"Making your voice heard" is useless if done in a way that ensures nobody will take it seriously. Petitions are for junior high schoolers who want cafeteria menu changes and wives' clubs in a snit about something. On an issue as serious as gun control you weigh in with succinct, well-reasoned (near-insurmountable hurdles for many, it seems) letters in passable English to Members of Congress and/or you join and fund one of the small number of gun advocacy groups whose people know how to work the political process. That, I point out in case it's just too difficult for you to understand, is a realistic, effective attitude. The losing attitude is to put yourself into the "ignore" group because you chose such an unsophisticated, ineffective means of expression (petitions) that the only effect is to cause eyeballs to roll--if the petition even becomes known to the intended recipient. If you want to feel good, sign and distribute petitions. If you want to feel effective, do it the grown-up way.
I agree. A petition on a white house web page is useless, except to give them another name to add to their extermination list. My answer to your statement about the grown-up way is this:
Honorable (Senator, Congressman, Representative),
I would like to remind you that when you took office, you swore an oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; …”
I also remind you that our Constitution includes the 2nd Amendment: “…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The right to keep and bear arms was considered so fundamental to a free people that it was the Second Amendment, second only to freedom of religion and free speech. I also remind you that it guaranteed the right of the people to keep and bear, what were at the time, state-of-the-art military weapons.
Any elected official who proposes, or supports, any legislation that attempts to overturn or limit the Second Amendment is in violation of their oath and they must be removed from office. Their act must be considered an act of Treason against the United States of America and should be prosecuted as such. I expect you to stand firm in support of the Constitution, to honor your oath and to denounce the traitors for what they are. By "any legislation", I consider this to include any sort of so-called 'assault weapons' ban, 'high-capacity' magazine ban, gun registration, outrageous ammunition tax, private weapons sales government intervention, face-to-face only ammunition sales, any type of gun registration and/or any other infringement.
I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and the misinformation campaign against the American public. I will not register any weapon I currently own, nor any I acquire in the future. It is not the government's right to know what I own.
Common sense and statistics both prove that gun restrictions do not save innocent lives. Restricting people from the right and responsibility to protect themselves and others by establishing "Gun-Free Zones" is one of the most irresponsible and asinine regulations our government has ever imposed. A true law maker, representing the American people, should be doing everything in his/her power to remove such idiotic, foolish and unsafe regulations. So far, I have seen very little support or discussion from Washington to do just this.
You are responsible not only to the American people, but to God Himself. I suggest you seriously consider the oath you took, because God - and the voters - will hold you accountable for your actions in this regard. Another problem I've seen with with today's politicians is the fact that they never seem to give a second of their time for the people they are supposed to be working for. They reply to emails and letters with some simple, standardized, form letter, one-size-fits-all, for each particular issue. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Write it out. Put it into a correctly addressed, stamped envelope and mail it. At least the response that you receive, or lack thereof, will at least let you know where your own legislators stand, and you can vote, or file the appropriate charges, accordingly.
