What one needs to realize regarding the NRA BASIC PISTOL course, is it's just that a BASIC course. Geared for the beginner, not Mr or Mrs, I'm ready to step up my game shooter. There are folks i have given classes to the basic wasn't basic enough. Others i tailored a class for that shooter.
The NRA is the biggest bat when it comes to politics, which IMO is where it has lost sight of the larger picture.
However with that $50M grass roots group and others out to make the NRA Obsolete, one must do what one can to make sure that doesn't happen. That's where the ILA comes in and get sour money.