Does the NRA want new members?

[joplinsks]

Signed up for a NRA membership at a gun show weeks ago. Recruiter said it takes 4 weeks to receive the membership packet and magazine. It's been 5+ weeks and haven't received anything. Called the NRA today and was told there's no record of my membership, it's common for recruiters to be slow in submitting new applications, and wait another week before calling again to see what happens.

I'm a bit shocked to learn the NRA allows recruiters to take their time (weeks?) in processing applications. Since they want you to sign up so badly, the least they could do is forward your application in a timely manner.

Was kind of excited to become a NRA member, now I don't know...

 

[Lurp]

I had a friend who signed up in September and didn't get him membership until February . He complained numerous times and they finally allowed got his membership to him in February. He also signed up at a gun show...might be something with the way the recruiters process the applications. Not sure but they can be quite slow to process the application so my advice would be to just keep after them with E-mails and phone calls.

 

[wacki]

I've long said that the NRA is in dire need of improvement. It's a sad state of affairs when the first 4 pro-gun videos placed on youtube and google video were uploaded by a merely gun-curious grad student (me) and not the giant political force/lobby organization of the NRA. Somehow they still manage to hold a lot of power in Washington so I will support them. Still, if the NRA is the best we have then we are in trouble.

 

[230RN]

Lots of potential reasons why.

One should automatically double the time estimate. "Allow six weeks for delivery" means twelve weeks. Like when you were a kid and you ordered something out of a magazine.

[RANT]
I will say that I felt I got rooked at one of the gun shows when I contributed $20 to one of the local "Coalitions" and they said I would get a membership card, alerts, ta-da ta-dee.

Never heard another thing from them. After about six months I tried to contact them and could not.

I finally found out who was running the show from someone at the State Association (who laughed a little when I asked about it) and I had to browbeat the guy into sending me a membership card. He also sent an "Alert" from six months before which contained nothing but stale information about long-dead issues.

The "membership card" itself looked like it was a Xerox (TM) reduction from something printed out of MSWord (TM).

And I got no more "alerts" from that organization.

I saw him again at another gun show a year later and, boy-oh-boy was I tempted to give him what-for loudly enough to discourage others from "joining" his "Coalition." I saw the literature on his table and it all sounded like his "Coalition" had single-handedly Saved The Second Amendment in various past legislative duels. Hooey!

Sorry for the rant, but if it saves one $20 bill, it's worth it.

(Gee that felt good.)

[/RANT]

For those of you who wish to join or renew or whatever,

http://membership.nrahq.org/

 

[Valkman]

Anytime I re-signed it took more like 6 months to get the stuff and that was perfectly normal for them. I think that's how they get you to join for life - I did it in '95.

 

[.cheese.]

same here. Sent in my application and check in early February. I just checked my online banking statement and they JUST cahsed the check on the 23rd of last month. So maybe I'll get my card and papers soon. Not too bad I guess. Took them about 5 and 1/2 weeks to cash the check. Now I'll have to wait and see how long it takes to get my membership package.

Ironically I sent dues and my application to the ACLU the same day, and they cashed it and sent me my stuff within 2 weeks.

I'm worried the NRA is in trouble in terms of staffing.

How's GOA doing in comparison for anybody here who is a member? I hope to join soon.

I'm not complaining.... I'm just worried the NRA isn't doing too well.

 

[Robert Hairless]

You're not sure about wanting to be an NRA member because it is taking the NRA too long to process your membership.

 

[acdodd]

Is the NRA still giving active duty military free 1 year membership?
My son got his and I was just wondering if it was still available.
Thanks.
AC

 

[chris in va]

It took mine quite a while too, something like 2-3 months. Ironically I lived 10 miles from headquarters at the time.

 

[ConfuseUs]

The NRA wants $$$ more than they want new members. I'm starting a rant here, so you may or may not want to continue.

I sent in my member ship directly since they sent me a thing in the mail. Soon after getting my membership, possibly even few days BEFORE getting the first copy of American Rifleman I had a panhandler form in the mail. THat's the letter explaining that you need to give the NRA as much cash as you can spare to stop the gun banners. THese panhandler letters come regularly, and I just trash them. I wish NRA would send these only to life members and just add $5 to the annual membership fee. I bet they'd net more cash that way.

Another subject for my rant: the NRA is not a diverse organization. The magazine clearly gives me the impression that the NRA is mostly white people. I do not see photos in the monthly magazine depicting asian, black, or hispanic shooters on a regular basis. I know the NRA is not a racist or exclusionary organization, but they sure don't make an effort to attract shooters who are not white. That's a serious problem because U.S. Census statistics indicate that in 50 years or so there will be no racial group that comprises more than 50% of the population. That means that the NRA needs to diversify its membership in order to maintain or increase its political power. I know that diversity isn't easy. You have to interact with people who speak funny languages and eat weird food and who don't look like you. Well the NRA needs to do it or in 50 years it will be unable to carry out its mission.

 

[markk]

try the http://www.jpfo.org also

 

[.cheese.]

this is going to sound silly..... but I've been forbidden from joining the JPFO.

Even though I'm an adult, my family all still shares our checking account (we each have sub-accounts under the same account - however that means that we can all see what each other has spent money on or put money in from) and my mother has told me that she and my father will not know what to do if I join the JPFO (because somehow, somewhere, she was given the idea that it's some sort of extremist/terrorist organization). I tried to explain what it is.... no use (both parents are antis).

I'll probably still join, just using a postal money order. No sense in causing my parents' heart rates to rise without the need to, even if it's due to some odd misconception they have.

 

[RangerHAAF]

Be careful about sending them your money. I became a life member back in the early 1990s. I sent them a $500.00 dollar money order and they claimed that they never heard of me or my application. Fortunately for me I kept the receipt and got a photocopy showing that it was cashed and got my member materials within a week. They're good at taking in money but not really at accounting for it and giving credit to new members.

 

[USMC - Retired]

Being an NRA Recruiter I think I may be able to shed some light here.

1. The NRA strongly encourages all recruiters to send applications in within a timely fashon (one or two days). However, there are some recruiters that do not follow these guidelines for one reason or another. If a recruiter has a history of complaints the NRA will shut them down. Also, beware of "NRA Recruiters" at gun shows that want cash or a check made out to them. They are not recruiters, they are con men. Never pay in cash, always make a check or money order payable to the NRA.

2. There is a six to eight week processing time. No, I have no idea why it takes this long, this is simply the amount of time we are instructed to tell folks.

3. The NRA wants and needs members. All of the lobby power of the NRA is derived from it's membership numbers. Being able to tell Senator Bigwig that we have over four million members that also happen to be voters carries a lot of wieght.

4. The NRA is not who is hitting you up for donations in most cases. The NRA-ILA, a seperate operation, is normally the group who is looking for funds to help in the fight. Everyone gets tired of the mailings and such asking for donations but few take the time to ask them to stop. Its very simple, just email them at [email protected] or dial 800-NRA-3888 and request to be placed on the "Do Not Promote" list. This will significantly reduce the amount of mail you receive without affecting important mailings, magazine service, or your membership renewal.


If anyone has any other specific questions please feel free to ask here or PM me. We really need everyone we can get!

As always, you can join at a $10 discount by using the link in my signature or visiting my thread in the "Group buys/discounts and contests" Topics.

 

[Hokkmike]

Is the NRA offering special low rate lifetime memberships?

A local gun dealer told me that the NRA is offering special, referral by other members, lower rate lifetime memberships. Has anyone else heard this to be true? Supposedly the rates are as low as $300.00.

 

[USMC - Retired]

Is the NRA offering special low rate lifetime memberships?

A local gun dealer told me that the NRA is offering special, referral by other members, lower rate lifetime memberships. Has anyone else heard this to be true? Supposedly the rates are as low as $300.00.

If this were true, it would be the first I've heard of it and I get updates to recruiting information almost daily via email.

The only "discounted" life memberships that I am aware of are refered to as "Distinguished Life Memberships" and are available to anyone over 65 years old or with any VA disability rating for $375.00, half the normal rate of $750.00

If your gun dealer still tells you this rate is available ask him to give you more details then please contact me so I can look into it further.

 

[gunsmith]

I did the EPL route

and got a free leather jacket because I paid off the last amount as a lump sum.

I do not understand why folks complain about the NRA, I'm barely squeaking by,
my 1990 truck is just about done, I recently got evicted due to lack of funds and moved into a dump, I am probably worse off $$ wise them most or the ones complaining about the NRA....

Yet I really do not regret a dime of the money I contributed and wish I had more to give!

 

[feedthehogs]

You can clearly see those who's posts reflect the "microwave" mentality world.
Nano seconds only work in computers, not the real world.

Now remember when you do finaly get your membership, start a thread on how the NRA mails out so much crap and complain they don't do enough of what you would like to see since the 25 or 35 bucks you send them each year entitles you to dictate how they proceed.

Just be patient and it will come. If it don't, find out why without getting your panties in a wad. Remember the recruiters at gun shows are independant of the NRA and make 10 bucks for every 35 dollar membership.

Cash has a way of going by by.

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

A friend had a similar problem...

He joined via a recruiter at a gun show. Apparently, the recruiter never sent in the membership application. After a few phone calls to the NRA HQ, he finally received his membership. The problem here isn't the NRA per-se, it's the "third party" recruiters not sending in the applications (and money). Contact them directly by mail, phone, or website rather than through the recruiters at gun shows. I recently renewed my membership via the web site, and it took about 3-4 weeks to get my membership packet

Join the NRA. They are the largest and most effective lobby we have, even with their shortcomings. If you don't think politicians are scared of the NRA, please read Bill Clinton's autobiography. I agree the NRA can be annoying with the "panhandling," but consider that that is how they get the necessary contributions to fund NRA-ILA. If you can contribute extra, great. If not, that's fine too.

Join other groups as well-- GOA, JPFO, VCDL, SAF, CCRKBA, and your local "grassroots" group(s) (if any).

It's going to be a tough fight ahead--the new congress has already started with their sweeping gun control agenda in HR 1022, and I'm sure more is coming.

 

[DMK]

I don't understand. Why join at a gun show or through a middleman? Obviously, you know how to use the Internet. You're here.

Just go to the NRA's website. I've never had a problem. They get my card and magazines to me PDQ.

www.nra.org

 

[USMC - Retired]

I don't understand. Why join at a gun show or through a middleman? Obviously, you know how to use the Internet. You're here.

Just go to the NRA's website. I've never had a problem. They get my card and magazines to me PDQ.

Some folks just need that extra little push that someone asking them in person face to face gives. Another reason to go through a recruiter is that you can get a discounted price and pay $25 for an annual membership instead of $35.

Using the online option is always a good choice. The link in my signature line is direct to NRA and you get the added bonus of the discounted price for an annual membership.

 

[scrat]

i was a member of the NRA for 5 years. i would get my monthy issue of rifleman. it sat around for most of the time. Most of the time the only thing i would get in the mail was (send us money to stop this), (send us money to fund for this). I believe in my rights to own a firearm and will defend my rights to own a firearm. However after months and months and years and years of asking me for money i had enough. If all i was going to do was spend money for my sticker that says nra and a magazine that i hardly read, then they could save on the printing and mailing me useless things and go after someone naieve and younger thats going to send them money.

I remember when i first joined and i got my first letter asking me for money. I was like omg they really need money. i need to send them what ever i can. I did too. then they just keep coming and coming and coming. At some point i could not tell the difference from the homeless guy down the street with the cardboard sign and the NRA

 

[bsf]

Is the NRA offering special low rate lifetime memberships?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A local gun dealer told me that the NRA is offering special, referral by other members, lower rate lifetime memberships. Has anyone else heard this to be true? Supposedly the rates are as low as $300.00.

The NRA has been conducting a membership drive since late 2006 allowing current members to sign family members up for full life memberships at $300 per. I do not know if the mailings are/were going out to all members or just life members. I am a life member, and I have received 2 or 3 packets since late 2006. Signed my Dad up for a life membership and upgraded my membership to Endowment.

 

[USMC - Retired]

The NRA has been conducting a membership drive since late 2006 allowing current members to sign family members up for full life memberships at $300 per. I do not know if the mailings are/were going out to all members or just life members. I am a life member, and I have received 2 or 3 packets since late 2006. Signed my Dad up for a life membership and upgraded my membership to Endowment.

This one I am aware of but it didn't fit his description since it's for family members only.

 

[USMC - Retired]

i was a member of the NRA for 5 years. i would get my monthy issue of rifleman. it sat around for most of the time. Most of the time the only thing i would get in the mail was (send us money to stop this), (send us money to fund for this). I believe in my rights to own a firearm and will defend my rights to own a firearm. However after months and months and years and years of asking me for money i had enough. If all i was going to do was spend money for my sticker that says nra and a magazine that i hardly read, then they could save on the printing and mailing me useless things and go after someone naieve and younger thats going to send them money.

I remember when i first joined and i got my first letter asking me for money. I was like omg they really need money. i need to send them what ever i can. I did too. then they just keep coming and coming and coming. At some point i could not tell the difference from the homeless guy down the street with the cardboard sign and the NRA

The NRA does not want to waste money on mailings that folks don't want. Its very simple to have them turned off, just email them at [email protected] or dial 800-NRA-3888 and request to be placed on the "Do Not Promote" list. This will significantly reduce the amount of mail you receive without affecting important mailings, magazine service, or your membership renewal.