Writing Congressman What to Say?

[totallycustom]

I am writing my congressman but I am wondering what to say. 

When you write to your elected officials what do you tell them? 

What is the most effective thing to say? 

Do you quote statistics?  What are good stats?

I would like to write and informed letter so a little help would be appreciated.  I am sure others would also appreciate it.

Thanks - TC-

[thxmrgarand]

I don't think there is one best answer.  When I write to the congressional delegation from my state it is as a person who is known to contribute to their campaigns and more importantly (I think) as someone who goes door-to-door with election material, registers voters at local churches, writes letters to newspaper editors defending these politicians, and hosts local shooting events.  People in Congress today can gather lots of money so helping with campaigns is something many gun owners can do while still sending their hard-earned money to the NRA (which uses it better than politicians do .   I think that my known contribution of work is much more important than what I say in a particular letter.  Also, I send letters thanking them when they do something right.  However I come from a state with a small population and our delegation is very reliably pro-gun.  Your circumstances may be different.   Thanks to the NRA, the most difficult job for interest groups has already been accomplished for us - politicians know that gun owners are informed and that they vote.  Our local gun clubs continually promote NRA membership, and I frequently purchase NRA membership for new shooters.  All that said, I would never write a letter that is a rant even if I very much disagree with a position taken by the addressee.  I try to be subtle (probably unsuccessfully) in letting politicians know that guns are my single political issue.  And one last advantage gun-owners have is that free unfettered access to firearms by law-abiding Americans reduces crime wherever it is tried. 

[Mikey]

When you write to your elected officials you can tell them that you will not tolerate any more attempts to disarm law-abiding citizens, that you will not tolerate the 'disarming' of free American citizens and that you will not tolerate anarchy in the United States, however you wish to say it. 

You can tell them you vote and that you are one of approximately 80 million known gun owners in the United States and that you will side with them against any 'disarmament' schemes the government may apptempt to impose.  You can use their own statistics against them by citing the latest FBI Consolidated Crime Statistics Report (available from your local FBI office) and by citing current literature on the beneficial effects of having an armed citizenry. 

Do not threaten them personally.  The idea that you or other memebers of the populace would band together under force of arms to take them out of office will cause enough concern for them without getting personal.

You don't have to threaten, just state fact.  They can argue with their own facts if they like but they cannot argue with the intent of so many people to remain free.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[Will Bison]

Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them then tell them what you told them. Keep it to less than one page.

Tell exactly what you want them to do/vote/kill a bill/support a topic.

Give factual reasons and statistics

In conclusion summarize.

Never attack another Politician

[beemanbeme]

As posted, keep it to one page if at all possible.  Write it like the person is standing there looking you in the eye; don't scream, don't threaten.  Keep the letter simple and directed at one issue.  It's gonna be read by an aide and at the end of the day, the pol will get a report of xxx number of folks are for, and xxx number of folks are against.  If you state a single pertinent item about the issue, it may be gleaned and given to the pol but quoting a lot of stats isn't gonna change much or anything.

Honorable xxxx

I would like to speak strongly against the pending legislation about gun registration.  (the aide may well read only that first line)  History shows us that gun registration is most often the first step to the disarming of a country's citizens.  So a vote against gun registration is really a vote in support of our country's constitution and the 2nd amendment.  As an elected official, I am sure that is one of your first concerns

Thank you for you time,


Sincerely,

Beemanbeme
Head of the Holler
Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

[1marty]

I wrote to my congressman laying out the facts regarding a certain gun issue. He wrote back that he had 3 kids and was for heavier restrictions on firearms to protect his kids. Most of them have their mind made up.