How to Engage Lawmakers on Gun Violence Prevention

1. Look online for your elected officials’ contact information.
2. Call or email your elected official using the sample message found below.
3. Ask for a meeting with your elected official. If they are unable, meet with one of their staff members who works on public safety or firearm issues.
4. Prepare for your meeting by doing research to ensure you know your elected official’s positions and past votes. Have talking points on what you are urging them to do, such as vote for gun violence prevention legislation, be a co-sponsor, or call on leadership to bring bills to a vote.
5. During the meeting, take detailed notes and keep track of any necessary next steps or follow up.
6. After your meeting, send a thank you note to your elected official. Provide additional information and follow up on your ask.

Tips 

• Consider getting a group of people together who care about gun violence prevention and want to talk to their lawmakers. Stay in touch even after the meeting to keep up the momentum!
• It is easier to get a meeting with your Congressional members when they are in their home state or district (Congressional Calendar). Congressional recesses are a great opportunity to get a meeting!
• During your meeting, share a story about why gun violence prevention is important to you.
• Tell our organizers about your meeting once it is scheduled by filling out this form, and we will help you prepare!

Sample Message 

Dear Office of [elected official name],

My name is _______. I am a constituent and a leader for Brady/Team ENOUGH [chapter/state]. We are reaching out to request a meeting with [elected official name] or a member of your staff to discuss our legislative priorities. We would appreciate it if you could reply to this email with some options of times that would work for your office. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to speak soon.

Best,
Insert Name here

1. Call your elected official’s office or visit their website to find out if they’re hosting any upcoming events or town halls. 
2. If you know of an upcoming community event that your lawmakers will attend, make a plan to attend and ask them questions or hold up signs. 
3. Assign someone to help document and record your asking a question and the official's response. 
4. After the event, post photographs and videos on social media and tag @bradybuzz and @teamenough.

If your elected officials do not hold any public forums, urge them to do so by calling, emailing, posting on social media, and writing letters to the editor of your local news outlet. 

Tips

• Sign up for your elected official’s newsletter or email list to stay informed about future events and opportunities to connect.
• Get a group of Brady/Team ENOUGH chapter members, friends, or family to attend the event together. Make sure to send the event details and registration link. Stay in touch even after the event to keep up the momentum!
• Get there early so you and your group can strategize the best place to sit. 
• Reach out to your local Indivisible chapter, if one exists. They may be planning to go as a group and will be happy to have you join! Share your gun violence prevention questions with them. Indivisible is a powerful partner in making our voices heard on this issue.
• Tell our organizers about your plan once it is finalized, we will reach out and offer support if you fill out this form!

Sample Invite Message

Hi All - 

[Lawmaker name] is holding a town hall meeting on [date]. I’m going to attend to ask them questions about their plans to take action on gun violence. With everything happening in our country right now, and the continued gun violence crisis, I want to ensure this issue is a top priority and that our lawmakers know we will hold them accountable. 

I would love to get a group of people together to attend so we can ask different questions on the issue! Can you join me? The town hall is on [date, time, location] and we can meet up before to have a coffee and strategize how we will try to get our questions answered.  

Please let me know if you can join me. 

Thank you!

If your elected officials are not holding any events, host your own public forum and invite them. Even if they don’t attend, you are calling attention to the importance of elected officials listening to their constituents. 

Tips

• It is important to have a backup plan, speakers, and a strategy for how you will fill the room.
• Local Indivisible chapters are organizing town halls with neighboring districts and asking those congressional representatives to attend an “Empty Chair Town Hall.” Reach out to a local Indivisible chapter to get involved.
• We will help you prepare for your event and offer support, if you fill out this form!