I just posted about the Fixing of the Church Carry Bill in the Florida legislature and I learned a couple of things about public testimony.
1- You can read a statement. I guess they understand you cannot memorize so reading is accepted, but be understood, read with clarity.
2- Don’t bullshit the legislators. You have a chance to speak with them, they get a chance to rebut you if they think you need it and they will make you look stupid. Don’t say that you know something will happen for sure if you don’t, I don’t care if it is the tenets of your political club. And that leads to…
3- Know your shit. If you say stupid and lying shit, get rebutted and asked a question and you just stutter while your brain is trying to fabricate a response, you are screwed. And if you start to repeat parts of the original statement.. Oy Vey Bubba, they have your ass in a platter. If you don’t know the answer, do so politely. Better yet, be very prepared and expect being grilled.
4- Control your emotions and face. Don’t look like a kicked puppy or like a hurt bitch who would like to claw their eyes out. You are being streamed into the webs and generally legislators do not like to be eye-fucked.
(Eye fuck: (slang, vulgar) To stare at, especially at something or someone with which one has a hostile relationship.)
That is all.
PS: Share your experiences in the comments.
My experience was a bit different. I was called on to testify on a gun bill I had not signed up to speak on. But I was prepared by having read all the bills that the senate hearing was going to hear that day. I HAD signed up for a different bill.
It was my good fortunate for that error. The bill in question was non-offensive until the Col. of the MD State Police had gotten the Senator to add a “simple safety change” to the bill at the last minute. Which meant that the amendment wasn’t even on the copies we picked up at the door that morning.
I spoke clearly and without stumbling. The gist of my testimony was: Thank you. Senator such and such, it is obvious that you have done research and understand the issues involved with your bill. It is also obvious that this amendment is a last minute addition and you have not had time to actually research the issue. (Give the Senator a way out). Here are some of the questions I would be asking the Col. if I had a chance: ….
The questions I presented were designed to make expose that the amendment presented and supported by the Col were a non-existent issue.
The amendment in question was the MD State Police Col trying to get the Senate to ban “Dragon’s Breath” shotgun shells. He talked about how it had been used ONCE in Florida and that the security team had been “Incapacitated for a period of time.” My question was “What would have happened if they had used a standard 12g loaded with Buckshot? Wouldn’t that security team have been dead?”
Regardless, I was thanked for my testimony. The Senator stated she would have questions for the Col after the meeting. And the Col would have thrown me in jail and lost the key if he had had his way.
Talk to your representatives. Express your opinion. Do it often.
Do not go “fishing” for a “zinger.” The question you are hoping for may not ever materialize. If you have a point to make, make it, do not expect anyone to actually engage you as part of your testimony.