How do legislators learn constituent opinions?

At Wednesday night's town hall meeting in Carpentersville, the heat was on Rep. Keith Farnham from the first question. In fact, I thought the man who stated his opinion on concealed carry might rise out of his seat and confront Rep. Farnham nose-to-nose. I felt he might have to be restrained before the meeting ended.

I admired Rep. Farnham for standing his ground and listening in an open manner to the question and to the man who was asking it. That man, who I think did not live in the 43rd District, addressed Rep. Farnham in an antagonistic, brash, aggressive and almost-threatening manner - totally out of place for the first question of the evening, before Rep. Farnham explained his position on concealed carry.

Rep. Farnham said that he had learned the opinions of his constituents by walking his district several times. One woman announced, "Well, you never came to my house!" Was she even home, when he walked her block?

One member of the audience respectfully suggested that Rep. Farnham might have a survey printed and mailed to every house in his district. We've certainly seen those surveys (occasionally) from Rep. Jack Franks' office, although not recently.

The advantage of a printed survey are several:
1. The survey can be sent to every household in the District;
2. Everyone gets asked the same question, in the same way;
3. Most bias in a question can be removed (or will be clearly evident);
4. Prepaid-postage return often assures a higher return rate;
5. Tear-off address portion may increase return rate, if respondent wants to remain anonymous;
6. Short response time may increase response rate, as it can reduce the survey's getting "lost" before being returned.

Electronic surveys are good, too, although they might draw responses from a small audience in some districts. And you have to get the word out, so that those with internet connection can respond.

Jack Franks' only website now is at http://www.franks4illinois.com/, and this is the one that is paid for by his political campaign, not by his State office budget. Would it be nice for his legislative office to maintain a official web presence with information about his official position on bills, laws and issues? If you would like to be on Jack's e-mail distribution list for Jack's political activities in the 63rd District, you can sign up for his e-mails on that website.

Jack cast a "Yes" vote on HB 0148, the concealed-carry bill in the most recent legislative session. Sixty-third District gun owners and concealed-carry (right-to-carry) advocates should continue to stay in touch with Jack to thank him for his support and to solicit his continued support of this legislation.

Illinois is now the only state to forbid its law-abiding, trained, qualified citizens the right to carry. Gov. Walker is expected to sign Wisconsin's law shortly after July 4th.