The NRA

[sniper7]

fucking shit man....this is going to take me the rest of the year to read!

anyways, I am a NRA member. I don't know the background, I haven't read into it. I am always hopeful my money goes to save my rights. I have been happy with some of their wins, unhappy with losses. I don't like compromises whatsoever. I think all the hoops we go through now are bullshit.
but I also think we would be a hell of a lot worse off if it wasn't for the NRA.

What I figure my money goes toward is the little bit of accident insurance and gun insurance. plus a bonus little multi tool or a bag or something doesn't hurt. putting my name on a list to tell some senator to go F himself is what I figure my dues are really for. the more name on the list, the more likely the guy will do what is wanted.

In the end, I think I should be in charge of all gun decision across the country, actually, just make that ALL decisions.

[ryanek9freak]

No guys, it might make you mad, but Pickenup is right. The NRA is just another multi million dollar funded lobbying agency hell bent of lining their pockets with YOUR money. They could give a shit less about you and your rights.

If Wayne LaPierre really stood up for the second amendment, he'd be using your money to buy prime time TV ads to run EVERY night, stating that every one of the 20,000+ gun laws we have on the books is 100% unconstitutional, and the NRA will not rest until all of them are repealed.

But that would be bad for business wouldn't it?

Fuck the NRA, I sent them a request a long time ago to cancel my life membership, and they keep ignoring me.

[Pancho Villa]

The NRA is a classic "conservative" organization.

What do "conservatives" want to "conserve"? Generally, the status quo. Just like you don't see the GOP talking about rolling back social security, medicare, welfare, minimum wage, etc etc, you don't see the NRA talking about rolling back background checks, current silly gun laws, CCW regulations, etc. They want to preserve roughly the amount of gun freedom that existed in what its major members consider the 'good ol' days.'

I'm an NRA member, for insurance purposes. I pay my minimums and then give what money I want to donate to political causes to GOA. The NRA will generally fight to at least water down any new gun legislation, but more serious positive movements are not to be expected from the NRA.

In general, my advice on the whole issue is: don't expect the NRA to be something its not. Its mission is to 'conserve.' GOA and others are radicals for liberty when it comes to a particular issue. Radicals - ideologically consistent, intellectual and polite radicals - get things changed. The NRA buys gun owners time. So I support both, with the lion's share going to GOA.

[ronaldrwl]

Doesn't the NRA publish how they spend the money?

I hope this is just the typical complaining about everything crap that is so common now.

I would really like to believe the NRA. But now I'm looking at the GOA site and thinking about joining them also. I'm one of those that is an NRA member and signed up my kids. And I think I've used that exact phrase "The NRA is the last stand for freedom".

Good thread, thx

[Mtn.man]

Problem is over half of you don't contact your senators/congressmen, cause you are "busy" or just to fuk'n lazy. NRA is at least a lobbist org. that has been there for many years and is in their face regularily.
other org's spend as much if not more to take away your rights, so sit on your ass and complain and the wonder WTF when your rights fade away a little at a time.

[MichiganMilitia]

Thanks Foxtrot... I completely agree with everything you just said.

[Irving]

This is a great thread so far. I'm torn on the issue. I signed up for a life membership with the NRA where you pay $25 a quarter. So far I've paid $25 and owe $50. Last month I told myself that I was going to call them and tell them to go ahead and cancel me. Then it never happened.

I'm a member of GOA and receive their emails. I had never written any politician in my life, until I started getting the GOA emails showing me how. The first time I used their template letters. The second time I made my own letters (and now I get junk mail from Bill Ritter who constantly is pitching his bullshit). It really feels good. Plus, the NRA emails always seem late and behind the times. Maybe instead of catching up on my NRA dues, I'll give money to RMGO and GOA instead. I feel like a poser being a RMGO, without being a member.

[banks74]

Great thread. It is all so true. Great point about contacting our legislators on our own. It shows we care more than just being part of a group. I get junk mail from some of our legislators now trying to tell me how they support the 2nd. It is awesome to know that I contacted them enough that they now want to impress me with there supposed support of the 2nd.

[GunTroll]

Thats some knowledge there OP! I did not know the internal struggle within the org. I stopped liking them when I received "hate" mail about not renewing my membership. It dawned on me that I had no idea what this org did for me other than ask for my money and give me a crappy gun rag of a magazine. They always seemed to be an elitist good old boy gun club that I as a broke ass soldier could never afford to be a part of.

Since my Army days I went to CST (gunsmith school) and was forced to sign up to be a part of there rifle club. I never did! Now out in the field of gunsmithing it seems to be hip to be a supporter of this org. I don't openly bash the NRA in fear of losing clients but I never promote them or never will. I have moved more toward the extreme right than the NRA will ever go. They ride the middle and thats where nothing gets done.

Great post!

[Irving]

I just called and canceled. Surprisingly, the guy didn't hassle me at all. I kind of like American Rifleman though. I like the articles about older rifles and hand guns. When I want to read a cookie cutter review of the latest version of a gun that has been around for 30 years, they have those in there as well. I'd say that I wouldn't pay for the mag, but I guess I already have, haven't I?