Replies

Nice work -- I'd love to get something like this on the ballot in my lifetime. The conventional wisdom would say that you'd need about a buck a signature -- say a million dollars to qualify. The cost of the campaign is entirely dependant on the amount of opposition you get -- it's easier to defeat a proposition in California than to get one approved. But, I digress.

If I could offer a couple of suggestions to your already excellent list:

1) Go to the Post office, and get a handful of voter registration forms. The petition signers have to be registered voters, and it's a constant source of frustration to me to find how few gun owners are actually registered voters. You can sign 'em up and get them to sign the petition on the same day -- sort of a twofer, if you'll pardon the expression.

2. You might also inquire with your local headquarters to see if there's a bounty availble for your club or organization for new registrants, as well. The going rate is ususally about a buck per registered voter, but it can vary.

3. In order to maximize your efforts, go to places where large numbers of likely signers are congregating (eg gun shows).

4. Print up a whole bunch of petition forms. Go to your local supermarket, and ask for some old cardboard boxes (they'll be happy to let you go around back and pick up as many as you want.) Then, cut up the boxes into 9"x15" (for legal sized forms) or 9" x 12" (for letter sized forms) pieces. Tape two pieces of cardboard together, and rubber band three or four petitions to both sides of the cardboard thingy. Go to staples and buy their el-cheapo ballpoint pens (a box of 10 for a buck), and stick one into each of your boards. Now, when you go to collect signatures, you can get a half dozen or so folks signing up simultaneously. During the recall, I was able to average 25 signatures per hour in some places -- (this is a really good rate).

Don't count on getting a bunch of your friends to help you -- they won't. Just go do it yourself, and have fun. And those few folks who DO help -- man, keep their numbers. You'll need to work together again before you know it.

Just my 2 cents.

absalom01 said: "The conventional wisdom would say that you'd need about a buck a signature ..."

I have read that. It seemed to me that prior campaigns have purposely avoided the issue of having paid signature gatherers. They thought that there was some value to having a "grass roots" only effort. I think that is a bad trade-off if it means the initiative doesn't qualify for the ballot. If I had the resources, I would see that California voters were forced to re-vote their opposition to gun rights as often as possible.

Based on the slow start that this campaign has evidenced, I doubt that there is a backup plan for collecting contributions to pay signature gatherers if the grass roots effort is lagging.

The Internet has changed how people communicate and associate. There are almost 2000 California Freepers who have a chance to respond to my posting. This is an incredible resource and I hope that it makes a difference.

absalom01 also said: "Don't count on getting a bunch of your friends to help you -- they won't. Just go do it yourself, and have fun. And those few folks who DO help -- man, keep their numbers.

Don't count on a bunch. But don't neglect the effort. Tuesday I supplied an in-law of an in-law with enough petition packets for 1500 signatures. He was going to spend yesterday at a shotgun range and he expected 50 participants. He would have them sign and then give each of them a packet of petitions for families and friends.

This same friend is member of two clubs with a total of 400 members located mostly in three local counties. That is a lot of leverage from one helper.