Proponent witness for HB 14, Ohio

Pits in the news and info on Breed Specific Legislation.

Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 3rd, 2011, 8:48 am

HB 14 in Ohio would remove pit bulls from the vicious dog language. Obviously this would be a HUGE deal. Next Wednesday is when they're allowing proponent witnesses to speak. I'm planning on going down and speaking. I'm petrified, but I'm going to do it. If any of you would like to come speak or just show support for the bill by being there, that would be awesome and I can get you the details. It's in Columbus, I'm assuming at the Capital Building.

Anyway, what I need is suggestions for my speech. I'm aiming for maybe 5 minutes, but if it runs a smidge longer I'm not going to stress about it. I want to completely leave emotions out of it - they don't care if I love my dog and my dog loves me. I want logic and statistics.

Things I'm planning to mention:
how BSL is a slippery slope
media bias
resident dog vs. family dog
tethering issues in urban areas
enforcement of basic leash laws
if I can find it, I'd like to point out that the most bite reports to ACO's in my area aren't pit bulls (it's Labs and Goldens, I believe - have to find out for sure)

What else do I need to put in there??? I've never spoken to political people before and just don't want to sound like a blathering idiot. Thanks! And let me know if you're thinking about going!
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby DemoDick » February 3rd, 2011, 9:04 am

You're going to need to address the "do it for the children" angle, which inevitably comes up when any nanny-state legislation is proposed. Every time I hear "we need to protect our children" I know there's a line of bullshit attached. This has been used to push insidious and unconstitutional laws since people started manipulating our Republic in order to control the private actions of others.

Honestly, the whole "public safety" issue should be a non-starter, but no one reads the Constitution any more, especially people in government.

Demo Dick
"My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban PERMANENTLY as soon as I take office...I intend to work with Congress on a national no carry law, 1 gun a month purchase limits, and bans on all semi-automatic guns."-Barack Obama
"When in doubt, whip it out."-Nuge
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Postby TheRedQueen » February 3rd, 2011, 7:41 pm

:clap: Good for you! I don't have any suggestions, off the top of my head...I'll call my dad and ask him if he has general suggestions, he's spoken before Congress before.
"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 3rd, 2011, 8:03 pm

Thanks!
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

http://www.pitbullzen.com
http://inaradog.wordpress.com
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Postby TheRedQueen » February 4th, 2011, 4:36 pm

Here's what my dad told me today...he spoke to the Indiana Senate last week, so he does this quite often. And...he said that if you have questions, that you can give him a call if you'd like, Liz. He's cool like that. :D

Anywhoo...here we go...I was writing as he spilled this all out to me...hopefully it comes out clearly. :)

First, explain your credentials, who you represent, why you're there, etc.

Write down your speech. He said that he HATES canned speeches and reading speeches, but for this sort of thing, you don't want to go off the cuff...because you'll end up doing too much "UM, AH, UH..." Write it out and read it word-for-word.

Type your speech out, BIG font, so you can read it easily. This will go on the record as you talk, so you want it to be clear.

Don't try for humor...it doesn't tend to go over well. He said despite this, he does try for a joke at times...but it's usually not well-received. He was speaking to the IN senate last week, and had laryngitis...he explained that though he was there for an anti-smoking thingy, that he did in fact have non-contagious laryngitis and not smoker's voice...that he did in fact quit smoking in 1963. They applauded, but didn't really find it funny. ;)

Use as much proof as you can find...and illustrate your points clearly...use bullet points for facts and such.

Talk like you're lecturing a large group...like teaching a class. Read from your script, so look down so you can remember everything, but do remember to look up at them occasionally.

Be ready for questions, answer if you can, if you can't, explain that you don't know the answer, but you can find out. Part two of this: give your email to the person that introduces you...so you can say at the end, you can contact me via email..."so and so has my email address."

Practice reading your script once or twice, and see how close to time you are...but don't freak out about getting too close or over time.

And last of all...he said..."don't get nervous, because YOU know more about the topic than they do." Which leads me to the next story------>

He told me to tell this story...during the 80's, when he spoke to the US congress, he was seated in the front row right next to Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams. It was part of Comic Relief, for funding for homeless causes. He was there as an expert, to testify. He came home, and all of us kids were amazed, and asked if he'd gotten their autographs...his response: "well, no...because they didn't ask for mine." He said, they were just there to crack jokes...he was there with the true facts...lol
"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 4th, 2011, 5:00 pm

OH Erin, that's fantastic, thank you! Tell your dad thank you as well! That's all really helpful.

Apparently I have to go with 30 copies of my testimony, so it will definitely be written word for word. I wouldn't have thought to include my email address, so I'm glad he said that.

I thought his smoking joke was funny. :wink:

They might ask me questions??? Cripes, I figured they would just listen, bored to tears, and then wave me off and go to the next person. That's good to know.

Could you ask your dad if he has a time frame that it is generally recommended to stay within? Is five minutes too long?
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

http://www.pitbullzen.com
http://inaradog.wordpress.com
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Postby TheRedQueen » February 4th, 2011, 6:28 pm

I'll ask him tonight...:)
"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw
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I thought I lost my Wiener... but then I found him.
 
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