Have you contacted your local Assemblyman regarding AB 357?

[ChuckBooty]

I sent an email but didn't get a response. Have you contacted your local assemblyman? If so, did you get into a discussion or get any response at all? Tell your story here!

And if you select, "I'm going to contact them tomorrow" than click HERE (http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp) to find out who to call.

[jb7706]

Emailed and called. No response to email, staffer never heard of AB357. Filled him in and got a terse "thank you for your call."

[ChuckBooty]

Emailed and called. No response to email, staffer never heard of AB357. Filled him in and got a terse "thank you for your call."

Yeah...it doesn't seem like a very big push, huh? I'm wondering if it wasn't a just typical politician pandering to his base. I kinda get the feeling that is EXACTLY what AB357 is. But maybe if we push hard enough we can get somewhere with it. I wonder if it'd be advantageous to get some kind of local radio talk show behind it?

[CCWFacts]

Yes! I sent mail to everyone on the Public Safety Committee and a thank-you to Steve Knight, who introduced it.

DON'T EMAIL YOUR REP. EITHER CALL OR SEND AN OLD-FASHIONED LETTER.

I don't think email is effective; they get too much email. Invest the $0.43 in your freedom and send an old-fashioned letter.

It can be as short as, "please vote yes on AB 357, the CCW reform bill".

[ChuckBooty]

Can someone post a link the site where you can find your rep by zip code? I want to include it in my first post. Thanks!

[knuckled]

Can someone post a link the site where you can find your rep by zip code? I want to include it in my first post. Thanks!

Search for your Assembly Rep here (http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp)

In general, there is good info here (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=156196)on contacting CA politicians regarding legislation.

[Timberline]

Text of the bill here (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_357_bill_20090219_introduced.html).

[sholling]

My assembly critter (Paul Cook) is a RINO that couldn't care less.

[nick]

Damn, voted No instead of Yes. Oh well, there's something ironic in it, since my "assembly critter" is a raving anti-gunner.

[eflatminor]

I wrote letters, I think about 8 in all. Actual letters...on paper. Signed them and everything.

Old school?

[knuckled]

Arg.....my assembly rep (Mike Feuer) has this in his bio:

Mike also authored one of the major accomplishments of the 2007 term--the Crime Gun Identification Act. Endorsed by more than 65 police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors, the Act requires that starting in 2010, semi-automatic handguns be equipped with microstamping technology that marks an ejected bullet casing with the make, model and serial number of the gun from which it came. Law enforcement leaders believe this requirement will provide valuable leads in gun crimes, and deter illegal weapons trafficking. The bill gained national prominence: The New York Times twice joined The Los Angeles Times and other California newspapers in supporting the Act, and key federal legislators have introduced legislation modeled on it. Calling Mike a “true champion of public safety” the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence named Assemblymember Feuer their 2007 “Gun Violence Prevention Legislator of the Year”.

[nick]

I wrote letters, I think about 8 in all. Actual letters...on paper. Signed them and everything.

Old school?

Not at all. I do that too, people get more impressed by those for some reason (which is silly, as it's easier to prove that an email was sent and what was written in it. I guess, it's because it takes more effort to write an actual letter).

[Legend_AB]

I was planning on e-mailing and sending a fax, but from what you guys are saying I'll try to send a regular old letter instead.

[CCWFacts]

I was planning on e-mailing and sending a fax, but from what you guys are saying I'll try to send a regular old letter instead.

Go ahead and send an email, but also send a letter. Emails and faxes are not substitutes for letters. It takes so little effort to send an email these days that it's easier to discount them.

If you feel up for it, send a letter to all the members of the Public Safety Committee. I did that, it took 20 minutes. I figure, if I have some opportunity to take action to support a bill, I will take full advantage of it.

[KWA-S]

I emailed Rob Knight, but it sounds like I should send some letters, too. I'll take care of that around Thursday. (Finals week is rolling around)

[PonchoTA]

I remember some sort of statistic that, while these numbers are not the real ones, the ratios are real in their importance:

1 email = 20 voters
1 phone call = 2000 voters
1 letter = 20,000 voters.

I think they equated to the difficulty of a certain media of how many people actually DO it versus the number of people that actually feel that way.

These numbers might be off a bit, but the difference described is not.

.

[wildhawker]

Here's the search page to find your Legislators: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

[Cru Jones]

I emailed already, will fax and write letters tomorrow. I got email responses from both, which I meant to keep but can't seem to find them now. Basically my Republican Senator said he fully supports AB 357 and a persons right to protect themselves and my Democrat Assemblywoman says "I'll take your thoughts into consideration."

[kap]

Yes. I have even asked and had others do the same.

[Window_Seat]

BTT...

I thought I'd bring this back up to say that I just got done emailing the Public Safety Committee regarding AB-357.

Assembly member Warren Furutani's email got rejected, so I faxed him a letter. I will also send snail mail to each member this week.

Let's keep this thing alive!

(edited to add):
I contacted Assemblyman Steve Knight's office today, and his staff member told me that the bill will not have to go though a "double committee", meaning it will only have to go though the public safety committee.

Erik.

[fullrearview]

I sent an email but didn't get a response. Have you contacted your local assemblyman? If so, did you get into a discussion or get any response at all? Tell your story here!

And if you select, "I'm going to contact them tomorrow" than click HERE (http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/framepage.asp) to find out who to call.

WTF!!!!!

I feel really dumb.... I had no idea that my assembly person was a libtard!!! they really need to draw new district lines!

[Librarian]

(edited to add):
I contacted Assemblyman Steve Knight's office today, and his staff member told me that the bill will not have to go though a "double committee", meaning it will only have to go though the public safety committee.

Erik.
Interesting; I guess it makes sense - it doesn't seem to add any state-required expenditure.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad. It would skip a bunch of known antis in the Appropriations committee, who could easily block it. But they're all in the whole Asembley as well, so it's not like they are entirely avoidable.

Thus, it's very important that we contact our own assembly persons, as well as the PS members. Work on the whole Assembly now.

[Window_Seat]

...Thus, it's very important that we contact our own assembly persons, as well as the PS members. Work on the whole Assembly now.

Agreed, and that is why I will be sending out a certified letter to Mr. Torrico. Certified letters might not be a bad idea, no?

Erik.

[Librarian]

Certified letters might not be a bad idea, no?

Erik.I dunno. Probably ought to ask a staff person for a legislator. AFAIK all they really do is tally for/against, so I'm not sure that the extra $2.70 is going to get much return. I don't think any senior staff person signs for that stuff, so it isn't like someone's Chief of Staff will sign for 50 certified letters a day for a couple weeks and The Light Will Dawn. I bet that some staff person is even authorized to sign for 'Deliver to Addressee Only' mail.

A 'pro' bill person might bring in a pile of mail - 'see what the People are saying!...', an anti might do the same if there are letters in opposition.

[CCWFacts]

Don't bother with certified. It doesn't make it any more likely to be read by anyone higher up at the office. Save your X * $2.70 and donate it to the NRA.

[vladbutsky]

This thread was a final drop for me. I was planning to do it but somehow never had time for it. Just wrote letters for all memebers of the Public Safety Committee and to my representative. Goingto send them tomorrow :yes:

[Bruce3]

Interesting; I guess it makes sense - it doesn't seem to add any state-required expenditure.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad. It would skip a bunch of known antis in the Appropriations committee, who could easily block it. But they're all in the whole Asembley as well, so it's not like they are entirely avoidable.

Thus, it's very important that we contact our own assembly persons, as well as the PS members. Work on the whole Assembly now.

so all it has to do is pass the public safety committee it becomes law?

[andrewj]

Just curious, what are you actually stating in your letters?

[mblat]

so all it has to do is pass the public safety committee it becomes law?

no, but if this "one committee" thing is correct it will go in front of assembly where it will get slaughtered. Still that would be a huge progress, we would have to bring it back for several more years before it will have realistic chance of passing.
I have called, faxed and emailed. Sending letters tomorrow.

[Librarian]

Attached is a .csv (renamed to .txt so the forum software will accept it) of the Assembly Sacramento mailing addresses.

I bring it into Excel and save the doc as an .xls file. The .xls is both the header file (a1:g1) and the data file.

I then create a word doc with the mail merge features. Looks like Your name
Your address
Your city, state, zip
March 17, 2009
Assemblymember «First» «Last»
«Line1» «Line2»
«City_State» «Zip»

Dear Assemblymember «Last»:

Your message….

Very truly yours,

(sign here)

Your Name
I use a Mac; Mail Merge through Office is pretty similar on Windows, but I'm still on Office 2004, so it's pretty unlikely I can help much if you don't already know how to do this stuff.

But if you DO know, 80 simple letters individually addressed with matching envelopes is trivial, and you can do if..then..else logic to swap in text for really unique letters.

Have fun! :)


ETA: I just did the Sacramento addresses because I think the district addresses ought to be for actual constituents; the letters to the capitol also get to the folks sooner when the Assembly is in session. I'll do a similar one for the Senate Sacramento addresses sometime soon-ish.

[Jarrod]

I have written everyone on the Public Safety Committee, as well as my local state representative and state senator. Something like 8-10 letters.

[Electricboy]

i e-mailed sofar but am sending letters and going to call. i also talked to my mom and aunt and am going to print letters for them to sign, they are for it but dont own guns. I am also contacting neighbors and other family, i'm going to send letters for them to make sure they dont procrastinate.

[M. D. Van Norman]

I have contacted my representatives and everyone on the Public Safety Committee. I wish there were about 24,000 more yes responses on this poll.

[pullnshoot25]

I wrote letters, I think about 8 in all. Actual letters...on paper. Signed them and everything.

Old school?

Classy :)

[the_donald_]

Called all their field offices, sent letters to their capitol & field offices, send letters to Knight to his capitol & field offices.

Here's an example of what I sent, it's blatantly plagiarized from other members here, with some of my particular comments included. And yes, I know not all of it gets read, but if something's worth doing, ....

Got my GF to send them in as well. Feel free to use any part of the letter you see beneficial for getting AB 357 to move forward.

Jose Solorio - Chair, Anaheim CA
2400 E. Katella Avenue
Suite 640
Anaheim, CA 92806

To the Members of the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety:

I highly encourage you to give your full support to the passage of Assembly Bill 357.

This bill will finally bring equal protection under the law to the citizens of California. Citizens who were previously subject to the personal whims and moods of County Sheriffs.

The requirement to show “good cause” has been grossly misused for too many years. As mostly only the Sheriffs as opposed to Chiefs of Police, “deal with” this workload, to think that fifty-eight separate individuals are allowed to make determinations that certain citizens are more deserving than others is preposterous. For Sheriffs to decide whether a citizen has the right to defend themselves because they hold a particular job, are in a particular income range, or have donated to a re-election campaign reeks of an attitude of Aristocracy.

While I do not personally carry large sums of cash, or briefcases full of diamond jewelry, I do have irreplaceable highly valuable commodities, my life and the lives of my family and friends. To be told that a merchant’s daily deposits are more worthy of defense than the lives of my loved ones is a personal insult, a slap in the face.

Over an approximate twenty year span, more than thirty states have passed “Shall Issue” Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) laws and none of these states have repealed them or experienced a hike in crime from CCW holders. Rather, they have experienced a decrease in violent crime rates after passage. Assembly Bill 357 will allow law abiding citizens the fundamental right to self defense that has thus far been denied by the State of California.

Specific to California, budget cuts to law enforcement are leaving law-abiding citizens exposed and vulnerable. In this time of budget deficits, terrorist threats, and economic dismay, we are obligated to protect ourselves and take as much responsibility for our own safety at a time when the system is overwhelmed. We are honest, trained, vetted citizens, and many of us do not trust that Law Enforcement will act in our defense given the decision of Warren v. District of Columbia stating that law enforcement has No Obligation to protect any individual.

I leave you with the following excerpt of our state constitution with a reminder of your oaths taken to protect and defend it:

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

SECTION 1. All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy.

Your support of citizen's rights speaks volumes about your character. Please do everything within your power to see that this bill becomes law.

Respectfully,


Your Name
Ordinary Concerned Citizen
Your County, CA

[1BigPea]

Been calling almost daily since last week...

Sent faxes as well...

[Foghlai]

Here's the letter I got back from my Rep.



March 13, 2009



Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding AB 357. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns about this important matter.


As you know, AB 357 seeks to eliminate the “good cause” requirement for the issuance of concealed weapons in California, thereby changing the permitting system from “may issue” to “shall issue.” It was recently introduced by Assemblyman Steve Knight and has been assigned to the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. Although strong and convincing arguments will be heard on both sides of this issue as the bill makes its way through the State Legislature, I support this measure for several reasons. First, many studies show that the expanded issuance of concealed weapons in other states has resulted in a decrease in violent crime. For example, in 1987, Florida enacted a “shall issue” law that became a model for other states. According to the FBI, the murder rate in Florida declined by 23% within the first five years, while the overall murder rate in the U.S. increased by 9%. Drawing on this success, 28 other states later enacted “right-to-carry” laws and two others have no requirements for issuing concealed weapons permits at all. Second, AB 357 would eliminate the issuance of concealed weapons permits based on arbitrary standards that vary from county to county. Currently, California sheriffs are given a wide discretion regarding who can get a concealed weapons permit and who can’t. This proposal would solve the issue of arbitrary standards and create a fair and equitable process for all applicants. Lastly, the U.S. Constitution says that self-defense is a right of every American. As Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, once said, “To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”


Thank you again for your inquiry as I always enjoy hearing from my constituents. If I can ever be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me again.


All the best,





Assemblyman Chuck DeVore

Seventieth District

[radioburning]

I called Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal, twice, and Senator Alan Lowenthal
once.

[yellowfin]

Sent to the Governator:
-----------------------
Dear Sir,

I am happy to write to you as a constitutent on an important matter of legal reform in California, an opportunity for our great state to enact a key advancement for the safety and equal rights of the citizens which is long overdue. A bill is in assembly committee now, AB 357, for Right to Concealed Carry Reform, which needs your fullest possible support. 40 out of 50 states in our country have this as policy, where every legally qualified citizen has access to right of self defense for the purposes of defending their lives and the the lives of their families. It has been successful in increasing individual safety and individual liberty at virtually no risk and actually has provided a positive cash flow for the states, a decrease in crime, and several economic and social benefits for the communities. Currently the system under Penal Code 12050 is horribly corrupt and excludes the vast majority of Californians from rights otherwise afforded to them by virtue of being US citizens, all because of the whims of a scant few politicians and ivory tower bureaucrats clinging to failed policies, obsolete politics, and petty agendas. The right to carry is exercised regularly by millions of Americans in almost every other state, yet here in ours it is selectively doled out to the rich, the politically connected, and those of very narrow and unusual circumstances. This must change.

In all, less than one ten thousandth of our current state population has access to right to defend their life from criminal threat when going about their daily lives. That is legally, societally, and morally intolerable. I urge you to assist us in our efforts to remedy this gross injustice and reclaim our right to providing our own safety and working for the betterment of society. Right to carry is an American civil right and a basic human right. California has always prided itself on issues of rights of the people--I ask you to stand by that principle and apply it to this one. Help make CCW access available to all law abiding citizens. That is the only morally, legally, and ethically consistent choice there is.

Many thanks,
-----------

[Librarian]

It's way early to expect Arnie to pay attention; writing him can't hurt, except to the extent writing a legislator might be more effective.

Generally, unless the Gov sponsors or asks for bills, he doesn't worry about them much before they come out of the Legislature. A real 'hot potato' bill would be different, but we haven't turned 357 into one of those yet.

Now, if you happen to know the Gov, or get to his private fund raising events, a quiet word in his ear probably would be useful.

[yellowfin]

^ We've got it in the microwave though, don't we?

[Librarian]

Working the Legislature is the Order of the Day, but sometimes lower levels can be helpful, and if we want to create some additional visibility, make that 'hot potato' status, we ought to think a bit more broadly.

Anyone want to see if the OC Supervisors might come out in favor? The Contra Costa Supes are often passing silly resolutions; maybe a different county has smarter elected officials. And a little dig at Ms Appointed is in order.

[Untamed1972]

Yes I have.....AND got a letter beack from him stating he is in full support of it. Way to go Joel Anderson!!!!

[infernalaanger]

Well I sent off my letters today and also called the members of the Public Safety Committee in support of the bill...

I'd like to see it at least get to Assembly...even though I'm pretty sure my representative is a libtard.

(Note: I do not actually know if he is or not...I did not live in his district during the election)

[otteray]

My 27th District Assemblyman the is newly elected Bill Monning.
It's probably a good idea to let him know that pro-gun folks live in his district. I'll contact him; but his biography leads me to believe that he doesn't like guns.

[Cnynrat]

Sent an email to my Rep who happens to be the Vice Chair of the Safety Committee (Curt Hagman). Recieved a nice letter back indicating he is a strong supporter of AB 357.