An Op Ed by ORA Director of Outreach, Amber Parrow
This article is for our legislators, our lawmakers, and those in public service at the municipal, state, and federal levels. We write this for you because we thought you needed to know that someone sees your tireless and sometimes thankless service, because you had a calling- to make your localities, our Oklahoma, better.
However, we also see there is a lot of misunderstanding of what you do, what takes place, your sacrifice to step into public service, the decisions you make, and the nuance of those decisions.
There is this misunderstanding of the term, “public servant,” especially when you hear phrases such as “I’m your boss because I’m a taxpayer.” It’s as if the idea of public service is taken too far by constituents, placing you in a role of servitude instead of being recognized by your service. There certainly is accountability to the taxpayer to be a good steward and to be an advocate for their cares and concerns, but it is balanced by respect for office and trust in the elected official’s capacity to lead.
There is the misunderstanding of why you ran for office. You saw a need, you felt a call, and you knew you had the ability to step up, and then did so. Yet that is not always recognized. In stepping up, you put your entire life out in the open, for scrutiny at every little detail. Sometimes the people you serve are grasping at any chance to gain control, trying to influence legislation without stepping into public service themselves. When they do so in picking on the superfluous and trivial details, they become bullies that burden you down instead of supporting and enabling you to serve better.
There is also the misunderstanding of the role of a politician, that it requires a person who is steadfast in their values, so they are not swayed by the power and spotlight that often accompanies a politician. The people do react and feel disheartened when our public servants succumb to that dark side, but that is not every politician, and it is unfair to think that. Many stay true, and they are the ones who deliver a positive impact. However, their labor of love is pulled into the stereotype of those who abuse the office and are then needlessly demonized because of it.
Then, there is the misunderstanding of the decisions legislators make. Laws are created to serve and protect the constituents throughout their lives, but life is messy and complicated and that complicated messiness sometimes shows up in our laws. It seems that there is the thought that big issues can be simplified. Political decisions, by the design of the Founding Fathers, are to be negotiations, to be worked out and tempered amid a cacophony of thoughts and ideas- all grounded by the shared American value of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and held together by civic virtue. That is the best way to ensure the future of democracy. It’s not a zero-sum game, and it cannot be over-simplified to a singular sound bite that rallies and divides people without giving necessary context.
We wrote this so that you, our public servants, knew that we are different, that we get it, that we conduct our mission first from a place of gratitude of your public service. We also believe that our precious civil liberties are foundational to a very real protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that is found in the Second Amendment. This never has or ever should be monopolized by one party. We are approachable and welcome your conversations.
We have taken the time to understand civics – both the process, involvement, and the virtue that is required to keep democracy alive. Because we are given great rights we accompany them with great responsibility and keep it all in balance with a great respect for the rights of our American brothers and sisters. This is the foundation to the effective advocacy of our mission.
We understand that our work is constant, to serve our public servants. Our work is tireless, and we are a resource for your constituents, our membership, and all of Oklahoma’s gun owners. Our mission is to inform, advocate, and educate on safety, responsible gun ownership, sport, community, hunting and conservation, and responsible civic involvement.
So to close this out, the ORA simply wants to offer gratitude to you, our public servants. We see you, we see your work, we understand, and we support your service. Thank you for your labor of love to make Oklahoma a better place for us all.
