I think this is kind of what I am talking about it is a petition started by someone else but good enough! To show them we mean business.
"To show them we mean business." Ah, the boundless (and groundless) optimism of youth...
The President is, and for his entire public life has been, hostile to firearms. That won't change; especially, a petition with a few thousand signatures isn't enough for him to care about. He has now been reelected, so he has "more flexibility" to pursue his agendas; he doesn't have to worry about offending people who might vote against him.
Leave the feel-good crap like White House petitions to our liberal foes. It won't do a bit of good. Go ahead and sign, but it won't show that anyone "means business". If you must say something to the President, write your own letter directly.
Do you want to be effective?
Join the NRA. I know it sounds trite, and they haven't always acted in our best interests, but they
are the most effective firearms rights lobbying organization - politicians
do listen to them because they can say "we have tens of millions of members, who vote".
Join the SAF and
donate. They are the most effective legal organization that is pursuing court cases to strengthen the legal protections of our firearms rights. Things like Heller (which produced the "in common use" standard of review) and McDonald are critically important to block things like a broad AWB.
If you must write, write your local representative and your senators. I know that we're unlikely to sway Cantwell and Murray and the liberal representatives, but if they do receive a lot of mail telling them "hands off" it might happen. It sure won't if you don't. Write actual letters or, at the very least, send faxes. The amount of effort put into the contact increases the amount of attention they pay - emails are easy to send and easy to ignore, don't send emails.
Especially, get vocal with your senators when the President starts proposing replacement supreme court justices who share his philosophy regarding private possession of firearms. The margins in Heller and McDonald were 5:4, we can't afford another liberal SC justice who serves the Collective.
Don't act like a jerk. Don't help to give the firearms rights community a reputation as paranoid nutcases or bigoted rednecks. Be polite and calm. Make sure that you have the facts on your side. Don't lie, don't exaggerate, don't use anecdotes or quotes that have been debunked.
Lastly, buy a military-pattern rifle. Help build the "in common use" base and have something to fight back with.