How to establish a line of communication with lawmakers

The level of government that ends up considering the law very often depends on where the “folks back home” are successful in sharing their idea. 

While there’s a lot of talk about legislative changes at the federal level, the fact is that there are plenty of pawnbrokers in this country today who face legislative threats that are much closer to home, like at the state or local level.

As we’ve previously shared, it is essential that you start by joining the state and national trade associations, but that’s only the first step. 

Communicating on your own behalf is a right and a responsibility as a business owner. And nobody is better suited for it than you.

In this article, you will learn three things that you can do today to establish a line of communication with lawmakers on behalf of your pawnshop.

Sign up and show up

First, you need to create a list of lawmakers at every level of government, from local city councils all the way to Congress. Get started at USA.gov. Then, sign up for their newsletters and alerts and show up for their events, like town halls and meetings, when you’re able, whether they are held in person or online.

Get free monitoring

Next, sign up for a free legiscan account to monitor laws at your state and federal level.

Introduce yourself

How many times have you met someone who says that they’ve never been inside of a pawnshop? If you’re like most pawnshops, you are the only pawnbroker that a lot of your friends and neighbors know.

How many pawnbrokers do your local city officials know? How about at the state level of government? What about your representatives in Washington? 

Think about this—the people who have influence over your livelihood in pawnbroking should know you and understand the work that you do. You can start the journey towards making sure that lawmakers know and understand pawnbroking with a short note, preferably handwritten, to introduce yourself. 

Your note should be direct and straightforward. Ideally, it should not be more than one page since short letters tend to have the most significant impact.

If there is a particular issue that your state or national association is rallying behind, then be sure to include your position. Otherwise, simply invite the lawmaker to call on you as a resource when they are faced with decisions that impact pawnshops and pawn customers.

Send an email

Email is also an easy way to communicate with a legislator or staff member. If possible, try to secure an email address of a particular staff member and directly email him/her.

Keep your message brief and to the point. Do not forget your name, address, and other contact information in the body. Attachments should be avoided or limited to background information, fact sheets, or endorsements if there’s a particular topic that you wish to discuss.

Writing a Formal Letter

There are times when a more formal approach is appropriate, such as when a state or the national association has a specific call to action. While signatures on petitions, postcards, or form letters are fine, a formal letter written from your heart packs a far bigger punch.

After determining what you’ll say in your letter, make sure you communicate with the right lawmaker. Do not ask for something they cannot deliver. For example, a Town Supervisor cannot impact a Federal law, and a member of Congress cannot impact a county moratorium. Check with your state or national association for guidance.

Formatting guidelines:

Once you’ve determined that it’s appropriate to send a letter, you can follow these guidelines for your formal letter:

Opening Paragraph

• Introduce yourself as a constituent and how you are connected to the district, including your employees and customers. Lawmakers are keen to understand how many constituents are affected by various laws and regulations and how big the financial impact.
• Thank the legislator for any past support that is applicable.
• State the purpose for your contacting the legislator. If applicable, reference a specific bill number.
• State the Facts: Back up your position with facts.
  Provide information showing the impact of legislation on your pawnshop or on the legislator’s district and constituents.

Explain Consequences

• Provide information on the impact of opposing your request.
• Explain the impact on your community.

Ask for a Response

• Restate your position.
• Ask for a response and provide your contact information.

Close the Letter

• Be sure to provide your contact information.
• If applicable, include a professional or organizational affiliation such as mentioning that you are a member of your state or national association so the legislator sees that you are connected to the larger pawn community.

Share insights with your peers

Do you have experience or expertise in legislative or lobbying activities that you’d like to blog about? We’d love to hear from you! Email editor@pawnbrokernetwork.com. 

This is an update to a blog post that was originally posted January 20, 2021.