WRITE to Them - It CAN Make a Difference
Normally you're wasting your time writing politicians who are not your representatives. They are only concerned with their own constituents
I don't agree with this at all. On any committee in a state legislature, you have three groups of delegates on any particular issue - in this case, let's say a bill that would increase gun control:
- those in favor of the bill (anti-2A)
- those opposed to the bill (pro-2A)
- THOSE WHO ARE UNDECIDED
YOU NEED TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE THIRD GROUP. Unless citizens in their district have flooded them with mail, they're trying to decide based on THE BEST INFO PRESENTED TO THEM - you need to be the provider of that information. If they get a series of letters, courteous in tone and informative in content, that show why the proposed legislation is not worthwhile, they may well vote to oppose the legislation.
Want anecdotal evidence? OK, you got it. Here in Maryland, we had a hearing this Tuesday on the ammo encoding bill that has been proposed in several states. One person (the ammo encoding patent holder) showed up in support of the bill, while 35 people showed up to oppose. But, that's not why I'm telling you this...
While a different bill was being discussed, I was outside talking to several other MD gun owners. We were approached by a female delegate, who recognized one of our party, as he had written to her on our proposed concealed carry legislation earlier in February. HE IS NOT FROM HER DISTRICT - NONE OF US WERE. But, she chatted for a couple of minutes, listended to a quick summary of why we felt the ammo encoding legislation wouldn't work, and also mentioned "you guys do a good job of showing up at the hearings, and YOU KNOW HOW TO DO A MAIL CAMPAIGN." She took our technical objections to the legislation into consideration, and I'd bet you that she wouldn't vote for it if it gets to a vote.
In addition, she has already responded in writing to the concealed carry bill, even though the letter writer was not from her district. She said that she appreciated the information, but wasn't sure she could support this legislation at the time, until "more of a buzz" was created around the topic, such as occurred in Virginia a couple of years back. She recommended that if we thought this was good legislation, that we work to create more of a public awareness of the benefits, and get broader redognition for the issue.
Again - none of us fro her district, but she's taking the time to discuss the bill with us (SHE approached us), and she also offered thoughts on how the concealed carry legislation might best proceed. Still think you can't make an impact on delegates from other districts?
ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND - some people are predisposed to help you, others are predisposed to oppose you - IT'S THE PEOPLE ON THE FENCE YOU ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE.
Thanks for listening, and sorry for the long response, but I get a little worked up when people say "it's not worth it" to write people outside your own district, when we're fighting to protect our rights.