11 Days Until Election Day-What (More!) Can You Do?

11 Days Until Election Day-What (More!) Can You Do?  In 18 days we will go to the polls in what may be the most important election of our lifetimes.  Other than voting on Election Day (or voting early or via absentee ballot), what more should gun owners do?  The answer is very simple--volunteer to work on pro-gun candidates’ campaigns to turn out supportive voters on Election Day, November 4.

While we know NRA members and gun owners are reliable voters, the same can’t be said for others.  With that said, our pro-gun candidates are going to have to rely on gun owners’ activism to ensure that voters who support them are contacted and actually go and vote on November 4.  Voting on Election Day is the ultimate form of volunteerism.  But turning out supportive voters won’t happen by accident.  Here are some activities with which you can assist that can spell the difference between victory and defeat on Election Day:

YARD SIGNS:  The key to placing yard signs is location, location, location.  Put signs where large numbers of people will see them, but out of right of ways.  Ask fellow firearm owners who have property that would make a good sign location to post a sign, and make sure the “natural resources of the pro-gun community” (gun shows, gun shops, shooting ranges, and gun and hunting clubs) have signs prominently displayed.  Don’t put signs on private property without permission, and don’t tamper with the opposition’s signs!  And, of course, make sure you have a pro-gun candidate’s sign in your yard or on your property!

LITERATURE DROPS:  Literature drops are an extremely effective way for pro-freedom candidates to get their message regarding pro-freedom candidates.  Again, take advantage of the “natural resources” of the pro-gun community. Gun shows are the best venue to conduct a literature drop. Check with the show promoter to set up a literature table or share one with a fellow NRA member or pro-gun supporter.  Or, better yet; hand out pro-gun candidates’ literature to all attendees as they enter the show.  If distributing literature in neighborhoods, never put materials in a mailbox!  Remember, the goal of this activity isn’t to debate with anti-gun voters, but rather, to distribute as much material to as many potential voters as possible!

BUMPER STICKERS: Make sure every vehicle you own has a pro-gun candidate’s (and/or NRA) bumper sticker on it.  Then, work to ensure the vehicles of your friends and fellow firearm owners are proudly displaying a sticker(s) as well! 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:  Please submit at least one letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of a pro-gun candidate between now and Election Day.  Consult your paper’s deadlines, as some papers stop accepting political letters to the editor on a certain date prior to the election. You can find media contact information by visiting our homepage—www.NRAILA.org — and clicking the “Take Action” icon, and then the “Write The Media” link.  Your goal in writing should be to ensure that pro-gun candidates are receiving positive media in these final days leading up to November 4.

GET OUT THE VOTE & ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES:  Now that there are a little more than two weeks left in the campaign season, candidates are focusing their efforts on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) projects and laying the final groundwork for a barrage of Election Day activities. This requires assistance contacting voters by phone, walking precincts, volunteering to drive pro-gun voters to the polls, and putting up signs and handing out literature at polling locations on Election Day.

VOTE FOR PRO-GUN CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE ON NOVEMBER 4!: The ultimate act of volunteerism, of course, is casting your ballot on Election Day.  Please be sure you vote on Tuesday, November 4, and urge your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same.  Remember, too, that in many states you can vote early, prior to November 4.  Exercising this option not only ensures that your vote will be “banked,” but that you will have free time on Election Day to help with the aforementioned activities!  With this many tight races, we cannot take even a single pro-gun vote for granted!  For candidate information, to assist you when voting, refer to your November NRA magazine, which contains NRA-PVF’s Candidate Endorsements, or visit http://www.nrapvf.org/.

Another way to get involved with these, and other, similar activities in your area is to contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC), who is a local NRA member spearheading our pro-gun volunteer campaign efforts.  To locate your EVC, please visit NRA’s websites (www.NRAILA.org or http://www.nrapvf.org/) or contact the ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

Finally, you can contact pro-gun candidates’ local campaign offices directly.  By visiting the “Candidate Grades and Endorsements” section of http://www.nrapvf.org/ and clicking on your state, you’ll find that many of the pro-gun candidates have a hyperlink that you can click to go directly to their website to find their contact information.

With only 18 short days left until Election Day, if you can spare literally just a few hours of your time with these Get Out The Vote efforts, it can and will make a difference!  If a few hours of your time over the next 18 days isn’t worth protecting our Second Amendment rights for our children and grandchildren, what is?