What approach are you taking when emailing Senators and Representatives?
I have emailed both of my Senators to urge them to vote for universal background checks. Because I live in a very red state and both Senators are Republicans, I did not make any mention of party affiliation in my emails. Although I really wanted to express outrage, I was afraid that would make it too easy for them to dismiss my request. I simply asked them to vote to require background checks and told them this issue is a priority for me and will be a determining factor when I cast my vote in the next election.
I'm getting ready to email some (Rand, Cruz, McConnell) who are planning to filibuster any gun legislation. Should I use the same tone? Sometimes I wonder if they ever hear a critical opinion. Maybe they should know that we find their positions outrageous.
Have your communications been emotional or restrained?
= new reply since forum marked as read
There is a lot of misinformation by Gun Owners of America out now, claiming the UBC is just a pretext for a gun registry--which is a pretest for gun confiscation--which is a pretext for....
I think you should always make your letters to Congress critters respectful but firm and clear, using facts, polls, etc. As I understand it, they rarely read those letters, so being harsh or going all caps is just making it hard on some lowly staff person. The staff person usually reads the letter and then tallies it as a "for" or "against" on a particular issue; sometimes they send you a form letter back. The Congress critter does read the results of those tallies, and with enough tallies, it might sway him or her.
Thank you for taking the time to write letters. Your service to your country is much appreciated. 
