SAS Meets with 2nd Amendment Caucus

On Monday, May 10, a Second Amendment Sisters panel met with representatives of the newly formed Second Amendment Caucus in Washington DC. The purpose of the meeting was to let Caucus members know that SAS is fully behind their mission, and to find out how SAS and its membership can help.

The SAS panel included President Dianne Sawyer; Board members Marinelle Thompson, Deb Altrath, and Lee Ann Tarducci; Diane McKeough; and Colorado Coordinator Sue Rehg. They met for about 90 minutes with Jacob Leis from Rep. Marilyn Musgrave’s office, Adam Dick from Rep. Ron Paul’s office, and Jerr Rosebaum from Rep. Virgil Goode’s office.

The most important thing to come out of the meeting was that even an anti-rights representative will count your opinion. Congress people do keep track of the number of letters, emails and phone calls they receive either for or against an issue. Even if a representative doesn't change his/her vote, the responses he/she gets opposing his/her viewpoint may be enough to at least keep him/her from publicly beating the drum.

If you call your representative's office, it's key that you ask to speak to a staff person and not just leave a message with the receptionist. Also, be sure to give your name and address, and ask for a letter of acknowledgement.

A few other pointers the SAS panel picked up were:

* Writing or calling representatives outside your district does no perceivable good. Your correspondence will simply be forwarded to your own congressperson.

* Petitions do get attention, especially if they are locally targeted. If you have a representative who wants to see the Assault Weapons Ban renewed, a petition signed by voters in that representative's district and sent to that representative's office can make an impact.

* Postcard and form letter campaigns are also effective, particularly if they are distinctive (all one color, one size, etc.).

The SAS panel also made sure to let the Caucus representatives know that we and our members are willing to help, and will continue to stay in touch with them.

SECOND AMENDMENT CAUCUS MEMBERS

Do you see your representative listed? If so, please write or call them and thank them for their support - and tell them you are a member of Second Amendment Sisters.

If your representative isn't listed here, you may want to call or write, and ask them why they don't support the basic human right of self-defense!