CALL Missouri REPS: TIPS AND TEMPLATES
We know that MO Reps are on break this week, but this is still an IMPORTANT time to call and get the word out. We will be back in Jefferson City next week to lobby for this so our Reps. need to be aware of this issue.
First and foremost, we must be respectful and cordial to the people that we are trying to ask for help. We must not be angry or pushy or even appear agitated. This is about asking honest questions about valid, sober concerns. Please do not call anyone any names or use any ad hominem attacks against the person you are talking to or any third party whatsoever. It will turn off your state legislator and seem to validate the content of the MIAC report.
“Hello, my name is ________ and I am a constituent of Senator/Representative ________ calling to speak to him/her about an issue that deeply concerns me, is he/she/’the Senator’(Senators tend to take their position very seriously) available?”
If the legislator you are calling is available:
INTRODUCE YOURSELF, BE CORDIAL, MAKE SURE THEY KNOW YOU ARE THEIR CONSTITUENT:
“Hello, my name is _____ and I live in/at/near ________. Thank you for taking my call. I’m sure you’re very busy so I will take up as little of your time as possible.”
GIVE A ROUGH OVERVIEW OF MIAC AND YOUR CONCERNS:
“I am calling today because I am concerned about a recently leaked report from the Missouri Information Analysis Center. The MIAC is a “fusion center” created to coordinate law enforcement officials at all levels and across the country. What concerns me about this report is that it unfairly characterizes certain peaceful and lawful political activities and organizations as being associated with violent militias, white supremacist groups, as well as domestic terrorist cells.”
IF THIS APPLIES TO YOU, YOU MIGHT SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
“I myself associate with political organizations and support politicians named in this report, and as a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record nor history of violence, I am disturbed to find myself and my friends associated with dangerous criminals.”
Also consider if other groups you associate with but were not mentioned by name in the memo hold political stances listed in the report, such as the Republican Party, Eagle Forum, LRP or whatever conservative or liberty-minded groups are concerned about 2nd Amendment rights, NAU, NAIS, REAL ID, etc. If so–and you think you might be talking to someone who is sympathetic to such views–please mention the fact that other nonviolent political organizations you associate with hold some of the views that were characterized as radical within the memo.
ASK QUESTIONS NOT FOR THE ANSWERS BUT TO GET THEM THINKING:
“Why are peaceful organizations being lumped in with violent radicals with no attempt to clarify that these organizations are indeed peaceful?”
“Where did this “information” come from?”
“What do you think their sources might be?”
“What other political groups could be targeted?”
“Please ask Governor Nixon why his name is at the top of this unnecessarily inflammatory and misleading memo and support a full investigation into the origins of this MIAC report.”(Republicans will like this, Democrats probably not)
For Dems, go with something like, “Please call for a full investigation into this unnecessarily inflammatory and misleading document. This is a clear violation of my civil rights.”
BE PREPARED FOR THEIR QUESTIONS:
They may wish to see this report, it can be found at XXXXX[*not yet sure of the legality of distributing “Law Enforcement Sensitive” material]
They may ask which groups that you associate with were named. Be sure to have an answer that paints the C4L, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, or liberty movement in general in their true, peaceful, light. Something like “I supported ______ during the recent presidential election. I supported him/her because of my desire for a peaceful foreign policy and a sensible economic system, I have no idea why this report would make people like me out to be a threat to anyone.”
There are already responses from LEO’s concerning our response. They say we are overreacting and that they are not profiling anyone. The best response to give if your Rep/Senator says something like that is to say something like, “Well, it certainly seems to me that any law enforcement officer unfamiliar with these organizations would assume that they were violent or unlawful. There was no attempt made to indicate that named organizations or individuals were indeed peaceful. I find the idea that any nonviolent political organization could be named in such a report without any sort of disclaimer as to the peaceful nature of the organization to be extremely concerning. Who’s next?”
If your Rep/Senator is not available, be sure to leave a message with the person who answered the phone and get that person’s name. Your message should be that you are concerned about the MIAC Report and would like to speak to your Rep/Senator about it. Ask that the person answering the call take down your contact information and ask that the legislator you are trying to contact call/e-mail you back. Remember to be cordial and thank the person for their help.
