COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 8, 2013

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of March 8, 2013

 Exposure at highest level:  The new Defense Secretary, former Senator Chuck Hagel, was exposed to the COP message a few years back.  He had spoken at the CATO Institute.  I positioned myself near the door.  Just before leaving, I was able to shake his hand.  He backed up a step to read the COP shirt, remarked it was interesting (with a grin) and disappeared.

Glad I was not shot:   Walking in front of the Capitol on my way to the House Office Buildings, the 30 MPH wind caught my hat and it went sailing.  I began running and it ended up next to the main bldg 100 yards from the starting point.  As I bent down to retrieve it, I noticed the Capitol Police officer who had been running after me.  Oops, I had entered a security zone.  Luckily, he knew me from the hat, was very friendly, and escorted me back to the sidewalk.  First loss of hat in six years.

Like a box of chocolates:   After a super chat with an assistant, two minutes later the next one challenged my statement, “14 year olds should not have a job option which gets them shot.  I would trade a thousand dead Charlie Sheens to save one 14 y/o selling drugs.”  Pushing back, the assistant replied that the 14 y/o had a choice.  I responded there is a reason we don’t let 14 y/o neither drive nor vote…lack of maturity.

I moved on from there but the assistant was obviously a fan of drug prohibition, as is his Republican boss from Texas.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 1125 Presentations to Congressional staffers..10 this week
• 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
• 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
• 45 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..  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
• 26 Radio Interviews..  this week
• 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
• 34 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.   this week
• 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, 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