Victory in Minnesota Goes To Those Who Show Up

Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance

Minnesota –-(Ammoland.com)-  Precinct caucuses offer an incredible chance to influence the political process in our state. The very few people who show up set the course of the party for the year.

By showing up at the caucus, you can steer your political party toward gun rights! Minnesota’s state constitution, unlike most other states, doesn’t have a Right to Keep and Bear Arms provision. We can change that.

Here’s all you have to do:

  1. Find Your Caucus Location:
    https://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
  2. Be Prepared:
    Print several copies of the RKBA resolution for your party, and fill in your name and contact info:Republican Party of Minnesota: https://www.gocra.org/pub/caucus-2014-Republican-RKBA.pdf
    Minnesota DFL Party: https://www.gocra.org/pub/caucus-2014-DFL-RKBA.pdf
  3. Go to the Caucus:
    Caucuses start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Show up around 6:15 – 6:30 to sign in and find your precinct.
  4. Present the RKBA Resolution:
    When the time comes for resolutions to be presented, hand over a copy. You will have a brief opportunity to explain the need for the resolution. Others will have the opportunity to speak for or against it as well.
  5. Become a Delegate:
    Submit your name as a candidate for delegate (or alternate, if all delegate slots are filled). You will then have the opportunity to affect policy at the next level.

There’s more info below about the process, but just remember this: victory goes to those who show up, so go to your caucus, and invite your pro-gun-rights neighbors!

The Importance of being a Delegate
Delegates select who is running and what the issues are! That’s why being a delegate is so important: all politics is local and most things in politics are decided by those who show up.

The precinct caucus is the entry zone to affecting politics from the grass roots. All of the later conventions select from delegates elected at the previous level. This is your chance to get involved and have your opinions heard through interactions and support of candidates, as well as affecting the party platform with resolutions.

Precinct caucuses are open to any eligible voter. Eligible voters attending the caucus are asked to sign in and to be comfortable supporting the positions of the party. At the most grass roots level, delegates are selected from the Basic Political Operating Unit (BPOU) — your local precinct. The process then continues in a pyramid fashion from the Precinct Caucus to the BPOU Convention, to the Congressional District Convention to the State Party Convention. At each level, delegates are chosen to pass on to the next. You cannot skip a step! You must be present to win! The only way to get inside and affect your party is to start at the precinct caucuses and work your way up.

Over the course of these caucuses and conventions, resolutions on the important issues of the day, and endorsements of candidates for elected office take place. Resolutions continue on to the state convention and make their way into the party platform. Platforms offer a clear picture of the philosophical and policy goals of the party. The degree that candidates support or distance themselves from the platform provides insight into those candidates’ positions.

Endorsing candidates is far and away the most important activity of delegates. The endorsement provides candidates with the benefits of the party including access to volunteer lists, party organizations, and, of course, party money. Endorsed candidates have access to party funds as well as state campaign finance money. Many elections have been won or lost at an endorsing convention. In a horse race, those wh o pick the horses can determine who wins the race!

Remember: parties, political campaigns, and politics are run by people, and people listen to those they remember and recognize. Being able to say, “Hello, we met at the caucus“ is a much stronger opening than a cold call.

Resolution for an amendment to the Minnesota constitution:

WHEREAS self-defense, and defense of home, family and liberty is a fundamental human right; and

WHEREAS the Minnesota Constitution contains no provision guaranteeing this right; and

WHEREAS forty-three other state constitutions contain a guarantee of such rights;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minnesota ____ Party support an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota to guarantee the right to keep and bear arms which states as follows:

The right of individuals to acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms for defense of life, liberty, self, family, and others, sanctity of dwelling, and for all legitimate purposes, is fundamental and shall not be denied or curtailed. Any restriction must be subjected to strict scrutiny. Registration, mandatory licensing, special taxation, fees, or any other measure, regardless of type, manner, or purpose, that suppresses or discourages the free exercise of this right, is forbidden.

Get educated, show up, get involved, and make a difference. Thank you!

Please ask gun owners and civil rights supporters to sign up for these alerts at https://www.gocra.org/join.html

GOCRA – P. O. Box 131254 – St. Paul, MN 55113

About: We are the Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, the organization behind CCRN (Concealed Carry Reform Now!). We are people from all walks of life who have banded together to preserve and protect all of our civil rights as gun owners. Visit: www.gocra.org