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Seminole Texas had an election on the sale of beer and wine for off premises consumption only. During the run up to the election I saw every anti gun and pro gun argument used. One tactic that a number of people told me caused them to change their vote was from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Before I go into what that tactic was and how it affected the vote a little back story is needed. About 10 years ago a family was going home when a drunk driver hit the side of their vehicle. The family consisted of both parents. two girls ages 10 and 6, and one little boy that was 31 days old. The drunk driver had taken a tire service vehicle parked at a party and was travelling at a high rate of speed when she hit the left side of the family's vehicle. The mother and father were hospitalized while the children were all three killed. This event left a huge scar on the small town that even ten years later hurts. You can learn more at this link: http://www.kcbd.com/story/3394078/one-f ... unk-driver" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The alcohol election passed and now Seminole is a wet city. The tactic that back fired was the use of the family's vehicle to push an agenda against legalizing sales. The family's vehicle now sits enclosed within a display trailer and is part of a campaign by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. During the run up the trailer with the family pickup was displayed around town. A number of people told me that it did in fact change their vote, but it changed their vote to allow for alcohol sales. The explanations I received were that this terrible tragedy happened when everyone thought Gaines County was completely dry. Seeing as how that didn't stop the worse local tragedy anyone in the county remembers, being a dry city doesn't work and they felt there was no reason to remain dry.

The fact is that there is a lesson to be learned that in your face tactics, shock tactics, and other potentially surprising actions can have major unexpected consequences that can just as easily hurt your cause as help it.