Actually got a reply from my Representative... I think.

[BhmBill]

My message I sent to Congresswoman Dina Titus (http://www.dinatitus.com),

Billy XXXXX
XXXX W. XXXXXXX rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89130-2001


March 31, 2009

Dear Representative Titus,

I respectfully urge you to oppose any new anti-gun legislation AND old gun
control laws. I ask that you support pro-gun bills. Anti-gun legislation
only serves to disarm law abiding citizens and increases the likelihood
that citizens will not be able to defend themselves against those who do
not obey the law and oppose the constitution. Firearm ownership never has
and never was about "sporting purposes", the founding fathers set forth
the 2nd amendment so that citizens who had no intention of breaking the
law could defend themselves from those who intend to oppress and break the
law, including criminals and tyrannical governments. 2.5 million times a
year in the United States, firearms are used to prevent crime, if firearms
are restricted more than they currently are, only the criminals, the
people who don't obey the law and WILL get firearms one way or another,
then those who obey the law will have sticks and stones to defend
themselves. Is that the outcome we want to achieve? A country where it's
illegal for citizens who follow the law to defend themselves from
criminals or possibly a government who doesn't trust it's citizens? The
American government is here to serve the people, not protect itself.

There is no "compromising". No form of 2nd amendment restriction or
prohibition is "acceptable".

I expect you to support the Second Amendment, without exception.


Sincerely,

Billy XXXXX

And here is the reply I recieved...

April 1, 2009


Mr. Billy XXXXX
XXXX West XXXXXX Road
Las Vegas, NV 89130-2001





Dear Mr. Logan,


Thank you for contacting me about your support for the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms is a cornerstone of the Bill of Rights that must be protected for all law-abiding citizens. The United States has a strong tradition of hunting and responsible gun ownership that must be preserved. However, I also believe that we must do all we can to keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and registered offenders.


I believe that it is the responsibility of Congress to strengthen enforcement of existing laws while finding a strong balance between safety and individual rights when enacting new ones. Please know that I will always fight to uphold the Constitution.


Thank you again for taking the time to get involved. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can ever be of service.


Sincerely,

Dina Titus
Member of Congress

Now, does this sound like a genuine response from the REAL Dina Titus, or a generic automated response? I sent this message to 7 or 8 politicians (Rep and Dem, pro and anti gun) and this is the only sort of reply I recieved.

It sounded like a feel-good response overall, but it's clear that she wouldn't oppose new gun control bills when she/he/it said...

finding a strong balance between safety and individual rights when enacting new ones.

Yeah... it's the kind of response I expected.

Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can ever be of service.

Obviously, you can't, Ms. Titus.

 

[Martyk]

I think it was a normal and respectable response. The letter responded to your concern and stated her position on the issue. I'm sure it is a standard reply to the MANY letters received on the issue and it was probably issued by a staffer but your position on the issue was logged in and counted. That's what's important. Good Job for taking action and writing a letter in the first place. It's what EVERYBODY needs to do.

 

[Grey_Mana]

That's a standard reply, from a junior staffer. She never saw your letter. The staffer made a notation in a database that they received a form pro-RKBA letter from a constituent; that database will be consulted before she votes on anything. Their computer did check your name and address to verify that you (1) are on record as living where you said you lived, (2) that your address is in her district, (3) whether your voter registration lists you as being in the same party as her, and (4) whether you've ever sent her a campaign contribution, and if so, how much and how recently.

If you want an actual reply, you need to send an actual personal letter. The offices get bombed by lobbyists pretending to be regular folks, and regular folks copy/pasting form letters. If you don't send money but do write something with a personal touch, the representative still will never see your letter but the staffer who responds will take more time.

If you write to ask for something specific - a specific vote on a specific bill (or one of the particular votes associated with moving legislation), - or for help with a specific problem, then the staffer will take more time to respond.

 

[lee n. field]

Now, does this sound like a genuine response from the REAL Dina Titus, or a generic automated response?

Sounds like a generic response with a lot of "wiggle room".

 

[shotgunjoel]

Aren't you glad she cares so much about the people she represents, oh also all those people that you sent it to that didn't respond?

 

[jr45]

I received a response from my Delegate here in VA. Our anti Governor, with his lack of concern for the desires and needs of ones that elected him, vetoed a bill that would allow CCW individuals to carry concealed in a establishment that serves alcohol as long as they do not drink. Currently, you must open carry in such a place. We are trying to override the veto.

April 7, 2009

Dear Constituent:

Thank you for your e-mail concerning overriding the Governor’s gun bill vetoes. I appreciate you sharing your views with me. Yes, I will vote to override.

If I can be of assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Robert D. "Bobby" Orrock

 

[SquirrelNuts]

BhmBill,

Just curious about this. Was the letter typed or hand written? I used to have a representative that would exclusively read the hand written letters and would leave the typed or form letters for staffers to log. It might take more time, and would certainly depend on the representative, but it might increase your chances of the letter actually being read by them.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I've found I almost always get a non-form letter response when I write a succinct letter asking for support or opposition to a specific bill.

When I write asking for support on a general issue, not tied to any specific currently pending legislation (like the OP's letter), then I get a form letter in response.

For example, here's what I wrote today to my NC House rep:

Ms. Justus,

I am writing to ask you to consider co-sponsoring HB 1131, Castle Doctrine in NC. I am a voting member of your district and support this bill.

We are seeing a substantial increase in home invasions and I strongly believe that a family should be afforded the benefit of the doubt when confronted with a potentially violent criminal invading the sanctity of the home.

Thank you for your consideration.

Signed Me @ My Address

I've found that a brief statement of what and why, without the hyperbole, gets good results.

 

[BhmBill]

I'm going to wait about a week and type the letters out and resend, this time around, it was only emailed.

I got a call from Gov. Gibbons office but missed the call, they asked me to call back and tell them what bills i was asking them to oppose, but i accidentally deleted the voicemail and lost the call back number... lol &

 

[langenc]

Paraphrasing- tyanks for emailing. Ill do as I xxx well please.