What have you sent to your representitves?

[Chad]

Share, compare, trade ideas.
If you haven't yet, get in the mode to do so.

Here's what I sent to all of mine...I added a line or two to reps I've had favorable communications with before.

In light of the current tragedy I feel that I have not done enough to help prevent it. I intend to do much more.
It is my firm belief that gun-control advocates are as responsible for the Virginia Tech tragedy as is the shooter.
Taking away peoples right to defend themselves is irresponsible and reprehensible.
Creating gun-free areas only points the criminals to where they will be most successful.

This can not go on any longer.
I will do my utmost to see that no politician remains in office if they do not support the right of people to defend themselves in their homes or wherever else they may find themselves.

I sincerely hope that you will be among those that support this natural and necessary right.

 

[Pixel]

Sent this to my state rep and senator. I posted it in the original thread as well.

Dear Representative,

I was appalled, as I'm sure you were also, to hear of the shootings today in Blacksburg, VA. My first concern is for the students, faculty and employees and the families of the dead and wounded. My second, however, lies closer to home.

My husband is a university employee, a librarian at (redacted) University. He is licensed by the State of Pennsylvania to carry a concealed weapon; however, if he carries that weapon onto campus, he is in danger of losing his job. One student or university employee with a weapon could have dramatically minimized the total number of dead at Virginia Tech - but a bill introduced in Virginia in 2006 to specifically permit carrying a concealed weapon regardless of university policies (HB 1572, January 2006) was killed in subcommittee.

I urge you to work with fellow state legislature members to develop and pass a bill that would allow students, faculty and employees of all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania who are legal holders of concealed-carry licenses to carry their weapons on campus without fear of expulsion or firing.

I know that you are a supporter of the right to keep and bear arms in Pennsylvania, and I appreciate all that you do to ensure that this right remains available to us. I would like to share with you a few quotes on the defeat of VA HB 1572 from Larry Hincker, Assistant President of Virginia Tech.

"The writer would have us believe that a university campus, with tens of thousands of young people, is safer with everyone packing heat. Imagine the continual fear of students in that scenario. We've seen that fear here, and we don't want to see it again."

"I think it's fair to say that we believe guns don't belong in the classroom. In an academic environment, we believe you should be free from fear."

"I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

Very few people, if any, could conceive of such an event as the Virginia Tech shootings happening. I am quite sure that Mr. Hincker is as upset as the rest of us at today's events. We concealed carry license holders hope and pray that we will never have to draw our weapons in defense of ourselves or others. However, as much as I hope my husband and I never have to draw our weapons, I hope even more that I will never get a phone call from a police officer or hospital worker telling me that my life has changed forever. I hope I will never have to say, "If only he could have had his gun."

I fear that gun-control advocates will use this tragedy as an opportunity to further erode our rights to legally protect ourselves. I ask you to continue to do all that you can to prevent this, and to work to allow our students, faculty and employees in Pennsylvania's institutions of higher education to defend themselves (and others who cannot) if the need should arise.

Thank you,

Pixel

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Tomorrow, hard copies of the following letter will go in the mail to my state and federal legislators:

In the aftermath of today's horrifying tragedy at Virginia Tech, as if on cue, the gun banners are saying that we need more gun control.

BALONEY. GUN CONTROL IS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR TODAY'S TRAGEDY.

Gun control created the environment in which a killer could run rampant without fear of being stopped.

As long as man is a social animal there will be bad members of society. Criminals, whether they are cold blooded killers, crazed psychotics, or terrorists, do not obey the law. VA Tech was a "gun-free zone" according to school policy. It should be obvious by now that "gun-free zone" = "target-rich environment." The school's policy is tantamount to unilateral victim disarmament. How many times in the past has that stopped predators? In 1915 Armenia? In Nazi Germany? In the killing fields of Cambodia? Today in Darfur? In numerous school shootings here in the US?

VA Tech has about 25,000 students. Let's say, for the sake of discussion, that concealed carry was legal on campus but only 1% of the student body took advantage of the ability to be legally armed. There would have been 250 persons on campus who could have responsed to the gunman's attack.

Years ago, Israel was plagued with school shootings perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists. Those shootings stopped when the Israelis started arming school staff with Uzis and M1 Carbines. No longer juicy pickings, the Pali terrorists moved onto easier targets.

In the US, the majority of college students are legally adults. They should be encouraged to take responsibility for themselves, not hindered in doing so. Society should view someone willing to equip himself with a gun and training for defense in the same way it looks at someone who keeps a fire extinguisher in his kitchen. Carry a gun for self-defense doesn't make someone a vigilante or cop wannabe, just like having fire extinguishers at home doesn't make someone a fireman wannabe.

Ironically, last year there was an effort in the Virginia legislature to lift the ban on legal CCW at VA's universities, but sadly it died in committee. At the time, a VA Tech spokesman was quoted:

I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus.

As usual, reflexive, irrational fear of weapons based on "feelings" ultimately resulted in dozens of dead and wounded innocents.

It's time to bury the pernicious myth that disarming good people can save them from evil. It's time to get rid of gun control before it claims more lives.

 

[xsquidgator]

I emailed 16 FL State Reps this afternoon

Dear Representative xxx (sent separately to 16 FL State Reps),
I am writing to urge you to please support House Bill 1417. The terrible tragedy that occurred today at Virginia Tech University underscores the need for a strengthening of our Second Ammendment and Concealed Carry rights, not additional restrictions. If only a single person at Virginia Tech University today had been allowed to legally carry a concealed weapon, the murderer could have been stopped much sooner and many innocent lives could have been saved.

House Bill 1417 strengthens the rights of licensed citizens to keep and bear arms. In these difficult times, I and many of your constituents are reassured in knowing that our rights of armed self-defense are secure, in addition to the valuable protection we enjoy by our police and sheriff's departments. Please support HB 1417, which will help me and other law-abiding citizens safely secure our lawful self-defense firearms within our vehicles when at places of business which do not permit firearms. This does not endanger anyone at all, and in fact will help citizens protect themselves.

Sincerely,
(me)