Pete Wilson (ex-Gov)

[jdberger]

Anyone have any thoughts on Pete Wilson's stance toward RKBA.

Well thought out responses, please - no 'tinfoil hat' stuff. I'm looking to ask him for some advice on organizing. I might have some unique access.

Thanks.

Josh

http://zapatopi.net/afdb/afdbhead.jpg

[PanzerAce]

hmmm, dont know his stance (he was out before I really paid attention to stuff), but if he would support it, that would be a big plus in our favor.

[saki302]

He vetoed the AW ban the first time around (SB23) That makes him a good guy in my book.

-Dave

[PanzerAce]

hmmm, in my book, that doesnt just make him a good guy, that makes him right up there with Kalashnikov, Stoner, and Browning!!
Seriously though, if he vetoed it the first time, he probaly would be more than willing to help us. And that would be some *pun intended* big guns on our side

[bwiese]

A small recollection...

I may have had a (small) hand in the veto or at least the supporting language for Gov Wilson's veto of the first version of SB23 (numbered differently) that emerged in (summer?) of 1998.

I FedEx'd in a 1.5 page letter with bulleted talking points concerning proposed law's difficulties in areas of enforcement, penalizing sportsmen with burdensome legislation, its ineffectualness in stopping crime, confusing differences btwn banned & nonbanned guns, etc, etc. A few days later, as Gov Wilson vetoed the bill, his spokesman (I forget his name now!) was interviewed on the radio using multiple extended quotes of mine - my exact words, perhaps with one or two trivial verb tense or pronoun changes. Further interview of spokesman brought out more of my info, slightly rearranged.

I am in no way saying that I made Gov Wilson veto it, or even changed his mind. I may, however, have given his staff enough well-thought-out cover they felt safe in vetoing pre-SB23.

Some notes..

FedEx'ing helped. It separates you from the daily churn of nutjobs, ritualistic NRA postcards, etc. And perhaps the thinking is, if you care to pay $10 for a letter, perhaps you might pay a few $$ for campaign contribution. Whatever it is, I think this was 50% of it.

No one has time to read long letters. 5 - 6 key bullet points max were used. Kept each to 2-3 sentences, max: cause->effect, converse situation->benefit, counter argument->assailing counter argument, yadayada.
I wanted to - if this managed to get read by a higher-up - make the legislative aide's life easier by giving him something he could run with without much/any work.


I tried the same thing 1yr later w/Gray Davis but obviously it was a losing cause - he'd even found corrupt cops to stand behind him in uniform (and being paid).


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[jdberger]

Bill, PM...

[shopkeep]

Pete Wilson is definitely a hero in my book. For years he protected us against most of the worst crap the democraps ever threw at the 2nd amendment. Not sure how he'll be able to help out now that he's in retirement other than motivate and mobilize grassroots efforts.

[PanzerAce]

big name support always helps. because if nothing else, it gets people aware of the situation. After all, who are you going to listen to, some random person who owns a gun, or a former Gov of the PRK (wait, nm, back then it was still California)

[Turbinator]

I believe he also signed into law a change to the waiting period, formerly something like 25 days, down to 10.

Turby

[lazyman]

pardon me for asking though, but don't the majority of kalifornians dislike Mr. Wilson???

[bwiese]

pardon me for asking though, but don't the majority of kalifornians dislike Mr. Wilson???

Um, perhaps due to recent demographic shifts. He did win in a state fettered with democrats.

And he wasn't popular with illegal aliens. Might not win now due to nonlinearly-increasing hispanic vote block.

Bill Wiese
San Jose

[just4fun63]

Pete Wilson was disliked by the unions. He was very hard on state employees ect..... This caused some big negitive advertising and that infulnces peoples feelings.
But having Pete Wilson on your side can open doors that would be otherwise closed to regular citizens:mad:

If you have access go get the help! I think he has some pull in the current administration.

Good luck

[mblat]

Having former governer with you is a good thing ragardless what most people think about him. It makes issue "legitimate", shows that it is not "nuts" only who cares about it.

[Rascal]

Having former governer with you is a good thing ragardless what most people think about him. It makes issue "legitimate", shows that it is not "nuts" only who cares about it.

1+
I agree with mblat