[Jrob24]

Being a student on a tight budget I want to either join the NRA or make a small contribution to a pro-gun candidate. I'd appreciate your opinions on which I should choose. BTW I am already a member of the state NRA affiliate

[ReadyontheRight]

NRA membership. It gets you magazines that will keep you up-to-date and also contributes to a strong, collective voice in favor of RKBA.

I suggest, for NO money, you also call, e-mail and write your congressional representatives, sign up for GOA and NRA e-mail alerts, and volunteer for the candidates you like. Also check out www.jpfo.org

Thanks for contributing to the cause!

[treeprof]

The NRA will send you a magazine every month, and (generally) lobby congress to do the right thing on RKBA issues.

The candidate will send you fundraising letters seeking more $$, give your name to his party which will in turn send you more fundraising letters and stupid polls, and (generally) do what the lobbying groups tell him to do.

Oh yeah, the NRA will keep sending fundraising letters to you as well, seeking $$ so they can lobby congress.

I'd join the NRA and get the magazine. It comes reliably every month in return for your $$, whereas congress critters cannot be bought off nearly as predictably.

[MBG]

I’ll take the other point of view.

The NRA is not going to run out of money this year. A pro gun candidate might.

The NRA will not change it’s advertising or lobbying based off of one additional member. GOA or JPFO might.

I’m a lifetime NRA member, and have been pleasantly surprised at their behavior over the last few weeks. But, I think they might be pretty popular (with members) over the next few months. In terms of YOUR limited resources, I think it’s safe to donate where you feel it will do the most good.

Marty

[Zundfolge]

Unless you can afford extremely large donations to campaigns then just give money to the NRA ... at least you'll get something out of it.

Giving small contributions to a campaign will do you less good then just bombarding the campaign with calls and letters stating your positions.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

$20 likely won't even be a blip on the radar of a pro-gun candidate. You are doing them the favor of reducing the "average donation per donor" to a number that will make them look less like corporate shills mainly and reinforcing at a slight level that pro-gun votes equal money and support.

The downside is unless you send it to one of the strong, known pro-gun politicians (like say, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)), you risk your donation going to a guy who may make pro-gun votes to keep his party or electorate happy but would just as soon sell you out and one day probably will.

We certainly saw some of those votes this past Tuesday.

On the other hand, the NRA membership does several things. It gives the money to a politically savvy pro-gun organization. Politicians will have to please the NRA to get your money from them. You add membership numbers to the NRAs rolls. Swelling membership in an election year sends signs to politicians about how to play their vote. You also get benefits for you that will help you to stay informed and to contact your politicians on key votes.

Overall, I think if you are on a budget then an NRA membership is the best use of the money.

[Jrob24]

Thank you everyone who responded. I just joined the NRA today at the Seabrook N.H. gunshow