[ASM826]

Here’s our chance. The GOP claims to be asking for grassroots input on the issues. Well, let’s give it to them. I registered, I intend to be polite, but I’m only one voice. Please, register, let them know what’s important to us. Then tell all your friends, post this all over the web on gun friendly websites, and use the opportunity to tell the Republicans what we expect for our votes.

To register, go here:
Republican National Committee Grassroots Forum (http://www.gopplatform2008.com/intro.aspx)

Once you register, here’s the link to the RKBA input page:
Values Forum
(http://www.gopplatform2008.com/SubmitText.aspx?Issue=Values)
Then select the “Right to bear Arms” sub-forum. Here’s what I said:

This is an important issue for me. The Heller decision was important, but only a first step. The next Supreme Court will face a wave of cases as lawsuits stemming from cities restricting citizen’s rights reach the high court.
Legislation changes, protecting citizens that legally use a firearm from lawsuits, should also be addressed. A national concealed carry reciprocity bill should be passed.
I am an NRA member, but I am speaking for myself, here, writing my own words. I am a competitive sport shooter, as was my grandfather before me. I consider the 2nd Amendment every bit as important as the 1st, and firmly believe that if we lose one, we will lose the other.



If there are other issues important to you, they have forums and sub-forums on many topics. Let them know what you care about, but add your voice to mine in defense of our rights.

[hvengel]

The part of this for entering an "issue idea" is limited to 1000 characters. This is less than 200 words (since the count includes spaces) which is not very much and is definitively not enough to cover an issue, even a very specific part of an issue, with enough detail for it to be meaningful. Kind of gives me the impression that they really don't want to hear from us voters about what we really think.

Still I think that if we hit this we can communicate a number of useful things to the GOP. But I thought that I would warn everyone about how limited this input is.

[Robert Hairless]

She said she adored me and yearned to be my wife but I don't like the way she said it.

Could be that they welcome an idea but don't want the Summa Theologica or crackpot lectures.

By the way, The High Road also has a limit on the number of characters allowed in a message (and the count includes spaces). That's not even enough to cover the first month of my life in my projected autobiography. I don't mean to hijack this thread but I thought I should warn everybody too.

It's fortunate that ASM826 was able to condense his idea into the space made available. Maybe the more complex thinkers amongst us could share a relatively simple thought.

[scout26]

Two Words:

Ronald Reagan.

[Samuel Adams]

One word:

Constitution

[Robert Hairless]

One word:

Quibbling as usual.

Thus the fate of activism threads, thus the state of activism among gun owners, and thus the major reason why individual gun ownership in the U.S. is doomed.

[ilbob]

they sent me a password that is random and hard to remember. not any obvious way to change it to something I can actually remember. i did give them a piece of my mind though.

[Bubbles]

The GOP is asking for your full name, city, state, and zip when you register so that they can send you fundraising letters in the future. They just want the list of Republican voters to either 1) sell to people running for office in the future, or 2) hit up for future donations.

[ReadyontheRight]

Thanks ASM826. Every opportunity to get our voice heard is useful.

[hso]

For those of you that need a reminder, we're not here to rip on an idea.

The OP has kindly made us aware of an opportunity to provide input into the GOP on issues of concern to us. He's provided the links needed for us to follow to the site to do this.

Whining and quibbling time is over. Follow the links and make your contribution to RKBA or continue to waste your breath crying at the wind (just not here).

[arthurcw]

Could be that they welcome an idea but don't want the Summa Theologica or crackpot lectures.

Robert,

Maybe the NRA Mods have nightmares about being assaulted by the Summa, in hard back, while trying to read it before going to bed when a final was on the calendar for tomorrow. I know I do. I'm not sure how I avoided a broken nose from that thing.

[ilbob]

The GOP is asking for your full name, city, state, and zip when you register so that they can send you fundraising letters in the future. They just want the list of Republican voters to either 1) sell to people running for office in the future, or 2) hit up for future donations.
So what? if you are a republican, why would this bother you? Part of being a party member is being asked to do things to support the party like donating or voting for party candidates.

If you are not a republican, what business is it of yours what the platform says?

[armedandsafe]

The form I just filled out asked only for first name, city, state and email address.

Pops

[Nobody's_Hero]

One Word:

Constitution

Seconded.

[ASM826]

It's probably just another place to holler down the well, and I expect to receive mail from them, but so what? I will take opportunities I can find to make my voice heard. I even started a blog. Not bad for a 50 year old guy in the modern world.

[hvengel]

The GOP is asking for your full name, city, state, and zip when you register so that they can send you fundraising letters in the future. They just want the list of Republican voters to either 1) sell to people running for office in the future, or 2) hit up for future donations.

I don't consider these fund raising letters to be a negative thing. On the contrary I like getting prepaid postage envelopes which can be used to provide them with more feedback. I do this with fund raising requests from all political parties by the way. When I get one of these letters they always have a prepaid return envelope so providing this feedback costs only some time. I put 0 (zero) as my donation amount and then write some comments along the lines of:

"When the GOP really starts to support the Constitution and really starts to support the Bill of Rights in general and the second amendment in particular I will start making donations that involve amounts greater than zero dollars."

I then point out some of the things that they need to start doing in order to reach the minimum acceptable level. If they got enough of these they might actually start to listen since it would be apparent that it was affecting their bottom line.

[taprackbang]

Typical... More 'ambiguity' and 'encouragement' from R. Hairless.

[Kino74]

"When the GOP really starts to support the Constitution and really starts to support the Bill of Rights in general and the second amendment in particular I will start making donations that involve amounts greater than zero dollars."

I then point out some of the things that they need to start doing in order to reach the minimum acceptable level. If they got enough of these they might actually start to listen since it would be apparent that it was affecting their bottom line.

Unfortunately, I have yet to really see any political party fully support the Constitution. I find it best to locate Representatives and Senators that do support it and support them rather than political parties.

[ArmedBear]

The GOP is asking for your full name, city, state, and zip when you register so that they can send you fundraising letters in the future. They just want the list of Republican voters to either 1) sell to people running for office in the future, or 2) hit up for future donations.

Why wouldn't they want a list of GOP voters?

The Libertarian Party does the same thing. So does everyone else. What's wrong with it?

If they are halfway smart, they'll read some things, and realize that said potential voter/donor won't be a voter/donor if they ignore what he says.

[rbernie]

This sounds like a good way to express ourselves to those who would position themselves to govern us. Its primary cost is time and effort.

I fail to see a downside in using that means of expression.

[orionengnr]

Joined, and responded.

I, for one, welcome the opportunity to provide input.

I fervently hope that they listen and right the ship.

[CPerdue]

Wow, the section dealing with gun rights seems to have melted down. Good job.