19. The Magic Words

``NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN
CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.'' Margaret
Mead.

	 A few years ago, the book Everything I Needed to Know I Learned
in Kindergarten came out. The title is particularly appropriate for
communications with legislators. Like a kindergartner, a legislator
may understand virtually nothing of what you're talking about. He may
never have touched a gun in his life. And so, as we discussed above,
it's important that you explain you point of view to him in a
well-organized fashion that doesn't assume a lot of knowledge about
the issue.

	Also, just like Dave's teachers insisted in kindergarten, the
``magic words'' of ``please'' and ``Thank you'' really do help you get
along. Some Congressmen get dozens of letters a week, and others get
thousands. But no-one gets more than a handful of thank you letters.

	In a sea of pleas asking a Congressperson to do something, a thank
you is a pleasant surprise to the Congressional aide reading and
responding to the mail.	Another reason thank yous are important:
After a pro-gun vote, the legislator stops hearing from the pro-rights
forces (who are content with the vote) and starts catching grief from
the antis, particularly the antis in the media. A nice thank you
letter helps remind the legislator that the pro-rights forces are
still there, even after the vote.

	Praise need not be limited to perfect legislators. If a legislator
has generally been anti-gun, but then casts a pro-gun vote, give him
some applause.

	Just as being nice helps our cause, being a jerk helps our
enemies. Don't call legislators late at night; don't show up at their
home unannounced; and don't assume that people who disagree with you
have evil motives. Several years ago, the Philadelphia City Council
enacted a severe law requiring police permission to buy a handgun; the
bill might have been defeated, but a few bad apples ruined our cause
by making abusive phone calls to the Councilpersons.

	Remember, our objective is to demonstrate that people who own guns
are just as responsible (maybe even more so) as anyone else. It's the
gun prohibitionists who want legislators to think that gun owners are
a bunch of borderline psychopaths, and it's the irresponsible gun
owners who assist the gun control lobby.