Convince me to rejoin the NRA....

[jimmyraythomason]

I think they should be taken seriously.

I have a limited amount of money to give in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms. I put that money where it can do the most good and that(without a doubt) is with the NRA,IMO. Support every gun rights group you can,pick your fights wisely and do not squander limited resources fighting against allies.

 

[rellascout]

I wrestle with it every year. IMHO the NRAs #1 goal and priority is not the 2nd Amendment and its protection. The NRAs #1 goal is it self preservation for its own sake. It seeks power and influence as ends not means to an end.

The Brady bunch and the NRA are two sides of the same coin. If the NRA were truly successful in their stated goals and missions their power and their influence would be drastically reduced. Their seat at the head of the lobbying table would moved to a lessor roll. Another issue would take its place, its power and it influence. As a result they work for only marginal change. They work to keep the other side in the game so that they can grow and preserve the power they have created.

They are the embodiment of the flawed two voice two party system that runs this country. YMMV

 

[jimmyraythomason]

YMMV

.....and mine varies greatly from your's.

 

[lazygenius]

This thread...combined with an overwhelming sense of guilt just convinced me.

 

[Sam1911]

The NRAs #1 goal is it self preservation for its own sake. It seeks power and influence as ends not means to an end.

Do you have ANY evidence -- even circumstantial, suspect evidence, that this is the case?

This is the sort of conspiratorial, accusatory crud that is so easy to say and so hard to refute. Accusation becomes proof.

And it carries just as much weight, IMHO, as such absurd, but often quoted, accusations people seem to like to make about firearms dealers -- who obviously DESIRE gun and magazine bans because they make sooo much money when things become scarce, and NFA firearms enthusiasts -- who LOVE the Hughes Amendment because it makes their collections so valuable.

Wholesale slanders of groups or organizations which have no merit but make the speaker seem "in the know."

Yes, the NRA keeps the status quo so that they don't put themselves out of work. And the US keeps AlQueda going so we have excuses to grab power. Heck, God keeps Satan around so the folks stay in the pews, you know? "I ain't sayin' it's TRUE... but it sure is a convenient situation for him, don'tcha think?"

 

[JaxNovice]

All my NRA membership seemed to do for me was to allow them to constantly ask for more money. When I originally signed up, I literally received two solicitations for money before I even got my membership card. It was incessant and very annoying.

I vote for the candidates I deem in line with my political views. I don't need to pay the NRA to do my thinking for me.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I don't need to pay the NRA to do my thinking for me.

No but you DO need them to do your fighting for you.

 

[Sam1911]

All my NRA membership seemed to do for me was to allow them to constantly ask for more money. When I originally signed up, I literally received two solicitations for money before I even got my membership card. It was incessant and very annoying.

Sigh. I know this has probably never been mentioned before -- at least not yet TODAY -- but one phone call will cut off all solicitations from NRA. You still get your magazine and renewal notices, but that's it.

I vote for the candidates I deem in line with my political views. I don't need to pay the NRA to do my thinking for me.

And if your one vote is all the representation you desire to have, that's what you get. If you want to support a group of very professional people who will spend parts of nearly ever day sitting in law-makers' offices explaining gun rights and combing every bill to watch out for RKBA infringements, then sending a little cash to the NRA-ILA might be a good idea.

But, some folks feel that one vote is all the impact that a person should be allowed to have. If our enemies thought that way, too, I'd be more comfortable with the idea.

 

[ForumSurfer]

All my NRA membership seemed to do for me was to allow them to constantly ask for more money. When I originally signed up, I literally received two solicitations for money before I even got my membership card. It was incessant and very annoying.

I agree, it is annoying.

I vote for the candidates I deem in line with my political views. I don't need to pay the NRA to do my thinking for me

I agree, but I do like to hear their take on candidates while forming my opinions. Simply stating their views isn't telling you to vote for anyone. The GOA and most other groups do the exact same thing.

I wrestle with it every year. IMHO the NRAs #1 goal and priority is not the 2nd Amendment and its protection. The NRAs #1 goal is it self preservation for its own sake. It seeks power and influence as ends not means to an end.

I've heard the exact same thing said about any organization that becomes large and influential enough to actually make a difference.

I wrestle with it every year. IMHO the NRAs #1 goal and priority is not the 2nd Amendment and its protection. The NRAs #1 goal is it self preservation for its own sake. It seeks power and influence as ends not means to an end.

Exactly my point. A 1 year membership costs about as much as 100 rounds of 9mm.

Here's another thread demonstrating that they are trying to make a difference:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7077638

Here in NC, we have some asinine, archaic laws on the books regarding gun control and carrying. The fact that someone is stepping up to the plate (finally) is worth $25 a year any day of the week in my book.

 

[JaxNovice]

This is the sort of conspiratorial, accusatory crud that is so easy to say and so hard to refute. Accusation becomes proof.

I disagree. It can be argued that there are many of organizations that lose relevance and shift into self preservation. This is actually quite common.

Do you really believe that if a time came that our 2A rights became completely unassailable that the NRA would just close shop and go home? That is why since it's inception is has altered and expanded it's focus and core mission.

Over the course of history there have been many organizations that have shifted into preservation mode due the changing landscape in which they operate. The NRA is no different.

I once enjoyed watching a debate held in England that Wayne LaPierre completely embarrassed a few anti-gun advocates with facts. One of the points he made is that regardless if there ever is a U.N ban on small arms, our constitution trumps any UN agreement.

What was funny was that the NRA used that same weapons ban as a scare tactic to drum up donations. This is the kind of stuff I can't stand and lends credence to a train of thought that they can be self serving.

 

[supercalvin56]

The junk mail they send out starts to pile up quickly. You don't have to be a hoarder to let it get away from you.

 

[dogrunner]

I generally dislike posting twice on the same issue, but since GOA was repeatedly mentioned I'd simply ask ANYONE to state ANY legislation that so called organization has managed to get passed........OTH..........Florida, for example has had a repeated string of positive legislation........NRA backed and pushed by ex NRA President Marion Hamer..............GOA (or JFPO, for that matter) had zilch to do with ANY of that legislation or the current proposals!

 

[Sam1911]

Do you really believe that if a time came that our 2A rights became completely unassailable that the NRA would just close shop and go home? That is why since it's inception is has altered and expanded it's focus and core mission.

No, IF THAT TIME EVER COMES I'll be the first to kick NRA to the curb and tell them "Thanks for the help, now beat it!" (Uh... or something.)

But we're so very, very far from that point that it seems a bit absurd to worry about it.

Kind of like these predatory doctors who prolong their own careers and line their pockets through treating people with cancer or heart disease. I mean, really -- they're just prolonging the fight to stay in business. They've got to justify their existence somehow, you know! All that fear-mongering talk of tumors and infarctions. Bunch of parasites they are! Right? RIGHT?

 

[Sam1911]

The junk mail they send out starts to pile up quickly. You don't have to be a hoarder to let it get away from you.

Oh for PETE's sake! You don't even get the excuse that this hasn't been posted yet TODAY!

Sigh. I know this has probably never been mentioned before -- at least not yet TODAY -- but one phone call will cut off all solicitations from NRA. You still get your magazine and renewal notices, but that's it.

 

[rellascout]

I once enjoyed watching a debate held in England that Wayne LaPierre completely embarrassed a few anti-gun advocates with facts. One of the points he made is that regardless if there ever is a U.N ban on small arms, our constitution trumps any UN agreement.

What was funny was that the NRA used that same weapons ban as a scare tactic to drum up donations. This is the kind of stuff I can't stand and lends credence to a train of thought that they can be self serving.

+1 Well stated.

 

[JaxNovice]

Kind of like these predatory doctors who prolong their own careers and line their pockets through treating people with cancer or heart disease. I mean, really -- they're just prolonging the fight to stay in business. Right? RIGHT?

You lost me on that one.

I can't comment on that doctor statement as it has nothing at all do to with the topic at hand, but I would like your input on the other parts of my post.

I must say that as a moderator you are supposed to set an example of civil discourse. I am not sure you doing that here.

 

[rellascout]

you lost me on that one.

I can't comment on that doctor statement as it has nothing at all do to with the topic at hand, but i would like your input on the other parts of my post.

I must say that as a moderator you are supposed to set an example of civil discourse. I am not sure you doing that here.

+1000000

Sam1911 you have strong feelings on this topic but berating other members because they hold a different opinion of the NRA than you do is not THR. As a moderator you are task to keep the site on THR. IMHO you are not doing that here and are allowing your strong personal feelings to cloud your judgement.

 

[Sam1911]

Ok. Jax. Sorry if I lost you. What I was doing there was using an analogy.

To say the NRA is in some danger of dragging out their existence beyond relevance and into self-preservation is worrying about an eventuality that we are decades -- at the VERY least -- away from needing to worry about. In fact, I don't see that, even with the eventual repeal of NFA '34 and GCA '68, the fight to preserve those gains would be something our greatest fighter should be allowed to abandon.

My analogy of the doctors was intended to be pretty clear. I'm sorry if you didn't comprehend the similarities. The doctors in this case are like the NRA. Fighting cancer and heart disease instead of gun control laws. See where I'm going with that?

It seems we're quite a long way from curing or eliminating either of those things, just like we're a long way from eliminating gun control laws and those that seek to inflict them.

Few (though some I've met) would say that the medical community is predatory pushing their own self-preservation beyond their true relevance. I see the NRA in the same position.

Make more sense now?

 

[Sam1911]

I must say that as a moderator you are supposed to set an example of civil discourse. I am not sure you doing that here.

Sorry if my sense of humor and attempts to provide jocular ways of speech have inadvertently offended you or anyone else!

I will go back and edit in some smilies to make my intentions more clear.

 

[rellascout]

Sorry if my sense of humor and attempts to provide jocular ways of speech have inadvertently offended you or anyone else!

I will go back and edit in some smilies to make my intentions more clear.

Subtle humor often does not translate over the interweb....

 

[JaxNovice]

I got your analogy, but it is nowhere close to being relevant. What would be a closer analogy would be if the American Cancer Society knew cancer had been cured and actively engaged in a cover up to maintain relevance. Seems silly....

Bottom line, is that the NRA engages in behavior that is incongruent with it's stated mission. Reasonable people can extrapolate from their actions that, at times, they seem more interested in self preservation than executing their stated mission.

Again, I must say that that even though you attempted to explain your tone in post #44, Post #43 is laced with sarcasm and condescension. I don't get it.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Subtle humor often does not translate over the interweb....

No it doesn't. But if you put a smiley on the end of it, that makes it OK.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Bottom line, is that the NRA engages in behavior that is incongruent with it's stated mission. Reasonable people can extrapolate from their actions that, at times, they seem more interested in self preservation than executing their stated mission.

If the organization crumbles, how can they accomplish their goals? To a certain extent, any organiation demonstrates a wish to preserve itself. When you show me some examples of the NRA trampling 2nd ammendment rights, I'll agree with your statement.

 

[Sam1911]

Post #43 is laced with sarcasm and condescension. I don't get it.

No, Jax, it isn't!

You said you didn't understand, so I explained. Are you now saying you DID understand but didn't agree?

That's fine, we can disagree. But I'm not condescending to you. Please don't take it that way.

if the American Cancer Society knew cancer had been cured and actively engaged in a cover up to maintain relevance.

That analogy would only work if you believe that gun control has been "cured" or eliminated and the NRA is dragging things out to keep themselves paid.

I can't possibly disagree more. I see our position now as pushing to within sight of the crest of the mountain -- or plateau, really -- and the goals are closer than they have been but the mountain is still steep. The NRA still has MUCH to do, perhaps needing more effort than ever thrown at the problem, to push up up and over (which will take several more decades, at least, as I said). Stopping now would bring on a horrifying slide back into the abyss.

So the "we've got cancer cured but we won't tell anyone" analogy doesn't seem apt, at all.

 

[PapaG]

While I don't enjoy the repeated calls for money, the mailings offering things I don't want, and the "free" dvds, calendars and so on", I have gone from an annual member through all the ranks to Benefactor and believe they are still the best thing going for us on the national level. I'm also a certified shotgun instructor, soon to be pistol/rifle/reloading.

Stan. NRA Benefactor/ISRA/RVSC