It isn't about rights... Or the constitution...

[bogie]

Guys, write a note to your school newspaper, your home newpaper, TV or radio station, or call in to something. Keep it short and simple, and FOCUSED on one item - don't wander.

Don't talk about the _right_ to carry, etc...

Instead, hammer on a theme around "Why weren't these students able to defend themselves? Why couldn't people with those gun permits be able to use them?"

Don't use the common phrases - don't say "CCW," or "concealed carry," or anything like that. Try to think, and write or talk, like Soccer Mom or Soccer Dad.

If you come off as a gun nut, you WILL get dismissed offhand. HOWEVER, if you seem like a "normal" concerned citizen, and make a small degree of logical sense, the guy reading or listening may say "You know, that sounds almost like common sense." And before long, he'll forget the "almost," and be saying "That sounds like common sense."

Right now, there are folks screaming to ban everything. But the interesting thing is that there are a BUNCH of other folks, who aren't "gun people," who damn near want to have handguns issued at college orientation... We need to hammer the common sense here...

 

[cosine]

This needs more views.

Guys and gals, bogie can be blunt, but he's right.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Try to think, and write or talk, like Soccer Mom or Soccer Dad.

I don't think I can do that, American Idol isn't on right now.

But yes, you are spot on.

 

[Superpsy]

what do you think of this? I tried to make it short and to the point...

Like most of America, I was shocked and saddened by the horrible events on the campus of Virginia Tech. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those injured or killed. These acts of unnecessary violence enrage and infuriate me. Immediately some questions that come to mind: why weren’t these individuals allowed to defend themselves? Why do we disallow licensed and trained gun permit holders from defending themselves and others? It seems that we as a culture hold so little value for life that we mandate the defenselessness of our college students. It is tragic that during events like these, individuals politicize this horror to further anti self defense agendas. This college campus was a “gun free zone” which quickly became a ready supply of defenseless victims. So to those who would make this event political I say shut up and let America mourn.

 

[bogie]

Yeah, sorta blunt... We've got around 500 folks viewing the forum right now. If every one of them fired off a short note (2-3 sentences) to CNN, and then the 500 other folks a half hour from now, and then 500 folks an hour from now...

Get them thinking. And push common sense. It's what we've got on our side.

 

[bogie]

Watson, first three sentences are throwaways... Look at how folks write for newspaper stories. Summarize your position in the first sentence.

I am shocked and saddened by the horrible events at Virginia Tech, which could have prevented if these students were allowed to defend themselves. Why did they not allow gun permit holders on the campus? Instead, it was a “safe zone,” which had the unintended consequence of the students being defenseless victims. Let's not let this happen again.

 

[Superpsy]

I like the rewording...thanks!

 

[bogie]

You have to THINK like an editor, or like the guy who is reading your congresscritter's e-mail. The more involved stuff is, the less likely it is to get waded through.

Think "soundbites" instead of "interviews." Think "catchphrase" rather than "explanation."

Assume you are speaking to someone with acute ADHD, because that's our news and newspapers. They've got a few seconds here, a couple of column inches there.

ONE of these isn't going to make much difference. One THOUSAND and then they'll start thinking...

 

[gotarheels03]

Here is what I wrote in response to an article in our University paper and a comment by an art major that said it was horrible to think of a society where we need to carry weapons for safety. She said

"I would rather not live in such a world. The vision of a society where the only way to protect one's life is by taking the lives of others brings to mind horrible times in our world's history. To live like that is to live in a constant state of war."
- Jen H.

I didn't contest the "horrible times in our nations history" comment because my comment was getting too long.

------------------------------------------------------
"I would also rather live in an ideal world where no one needs a gun, knife, pepper spray etc. to protect themselves and others from those intent on committing senseless acts of violence. The taking of life is not always the only way to protect onesself. However, if the immediate alternative is death then it is the most effective means of self defense. I can think of no one who would honestly prefer to die rather than take the life of someone threatening theirs. Even Ghandi, the Dali Lama, and the Pope believe it is just and right to, if necessary, take life in self-defense. Humans have always had a natural instinct, and natural right to self-defense. As we have evolved throughout history so has our means of self-defense. The fact that the gun is the most effective tool of self-defense is simply a reaction to the reality that it is also the most effective tool criminals employ to take and threaten lives.

this may very well seem like a grim vision of society, but it is reality. There are violent people in the world who cannot be reasoned with. Force or the threat of force is the best deterrent against such people. No sane person ever wishes to take a life, but in a free country personal protection should be a personal choice. This is especially true when the Supreme Court has stated that the police have no actual "duty to protect." A faceless third party should not be able to deny such a choice and fundamental human right under the false premise that they are making us "feel safe" by disarming citizens. I'm sure VT students aren't currently finding much comfort in policies that make them "feel" safe. I'm sure the families of those killed and injured would rather have seen policies in place that actually ensured a higher level of real safety and a possibility of thwarting these killings and not ones that ensured their status as helpless victims.

Would CCW have prevented or mitigated the tragedy in VT? No one will ever know. At the least it would have pushed the odds in favor of the victims. Maybe had the shooter known law-abiding citizens could be carrying he would have forgone his rampage all-together, or maybe he would have been killed before he shot 60 people."

 

[Tsgtbob]

Here's the skinny

I write a weekly column for my employer, a small town newspaper.
This weeks subject; you guessed it, gun control.

Bogie's right, keep it short, simple, controlled, and avoid catchphrases and acronyms (that need explained to the general public). Don't get into "rant mode" about the liberal media, left wing radicals, Rosie O'Donnell, and such. Make your points as calmly and clearly as possable.

(Hint. Write several drafts, let friends or family read them, and offer constructive criticism. Extra eyes on the target always helps accuracy)

Use as many facts as possable, especally those that point out that legal gun ownership actually reduces crime, and criminal activity.

Above all, DON'T RANT!!! (leave the to us professionals )

(One other hint; don't lift from the Internet, other publications or such with out attribution {he said, she said, Officer XYZ of ABC police dept} or quotations. This is plagerisim, and illegal and immoral)

 

[gotarheels03]

I tried not to be too judgemental / ranting. Its hard when you're constantly bombarded with anti-gun nuts. I'm in Delaware, not far enough south to escape the NE liberals, but still far enough south to have some freedoms.

And I should add factual citations to what I wrote, but I was doing it quickly between classes. I think I'll go back and edit it tonight with court cases, quotes etc.

 

[bogie]

If you make it long enough and involved enough, nobody will read it.

FOCUS on a single message. Be concise.

This is not debate class. This is attempting to shape policy through repetition of information.

 

[Leanwolf]

For a criminal, a "Gun Free Zone" is a "Helpless Victims Rich Zone."


L.W.