Hunter Nation Teams with Campaign Now to Drive Targeted Messaging, P2P Texting, and Legislative Wins for Permitless Carry
Background
- Hunter Nation ran a successful campaign for Louisiana's constitutional carry bill (Senate Bill 01 and House Bill 12), sending 176,000 multimedia texts to conservative hunters and Second Amendment advocates.
- The texts urged recipients to contact their state legislators to support the bill and featured a video from spokesperson Ted Nugent.
- Hunter Nation's campaign was pivotal, with the Senate sponsor crediting them and over 1,200 voters confirming they took action.
- The Louisiana House passed the bill on February 28, 2024, by a 75-28 vote; Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign it.
- Louisiana is set to become the 28th state to enact permitless carry laws, allowing concealed carry without a permit.
Hunter Nation, in partnership with Campaign Now, spearheaded a large-scale multimedia messaging (MMS) campaign to advocate for the passage of constitutional carry legislation in Louisiana. With Campaign Now providing strategic guidance, targeted messaging, and P2P texting deployment, the initiative aimed to mobilize conservative hunters and Second Amendment advocates in support of Senate Bill 01 and House Bill 12, which propose making Louisiana a "Constitutional Carry" state.
Campaign Strategy
Targeting a Powerful Constituency
Understanding that successful issue advocacy requires mobilizing a motivated base, Hunter Nation strategically focused its efforts on conservative hunters and Second Amendment advocates. This group, already aligned with Hunter Nation's pro-gun mission, represented a receptive audience for the campaign's message.
Crafting a Compelling Call to Action
To maximize impact, Hunter Nation went beyond generic messaging and created highly personalized text messages that included the direct contact information for each recipient's respective state senator and representative. This approach facilitated immediate and targeted constituent communication with lawmakers. Adding further weight to the message, the campaign featured a video from renowned pro-gun activist and Hunter Nation spokesperson, Ted Nugent, strategically leveraging his influence within the target demographic.
Seizing the Legislative Moment
Hunter Nation meticulously planned the campaign's launch to coincide with a special legislative session on February 20, 2024, specifically dedicated to considering constitutional carry legislation. This strategic timing ensured that Hunter Nation's message reached its audience precisely when it held the most influence over legislative outcomes.
Campaign Execution
Reaching Out With A New Style of Deployment
Hunter Nation sent out about 176,000 MMS text messages during their campaign. This means they were able to directly contact a large number of people who are important to them – conservative hunters and those who strongly believe in the Second Amendment.
Personalized Approach: Technology Tools
The campaign made use of peer-to-peer texting technology. This special tech allowed Hunter Nation to send messages that felt more personal and direct, like a one-on-one conversation. They made sure each text included the contact information of the recipient's own state senator and representative. People found it incredibly simple to contact their lawmakers and take immediate action as a result. This personal touch is likely a big reason why the campaign was so successful.
Campaign Results
"Hunter Nation mobilized the grassroots support of thousands of its members and activists, who, with a rapid response legislative outreach program, provided constituent reinforcement to every single member of our house of representatives and senate, which allowed them to have the confidence to overwhelmingly vote to pass Senate Bill 01 and House Bill 12."
Jeff Landry, Governor of Louisiana
Hunter Nation's strategic use of multimedia messaging proved to be financially efficient, total budget of $17,000 with a cost of constituent action of $6.30.
The campaign strategy effectively engaged a large audience, with 135,000 recipients opening and reading the text messages. Hunter Nation ultimately activated around 2,700 voters to contact their state representatives in support of the constitutional carry bill.
This significant outreach resonated with both voters and lawmakers, as evidenced by the public gratitude expressed by Senate sponsor Blake Miguez and Governor Jeff Landry towards Hunter Nation. The influx of constituent communications solidified support for the bill, underscoring the campaign's substantial impact.
Legislative Outcome
House Vote
The Louisiana House passed Senate Bill 1 on February 28, 2024, by a vote of 75-28.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 1, allows individuals 18 years or older to carry concealed handguns without a permit. It does not change the existing permitting system for those who wish to obtain permits for reasons such as carrying in other states. With the passage of SB01, Louisiana will become the 28th state to allow permitless concealed carry.
Senate Approval
The bill had been previously approved by the Senate. The National Rifle Association (NRA) noted that Senate Bill 1 passed with "overwhelming support."
Governor's Action
Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill into law in early March 2024, making Louisiana the 28th state with permitless carry laws.
"Hunter Nation, thank you again to your Louisiana membership and spokesman, Ted Nugent, for standing up for our 2nd Amendment rights in Louisiana."
Jeff Landry, Governor of Louisiana
Recap
Hunter Nation's campaign employed a multifaceted approach to successfully advance constitutional carry legislation. They strategically targeted conservative hunters and Second Amendment advocates using personalized multimedia messages, including a video from spokesperson Ted Nugent. This initiative coincided with a special legislative session, maximizing its impact.
The campaign yielded positive results, reflected in a high engagement rate and positive feedback from both voters and lawmakers. Over 135,000 recipients opened and read the messages, and an estimated 2,700 voters took action by contacting their representatives. Notably, the Senate sponsor and Governor Jeff Landry acknowledged Hunter Nation's substantial contribution to the bill's progress.
As a result of these efforts, the Louisiana House passed Senate Bill 1, paving the way for Louisiana to become the 28th state to enact permitless carry laws.
This success story highlights the potential of similar advocacy strategies in other states. By employing targeted messaging, leveraging technology, and mobilizing a dedicated base, Hunter Nation demonstrated the effectiveness of grassroots advocacy in driving legislative change. This model can be replicated and adapted to different contexts, empowering citizens to actively engage in shaping policies that resonate with their values.
Sources & Further Reading
Cline, Sara. "Bill Allowing Permitless Concealed Carry in Louisiana Heads to the Governor's Desk for Signature." AP News, March 6, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-gun-conceal-carry-permitless-8c1f59cacd1af6f9d16df76c0fe058ef.
Hunter Nation. "Louisiana Hunters Support Senate and House Bills for Constitutional Carry." Hunter Nation (blog), February 20, 2024. https://hunternation.org/when-the-going-gets-tough/.
Hunter Nation. "News and Media." Accessed July 28, 2024. https://hunternation.org/news-and-media/.
Hunter Nation. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://hunternation.org/.
Louisiana State Legislature. "Senate Bill 1." Accessed July 28, 2024. https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=245605.
NRA-ILA. "Louisiana: Constitutional Carry Advances to the House Floor – Final Vote Imminent." NRA-ILA, February 26, 2024. https://www.nraila.org/articles/20240226/louisiana-constitutional-carry-advances-to-the-house-floor-final-vote-imminent.
Nugent, Ted. "When The Going Gets Tough." Hunter Nation (blog). Accessed August 1, 2023. https://hunternation.org/when-the-going-gets-tough/.
