Targets

Provincial Premieres and Ministers of Safety and Security.

Opposition party spokesmen on Safety and Security.

Heads of political parties at provincial and local (regional) level

Members of Parliament of all political parties allocated to local constituency

Letters from all forms of organisations and concerned individuals, expressing concern about proposed legislation and requesting clarification of the plans and stance of the parties concerned.

Organisations, clubs etc. should invite official representatives to address meetings on this issue.

Keep letters brief and to the point.

Never be antagonistic or belligerent.

Always ask a question, even if simply for an opinion or for an assurance of support. This assures an answer.

Ensure that the persons proper address and title is used.

Ensure that any facts quoted are totally correct.

Express your concerns politely and civilly, where possible point out why you are opposed and why proposed measures will not work.

Avoid form letters, make ever letter individual, requiring an individual considered response.

Identify your group, even if only as a group of concerned individuals within your community.

Never forget the importance of local and community political leaders, they are responsible to and can pressurise the higher ranking party members.

When inviting someone to a meeting always suggest a location, time and date.

Always request that they suggest an alternative time and date should yours not be suitable.

Structure and control the meeting, ensure that you are always in full charge of the meeting and that it is orderly.

Ensure that you have the right people in place to ask the right questions at the meeting.

Ensure that the questions to be asked are clearly defined and worded so that the full implications are revealed.

Prepare the principal questions and concerns in advance and provide them to the person addressing the meeting in advance.

Where possible advise the media of the meeting and it’s purpose at least twice, once when the arrangements are finalised and again the day before the meeting.

Do everything possible to obtain media coverage, even if only local community newspapers.

Advise your guest of the possibility of press coverage in advance.

Should the guest wish to hold a media briefing ensure that it is held immediately after the meeting while your questions are still fresh in the minds of the media.

Provide the media with a summary of your questions and concerns.

Allocate approximate times to different parts of meeting, e.g.

Brief address and introduction of guest by convenor of meeting.

Allow very brief reply and comment by guest.

Allocate time for prepared questions by prepared questioners.

Allocate time for general questions and answers from the floor.

Brief summary then close the meeting.

One hour total should be adequate for such a meeting.

Inform your guest of proposed structure for meeting.

Never allow the meeting to become overtly aggressive or a personal attack on the guest.

All local and national press, radio and tv media.

Communicate through press releases to local community press.

Write frequent letters to newspaper editors.

Contact and communicate with community radio stations.

Alert and inform National Forum of incorrect or biased media reporting.

Never forget the importance of local community press and radio.

Always submit press releases in proper format, i.e.

Keep releases brief and to the point.

Always begin a release with the main points first.

Releases should always be typed in double or triple spacing.

Releases should always have a left margin of at least 1.5", top and bottom margins at least 1", these margins are important as this is where the editor writes his corrections and instructions to his production staff for printing.

Number every page.

Date and title the release.

Clearly identify the person or group making the release.

Use simple plain understandable language.

Always use standard A4 size white paper.

If applicable and where at all feasible supply clear black and white photos with your release.

If photos are supplied mark each photo clearly on the back lightly in pencil.

If releases refer to an event make two releases, one in advance and one either the day of the event or one day prior to the event.

Letters to editors should also follow a format, i.e.

Type with double spacing.

Keep letters brief, maximum 200-300 words. Space is limited.

Keep letters clear and to the point, if you do not have a clear opinion to voice then don’t write.

Make sure you write a letter timeously, never allow too much time to elapse if you are commenting on an issue, otherwise the editor may consider it to be no longer news worthy.

Groups can arrange waves of letters on a topic, i.e. first letters commenting on an article in the press, then further waves commenting on and supporting the first letters published, and so on keeping the issue alive longer.

Make your point as calmly and coolly as possible. Angry emotive letters do not improve our image. Make your point calmly and logically.

Never allow any untruth to be printed unopposed, write and correct every false statement made in the press.

Always make sure that your facts are correct, never make false claims or accusations.

To improve the perceptions and opinions of the non firearm owning public.

Shooting sport activities should be as widely publicised as possible.

Clubs and associations should host public awareness days and programmes to make the public aware of our sporting activities.

The public should be constantly exposed to reminders that firearms have valid and non violent applications and uses in sport.

Politicians and members of the press should be invited as guests and participants wherever possible to awareness days.