelly Ayotte)

Earlier today, before the tragedy in Conn, there was an incident in China where 23 students and 3 adults were STABBED.
This is obviously not a "gun" issue .
If you wish to take effective action to prevent future incidents there are 2 methods.
First, armed teachers. This has been successful in Israel . If a teacher is not competent to posses a fire arm they should not be in a class room to begin with.
I will point out also, that since the inception of the Armed pilot program there has not been a hi jacking in the US.
The second, and more important action would be a law to prohibit media outlets from ever publishing, or naming the deranged losers who commit these crimes.

[PegLeg45]

I just fired off another round, myself.... this one geared primarily, and respectfully, at asking them to not act emotionally and irrationally toward the coming AWB legislation.