Benefits of joining the NRA?

[hyphen]

I was recently asked to join the NRA by one of the firing range employees. He said that there are a lot of benefits including 24/7 defense of my firearms freedoms...what does this mean? Does this mean that gun owners that are not a part of the NRA don't get their freedoms defended?

What other benefits can I expect if I join the NRA? What is the purpose of the NRA in general?

 

[Viking6]

good magazine every month

 

[princewally]

Cheap-ish insurance. Discounts on a few things. Overpriced wine club.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Letter begging money weekly. Hey ,least you will get mail.

 

[ronwill]

While I don't always agree with their tactics, I will remain a member for the forseeable future. They are the leaders in defending 2A rights and deserve some support. As for benefits I think the best is free gun insurance up to, I believe $1000. Also, many ranges/ gun clubs require you to be a member because their insurance is subsidized by the NRA.

 

[Conqueror]

Oh, and don't forget the awesome benefit of having the NRA sell out on your RKBA if you like anything other than regular hunting arms and handguns. NFA collector? NRA doesn't care about you.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

i don't know, i guess it depends on what you like. they sent us a history channel show "10 guns that changed the world" (you had to pay for it,but) that we really liked. i've been meaning to buy the rest of the seris ever since. some ranges won't let you join without it, and they do have some intresting and nice membership offers.

 

[brighamr]

same question

hyphen - i have the same question. I was an NRA member in the 80s and I know it got me American Rifleman magazine and they have a bunch of NRA stuff for sale. I don't remember the NRA defending any freedoms (lived in CA) and I don't remember any discounts on anything.

On the other hand, they do a lot of PR stuff (Eddie Eagle, etc) and they teach handgun safety courses\hunters education. But I had to pay full price for hunters education and for all my gear, so I don't know why $600 membership dues are needed.

Personally, I think if the NRA actually does lobby for pro-gun presidents, and actively pursues restoring RKBA, then myself, my wife, my co-workers, and my family would all be life members. So far, they have done nothing to persuade me.

 

[Albatross]

Push 'compromise' gun legislation?

Build a gigantic headquarters with donor money?

I have a hard time getting pumped up over politics, but the NRA giving Ron Paul a B- is just filthy.

You have got to wonder why they salivated all over everyone's super gun bud Rudy at the NRA's presidential debate but don't even invite Ron Paul.

When asked for legal help by the local Isaac Walton League to keep a shooting range open, they said there was nothing they could do. Didn't even call, just a 'so sorry letter' in the mail.

/Eddie Eagle and hunters education is good stuff, but 4H has a huge youth rifle program too and seem to do it with a lot less cash.

//Better gun rights organizations exist. JPFO, GOA.

 

[cpttango30]

While I can not stand the begging for money all the time. I just renewed my membership for 5 years.

You benifit is sitting in your safe or cabinet or closet right now that is the benifit you get from joining the NRA.

 

[gunman42782]

How about the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to defend your rights, without expecting others to do it for you???

 

[joplinsks]

I'm a member because they support our gun owning rights. I've seen their reps firsthand working for us on several occasions... and I guarantee you they do work hard.

Other less important benefits I like are the $10 discount if you renew at gun shows, able to get into the Wanenmacher's Tulsa show for free if you renew there, free hats, inexpensive gun insurance, and a decent monthly magazine.

 

[Vonderek]

Liberals like Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer think NRA is the antichrist. Bill Clinton credited the NRA with the landslide midterm election of '94 when the Dems lost control of Congress for the first time in 40 years. That's benefit enough for me.

 

[Cavalier Knight]

How about the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to defend your rights, without expecting others to do it for you???

I find that most of the people who bicker about the NRA actually do nothing at all on their own to support RKBA but cry about what he or she wants for his or her guns never our guns. So to each his own 4 million people beg to differ.

 

[JohnBT]

"I don't remember the NRA defending any freedoms

I hear they got pills now that'll improve your memory.

John
Member www.vcdl.org
NRA Patron Member

 

[orionengnr]

How about the benefit of being part of the solution, instead of part of the problem?

Those of you who have a complaint with the NRA--join and make your agenda the NRA's. Be in the game, not on the sidelines.

While I don't agree 100% with everything they have done, until something better comes along, I'm going to support them. They have done more than everyone else put together.

FWIW, I am also a TSRA member--they do good work in TX.

 

[sfhogman]

If it weren't for the NRA- and GOA, I believe, handguns would be illegal in San Francisco. It was the NRA's big bucks that financed the lawsuit that forced the city to back down.

 

[macadore]

It you want to participate in defending the RKBA, the Gun Owners of America and the Second Amendment Foundation do a much better job. The NRA is a lobby for the firearms industry. The RKBA is a secondary consideration with them.

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Click on this link http://www.nra.org/benefits.aspx.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

"NRA giving Ron Paul a B-"

What,Hunh,what???

Is that a bad joke?

Because anyone advocating nation-wide CCW,carry in parks,should get an A+ from the NRA.

 

[camacho]

The most important benefit of NRA membership, however, is the defense of your Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. NRA-ILA tracks the issues and alerts members about legislation involving firearms and hunting at the federal, state and local levels of government. Successful legislative action begins with you -- the individual member.

From the above link. Yes, there are other RKBA organizatrions but no one with the clout and success of the NRA.

 

[Dienekes]

I first joined around 1960 and have been a Life Member for around 25 years now. Even did some lobbying on the Hill once for them when asked, which was sort of educational. Don't agree with everything they do, but they are the 800 pound gorilla of lobbies and do have real impact on the national and state levels. If it weren't for them we would probably be reduced to owning single shot .22s kept in central armories by now.

American shooters who aren't members (and there are a lot) are getting a free ride--and that's not exactly fair in my opinion. Or smart.

If you don't like the junk mail, do like most people do and toss it.

 

[cpttango30]

While I don't agree 100% with everything they have done, until something better comes along, I'm going to support them. They have done more than everyone else put together.

I am with you on that one.

I am not keen on some of the advertisers the NRA is letting into there mags. But who else is working as hard.

I think that everone who even thinks of owning a gun should join the NRA. They should also join a State or local pro2a group as well. (Speeking of which I need to renew my VCDL membership).

 

[marlin1888]

Lots of good comments (both views). I've been a member for about 20-years and life member for about 10-years. I left California after trying to get good advice from the NRA/ILA about restrictions on my AR-15 Target Rifle (while active duty military). At that point I felt they had lost control of California, so I have moved to Nevada. The NRA is still very importatnt in Washington Politics, and many other places in the country, but perhaps they cost of saving California is even beyond their budget (and yes I do still donate).

PS: It's good to live in a free state again, where even leagally owned machine buns can be heard at the range (allthough I can't afford one).

 

[jerkyman45]

Good magazine every month, mailing trying to coerce you into giving them more money, invitations to fundraisers, some gun clubs require you be a member, the death and dismemberment insurance that's included, the gun insurance I think is included in the membership fees too, plus the money you give them they do use to defend the second amendment. Sure they aren't the best organization as far at the ethics of the RKBA cause, but they are the strongest pro RKBA lobbying group.