The following is part two of a commentary by Wendy Shepherd, one advocate who is taking sides and taking action on a gun control debate in her state.

With just a few days left, we have already gathered more than the 151,356 signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot. We have handed those petitions over to professionals who are checking the validity of each one. Meanwhile, volunteers continue to stake out Michigan's movie theaters, parent meetings and other likely spots to gather more signatures before the March 27th deadline.

According to the professionals, if 75 percent of the signatures submitted in an effort like this prove valid, that is an excellent result. So far, our drive is scoring 85 percent.

Perhaps that's because the people with clipboards were personally committed to the issue, not paid staff. When I collected signatures at a movie theater, a task force meeting, or after weekend services I felt that my personal involvement helped me connect with people, and motivated me to make sure the information was properly filled out.

The drive has been a learning experience for me, involving work with a coalition that includes not only parent groups but also religious and school organizations, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and elected officials.

Still, there seems to be a "clique" effect within the group, with one group—the Million Mom March (MMM)—deemed lead volunteers. By using one statewide base of volunteers, the campaign can move fast to get people out with their clipboards when opportunities for collecting signatures arise. But this can leave other potential statewide partners on the sidelines. For instance, I would have liked for the Michigan PTA and its chapters to become more involved.

That said, the MMMs were incredible in their ability to connect with and use their very motivated volunteer base. Many of them confided to me, however, that they were feeling the burn-out of intense action under deadline pressure.

One of the most surprising aspects of this effort was the amount of press it received. The radio call-in shows and the newspapers took this petition drive seriously and offered balanced coverage. This brought in lots of folks who might never have volunteered to help otherwise.

This is one lesson I've learned: if you frame your issue broadly to include the widest range of stakeholders, the media—print, video and electronic—will follow! In fact, several people in Michigan contacted me after the first article on Connect for Kids, and they subsequently became involved.

Since this issue is quite hot and divisive in Michigan, we have faced some hostility. While collecting at a movie theater, three men told me that if everyone carried guns, no one would be in danger. One volunteer had a man pull a knife out of his waistband and brandish it in her face, saying, "Concealed weapons? I'll show you MY concealed weapon!" She thanked him for his time and walked away...quickly.

I asked a local police officer about why he opposes the CCW law. He told me that he enjoys his little town. He knows the people, he knows the community. If the law goes into effect, however, he will have to change his approach to each traffic stop he makes. He will have to assume that every person is armed. "And," he added, "that saddens me."

A professional woman told me that she wants to be able to carry the gun she has at home. She says she'll feel safer if the gun is with her all the time. I did not tell her how UNsafe that made me feel!

As the legislative chair of my high school parent-teacher-student association (PTSA), I brought the issue to the school district PTSA council meeting. In March, I spoke to a middle school PTA about why the Michigan PTA has supported the drive. A school board member and the assistant principal of the school added their concerns about the new law.

As soon as the topic came up, some members of the audience became uneasy. It was obvious by the change of attitude that some felt a PTA meeting was not the time or place to talk about gun control. I should add that there are three gun clubs within hearing distance of this school.

This drive has enlightened many of us as to the partnerships we need to build when it comes to saving the world for our children.

I love the phrase: "The world is run by the people who show up." In this case, it looks like we have given the voters of Michigan a voice, one signature at a time.

Read the first article, Inside a Michigan Petition Drive, archived in our topics pages.