[archigos]

Here's a copy of an email I received today from the Brady Campaign to Perpetuate Gun Violence:

URGENT: YOUR CALLS NEEDED ON MONDAY!
STATE SENATE REFUSES TO CONSIDER CRIME SOLVING LEGISLATION

Dear New York Brady Campaign Member,

Last month, the State Assembly overwhelmingly passed AB 9819, an important crime fighting bill. This legislation would provide law enforcement with a vital tool to track down criminals by linking shell casings found at crime scenes to the individual semi-automatic handguns from which they were fired. This technology is known as "microstamping".

On Monday, May 19, advocates are participating in a statewide Call-In Day to urge the Senate to take action. With two quick phone calls, you can make a big difference.

1. CALL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH BRUNO: (518) 455-3191
2. CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR! Click here to find your Senator's number (http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=8HOHXKTyQ6UYL1uSPPWimQ..).

Tell them: "I Urge You to Take Up and Pass Microstamping Legislation.
Help New York Police Solve Handgun Crimes."

The Assembly-passed legislation would require that new semi-automatic handguns be equipped with technology that allows police to match shell casings found at a crime scene to the handgun that fired them. Microstamping is a proven technology and has already been passed and signed into law in California. We need these same results from the New York State Senate.

The gun lobby is doing all that it can to stop microstamping from being brought up for a vote this year. Your voice is needed to tell the State Senate to support giving law enforcement the tools it needs to solve more gun crimes and not bow down to the gun lobby.

Here is what you can do to help:

1. Call Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno: (518) 455-3191

2. Call Your State Senator: Click here to find your Senator's number (http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=uJmN6auz4-bERj9E00YcXg..).

Tell them: "I Urge You to Take Up and Pass Microstamping Legislation.
Help New York Police Solve Handgun Crimes."

3. Forward this e-mail to friends, family, and colleagues in New York.

4. Click here to contribute to our efforts in New York and across the country.

For more information on this legislation or to get involved locally in the gun violence prevention movement, please contact the New York Million Mom March Chapters, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and Gun Free Kids.

Thank you for helping to reduce gun violence in New York!

Sincerely,
Sarah Brady, Chair

Would it be wise for us to call in that day too to remind our representatives that we like our freedom and safety?

[Henry Bowman]

Would it be wise for us to call in that day too to remind our representatives that we like our freedom and safety?Yes indeed.

[hso]

Good idea, now where's the "how" part of this? Please provide the contact information for the folks this will be the object of.

Perhaps we can get enough RKBA advocates to call that we can keep the whole phone system tied up to the point that no one can get through. That would make a statement.

What would be the best way to do that? Call the individual offices or call the general contact number?

I mean, if we're going to call anyway we might as well have the greatest impact.

[archigos]

1. CALL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH BRUNO: (518) 455-3191
2. CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR! Click here to find your Senator's number.
Eh... I didn't think about the fact that that link wouldn't copy. Its http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/R?i=8HOHXKTyQ6UYL1uSPPWimQ... I'll edit it in the original, too. The notion of using their resources to organize us calling in makes me feel warm.

[Librarian]

For that matter, New York has a senate web page (http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators) to help you identify your Senator.

[Blarelli]

How exactly is this going to fight crime? How many criminals are going to use a brand a new gun they purchased under there own name and is microstamped? This has nothing to do with crime.

[Gingerbreadman]

My suggestion would be to inform whoever you call about how easy it can be to replace microstamped firing pins with non microstamped pins, or to simply deface an existing pin.

Also, tell them that even if microstamping is implemented, all that it can do is help pick up the pieces after a crime has been committed. It can't stop a crime from happening.

[Librarian]

My suggestion would be to inform whoever you call about how easy it can be to replace microstamped firing pins with non microstamped pins, or to simply deface an existing pin.

Telling this truth to politicians did not change any minds in California -- because the bill is not about effectiveness. You need a political approach concealed under a fact-based approach.

Probably what you need is some experienced lobbiests who know which buttons to push. We commoners are not deemed important to the political futures of the Elect.

[everallm]

The stance to take with any political beastie is to either

Buy 'em (traditional)
Flatter 'em
Pander 'em (to their prejudices in particular)

If you are a political contributer remind them that money has no political persuasion and flows where it works.

"Senator X I'm sure YOU understand that this untried, untested technology will simply drain money from (pick the Senators pet boondoggle) and will only serve to bolster Senator Y's (pick most hated boondoggle)."

"Senator X, It's so refreshing to see NY following the groundbreaking lead of California. I'm particularly heartened so see you understand the necessity of allowing a non NY company to harvest the financial benefits."

[Paladin7]

Thanks archigos for the alert...

I just made my calls. So far, feedback from my Senator's office is that we are tipping the scales against this legislation...so, please keep up the good work and stop another piece of Brady insanity...!

[hnk45acp]

I called and they asked me for my zip which is in NYC and told them I opposed it. It was quick and easy!

[Yellowfin]

Has anyone called the IRS to get the Bradys' tax exempt status revoked yet? This is a violation of that status.

[mike101]

"Brady Campaign to Perpetuate Gun Violence:"

I like it. I hope you don't mind if I borrow that for use on the Brady Blog.

:evil:

[VirginiaShooter]

I think the Brady Campaign's name is appropriate. All their statistics neglect total violence, which increases in the event of a gun ban. Instead they focus on gun violence, which may or may not decrease in the wake of a gun ban.