COP on the Hill: Stories from the Spring of 2013

COP on the Hill

Stories from the Spring of 2013

Prepping the rookies:  In my travels in the car and on the bicycle I spent a pre-arranged two hours with a sitting sheriff who would like to go public with his view that marijuana should be handled like alcohol.  I provided him with a number of articles, my published opeds and government produced documents.

What I wanted most, was to give the sheriff the toughest questions that reporters ask, when a VIP goes public.  Luckily, my friend Tom Angell of the www.MarijuanaMajority.com  provided me the link from the Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org­).. It is an excellent 20 minute read containing 20 of the toughest questions and answers.

Here is the link: http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/library/Effective-Arguments-for-T-R.pdf

NRA Convention:  I interrupted my bicycle journey in Nashville and flew down to Houston for five days.  I had many good chats with about 80 of the 70,0000 attendees.  Whether they agreed with the COP position or not, ALL agreed that it should be a 10^th Amendment controlled/States Rights issue.  I also picked up a new summer, cowboy hat which I badly needed.  The assault weapon I handled at the show – I did not buy.

Make someone smile today:  I was near Dublin, Georgia on my bike in the morning, when a large van carrying prisoners passed me and stopped at the light.  I hurried to catch up and stop at the light also.  I turned my body so the inmates could read the shirt… smiles broke out and one guy flashed the 4-20 salute which I returned.  I imagine that the chain gang work was a bit easier that day, knowing that at least one cop would end the Drug War.

Trail’s End:   On Thursday the 16^th of May I touched the Atlantic Ocean ending the journey of 3100 miles and 7 weeks of pedaling.  The Savannah NBC station did a short piece on my ride, combining the footage of this trip with the first Misty ride from 10 years ago.  Brought a tear to my eye (the TV station was the first to film my horse trip).

The clip is a minute long:  http://www.wsav.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8937079#.UaY-bh1T5f4.gmail

Karen met me and we drove home together.  What stroke?   Now it is back to work!

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 1198 Presentations to Congressional staffers..this week
• 34 Appearances on major TV networks..01 this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
• 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
• 56 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 02 this week
• 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) =  this week
• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
• 30 Radio Interviews..01 this week
• 36 brief chats with Members of Congress.. this week
• 38 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.   0 this week
• 13 major conferences attended.. 01 this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, etc)
• Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”

• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution…  Go to:

• www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition
• POB 543
• Buckeystown, MD 21717