I rejoined the NRA...

[12voltman]

Friday I rejoined, this time as a life member. I didn't renew a few years back when they sent those hunting videos (that I didn't order) along with a note saying I owed them $$$$. It didn't sit well with me.
With the upcoming election and the media based anti-gun sentiment in the country growing, I think the NRA is the best hope that we as owners have going for us.
As for mailings asking for more $$$, I'll do as some of the other forum members did and contact the NRA and tell them not to send me any. I'm sure they won't refuse a donation if I decided to give later.

 

[Rembrandt]

Congratulations 12voltman, glad you're wired Positive, not negative.......

 

[Firehand]

When I found out the NRA had stated they had no problem with requiring NICS checks on private sales at gun shows, I threw out my plan to renew. Which I'd planned to do the next day. Joined GOA instead.

 

[telomerase]

I went GOA too, but it's good that people join the NRA... as long as they keep pushing it not to donate money to antis like Frost (the original reason I went to the GOA).

 

[Green Lantern]

I first joined NRA...then GOA, the SAF, AND Grassroots NC later on. All right, I did it after the election this year!

I can see right now that GRNC is a keeper! I didn't even REALIZE that Castle Doctrine was introduced in the General Assembly!

Point being...big groups at the Federal level are a must, but STATE-level groups may be a better than good idea to join as well!

 

[Hipster]

Thank you for showing your support of the RKBA by rejoining the NRA. Bravo!

The NRA isn't perfect but they are the most influential of the pro-gun organizations. It makes more sense to work for change within the group instead of sitting on the outside complaining. As a member, you can help guide the direction of the NRA in the future.

I don't think it's in our best interest to pit the various groups against each other - GOA vs. NRA vs. JPFO, etc. We're all on the same side. Let's work together against our common enemies. Join the NRA, GOA, JPFO, SAF, CCRKBA and your local and state gun rights groups. They all do (mainly) good things and deserve our support.

 

[12voltman]

I agree with all of the pro-gun groups working together. Sometimes you think that the antis are practicing the "divide and conquer" theory.

rockape

 

[the pistolero]

Sometimes you think that the antis are practicing the "divide and conquer" theory.

Well, more like all the time. "Nobody needs an assault rifle to hunt with, we don't want to take your deer rifles or duck guns, just everything else..."

Merry Christmas, fellow High Roaders. May you find plenty of gun stuff under the tree.

 

[DevLcL]

Merry Christmas, fellow High Roaders. May you find plenty of gun stuff under the tree.

Amen to that! Merry Christmas!

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Agree With Hipster

I had the pleasure of talking with General Joe Foss back when he was president of the NRA, and the General pretty much echoed your statement that regardless of what form our Pro 2nd stance may take..different organizations..everyone is working for the same thing. Power in numbers..harmony among the troops!

 

[straightShot]

Congrats and welcome back!

Take a kid shooting,

 

[jem375]

The NRA is the only way to go, the others just don't have the firepower of the NRA to protect our gun rights. It's ok to join the other pro-gun organizations but we need to continue to support the NRA....

 

[hoji]

I am a life member, but disagree with a lot of what they do.
GOA mirrors my beliefs a lot more than NRA but being a member of the NRA has a lot of advantages{NRA sponsered shoots etc.}

 

[FLCLIFF]

Good decision!!!!

 

[JohnL2]

I must admit. I get annoyed with them sending all the "renewal" mail (been a member for only a few months!) and then seeing the "please spare us cost of postage" on their self-addressed return envelope.

Anyway, they are the biggest kid on the block when it comes to preserving gun rights.

 

[veloce851]

I didn't renew for the same reason others mentioned here.
The same reason I quit sending money to the RNC (I sent them $20 once and got $100 worth of junk mail just asking for more money)

However after my brother's experience with having his Steyr stolen, and then realizing all NRA memberships come with insurance for your firearms.

I plan to join again.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

The only thing preventing me from applying for a life membership rather than reviewing my membership status every year is some of the decisions made are counterproductive to our cause or don't further it.

By applying for a life membership, I am essentially saying "from now on, anything you do, I fully endorse" and officially loose my position to voice what my organization is doing. That won't sit well with me if it's starting to wander off the path I agree with. By choosing to renew or not renew each year, I vote with my dollars. In the long run, they get more of my cash assuming they don't alienate me on policy.

While the biggest out there, it's not the only game in town. I think that type of attitude has us stuck with the two-party system in politics. Every organization starts small and in order to thrive and evolve, it needs support. If everyone keeps that "ignore the little guy" mentality, then we'll only have the NRA and no other signifigant organization backing the 2A.

I'd much rather be seen as "wow, they have a lot of powerful organizations championing their cause on various issues" rather than "haha, that lone NRA organization is pushing that one bill again".

 

[sfhogman]

This year a handgun ban was passed in San Francisco. All handguns within the City and County were outlawed, period.

The NRA stepped up to the plate, and along with others, took the City to court and got the ban overturned. I believe that the GOA was very much involved as well.

But. The big dog in this fight was the NRA and its massive funding. Attorneys like Chuck Michel do not come cheap.

I don't always favor all of the NRA's positions, but I'm proud to support them. After all, when it hit the fan, they supported me.

Jeff

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Gun Rights groups

"Join the NRA, GOA, JPFO, SAF, CCRKBA and your local and state gun rights groups. They all do (mainly) good things and deserve our support."
__________________
I am mostly in agreement with this statement,however, I "fell out" with the CCRKBA a number of years back. I had been a member for some time and had contributed often. The CCRKBA made telephone solicitations for contributions VERY regularly to which I responded as well as I could. They often asked for a pledge of $30.00 which was sometimes more than I wanted to donate (or could at the time). I also knew that they often took credit for successes owed to the NRA. Several times I countered with a pledge of $15.00 which they gladly accepted but when the "bill" came it was ALWAYS for $30.00! I sent the "bill" back with my $15.00 pledge with an explanation that $15.00 was what I had pledged. This happened several times. Eventually I got one telephone solicitation too many and asked to speak to a supervisor. He was very cordial as I explained my discontent and accepted my pledge of $15.00 on the condition that I would only be billed for $15.00. I received a very nice thank you letter for my generous contribution of $30.00 and could I please send it in right away. When they did not recieve anything from me they called to remind me of my pledge, NOT A GOOD IDEA! Needless to say I havent heard from them since! BTW: the frowning face in the heading was supposed to be a smiley face, my bad!

 

[Declaration Day]

I let my NRA membership lapse more than a year ago.

My complaints mirror many of those stated here.

I was tired of the weekly junkmail asking for money, the cost of which surely exceeded my membership dues. I was annoyed by the merchandise they kept sending that I didn't ask for. I disagreed with many of their positions. ( I am a second amendment purist.)

However, after the disarmament of the Hurricane Katrina victims and the way the NRA stepped up to the plate, I've decided to re-join. They may not reflect my views entirely, but they're our 800-lb gorilla, and they have the money and political clout to keep the second amendment's head above water.

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Occasionally an organization will contract a "solicitation company" who, while acting on the "organization's" behalf..uses tactics that don't reflect the organization's way of doing things.

I've seen this unfold before. The President or Chairman gets called from someone who's been hounded 1 too many times, and techniques become less aggressive.