[newarcher]

I wrote my Senator Don Balfour and Representative Len Walker about 2 months ago about the problems with the GA Concealed Carry statutes....namely the 'but not limited to' phrase when defining public gathering place.

I gave them a month with no reply and sent back an email to them directly saying "Hey, I have been waiting to hear back from you" and I reiterated my position. Whether you agree with CCW or not, everyone can agree that the statute is horrible. It is a valid point.

No response from either to date. I don't necessarily require my reps to agree with me but I will not be ignored. So come 2008, I will be voting against every single incumbent on the ticket, regardless of party. Even the disgustingly self absorbed and amazingly arrogant Saxby Chambliss (or at least his office) responded.

We saw in the US Senate, with the Immigration Amnesty Bill and also in the 2006 election cycles, the people are fed up.

These ahole elected representatives will either being listening to us or will go the way of the 2006 Republicans come November of next year.

New

 

[Boy Racer]

You would actually risk voting in a Brady-supporter simply because an elected representative didn't stroke your ego with a reply?

Voting out the incumbent without regard to their voting record is throwing out the baby with the bath water. So you didn't get a response to your original note? So what? Try again: use a different means of communication or try harder in the original medium.

How did you originally contact the person(s)? E-mail? E-mail is impersonal, therefore less likely to be acknowledged. Also, government officials receive dozens of e-mails per day because their addresses are plastered all over the internet. Many of those e-mails are form e-mails just re-printed with different contact information. Quality, meaningful e-mails lose credibility with their recipients (and get lost in the shuffle) because of the 'abuse' of the privilege people display when they send the 'throw-away' notes.

Try again with a typed note... on paper... sent snail mail. Personal, original content shows forethought on your part regarding the matter. More importantly, it shows that your issue is so important to you that you took time out of your day to sit down, form your thoughts, put them on paper and mail them. When something is obviously that important to you, the recipient will often afford it more care and concern.

And please vote responsibly.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

newarcher, that is bad form, definitely, but have you thought about calling the office of your representative (always easier to contact than Senators because they have less people to represent) and inviting him to lunch on a weekday close to his work?

People do stuff for people they know and like.

Become that person.

 

[newarcher]

First, this has nothing to do with my ego.

Second, I will not bribe my legislators with a free lunch. I neither have the time nor the money to take some son of a bitch to lunch in hopes that a free lunch and a beer will get me what I want. If that is their idea of how government should work and what is required to get their ear, then I simply will elect someone else.

I have had the opportunity to contact various representatives about various issues. Sometimes they agree with me and sometimes they do not. But never have I been ignored and certainly never TWICE ignored.

I sent my original correspondence through project vote smart and the second to their personal email accounts given on their website. No response from two emails in two months. Unacceptable.

I will be voting against both in the coming elections. They are going to apparently learn the lessons of the 2006 Republicans that the public is tied of their antics and will not tolerate it any longer. That pretty much goes for every incumbent except for Linder....who responded on a separate issue.

New

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Suit yourself.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

People do stuff for people they know and like.

This is simply human nature.

Those who will hear, hear.

 

[newarcher]

Well, that may be the way things are, human nature, or whatever else we want to call it.

However, in the immortal words of two comedic geniuses....one, homey the clown and the second, firemarshall bill......

"Homey don't play that" and "Lemmy show you something".

November 2008 is coming soon.

New

 

[Sharky]

Newarcher,

You wrote:

"Second, I will not bribe my legislators with a free lunch. I neither have the time nor the money to take some son of a bitch to lunch in hopes that a free lunch and a beer will get me what I want. If that is their idea of how government should work and what is required to get their ear, then I simply will elect someone else. "

I believe like any business venture an open communication and relationship goes a long way. Yes they are elected, yes they serve the people. But I also believe like any elected official, its who you know and who hears ya. A kind word and bending backwards will usually get you "in" and then hopefully heard. Extending a bit of understanding, they are busy sometimes, will show good faith.

Making a casual lunch appointment, or stopping by is just a kind gesture to help open the commuinication barrier. Once again, they were elected for who they know and how they were perceived. If you cant meet or choose not to, writing a handwritten or typed letter mailed to them will certainly go over well.

Many other members on this board have a great deal of experiance with these officials and have seen results with time and patience. I definitely have received results using their methods.

All GFL holders are there for a common goal. Better and more clear laws for our rights.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

an open communication and relationship goes a long way.

:wink:

 

[VolGrad]

Second, I will not bribe my legislators with a free lunch. I neither have the time nor the money to take some son of a bitch to lunch in hopes that a free lunch and a beer will get me what I want....

.....then I simply will elect someone else.

newarcher wrote:
Second, I will not bribe my legislators with a free lunch. I neither have the time nor the money to take some son of a bitch to lunch in hopes that a free lunch and a beer will get me what I want....

.....then I simply will elect someone else.

** I don't mean for this to sound preachy but please bare with me.... **

I probably wouldn't ask them to lunch either, however, I would ask for an appointment.....or better yet just find out when he will be in the office and drop in for a quick sit-down. E-mails are not effective. It is also extremely important to realize that he likely never saw the e-mails. Such requests for information, etc. are almost usually fielded by staffers. Do you really think he reads his own e-mail? My boss is a relatively low level in the grand scheme of things bureaucrat but he thinks he is important enough to have his secretary screen his e-mail. If the request never got to him, why not? Could have been some tree-hugging, idealist, change the world, aspiring politician them self, staffer which read and ignored the messages.

It is also important when you do get to talk to him that you establish that you are not just some "gun nut" but a responsible, concerned, voting citizen. You have to sell your message / request as being clearly thought out and reasonable as opposed to just wanting to carry an "evil" gun anywhere you choose. Back yourself with crime statistics if possible and anything else you can use to your advantage.

Your post also assumes that if you are successful in voting him out of office then the next guy will be better and responding to e-mails.

I would think making a more personal attempt to contact and discuss the issue is more responsible than quoting "In Living Color" and writing him off.

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
Abraham Lincoln

Make sure you are judging the man.......then if he really is an a-hole, vote him out.

I had some access issues with respect to assistance dogs in training in Federal Buildings. I had to go through some legislators to put pressure on the GSA facilities manager for this region. They were very helpful once I figured out the system and was able to communicate to them directly. The staffers are often young, overworked, and underpaid.

** Again, not meant to be a lecture. **

 

[GAGunOwner]

Just remember, as bad as the carry laws are here in Georgia they can always get worse.

Write a few letters and call his office...then you've tried.

 

[Adam5]

I agree with the idea of sending a letter as opposed to an email. Chances are that a staffer is screening e-mails, and probably responding to some. If you have time, try to make an appointment to sit down and talk with him. E-mail is convient, but is cold, unpersonal and easily ignored.

 

[EagleEye920]

I agree with the idea of sending a letter as opposed to an email.

A mentor of mine who's into politics once told me that his representative said, "1 written letter is worth 1000 votes!"