Got a letter from the NRA that made me very angry today

[JPL]

"I still find it irritating that the NRA sends SOOOOO much mail... surely it must cost tons 'o money!"

Direct mail is designed so that it pays for itself through the contributions it brings in.

Did you ever wonder why you get so many credit card applications from the same vendors (I've gotten at least 20 from Citibank this year alone).

It's because they work.

The second it starts costing companies more to market via direct mail than what they bring it, you'll not see another one of their mailings.

 

[Treylis]

I'd be more willing to give the NRA a few bucks if they were not such pansies and if I knew my money would actually go to fighting or to training instead of putting more leather backed chairs into the NRA HQ offices.

In my opinion the NRA has become a bunch of pampered dandy fops.

That's why I'm a GOA member, plus I can't stomach NRA compromising.

 

[Blackcloud6]

For tough independent gun owners we sure get very upset about some direct mail marketing.

 

[thatguy]

It's just marketing. They hire companies to do this fior them and sometimes the results aren't so good. Don't take it so personally.

 

[JohnBT]

So who said we could only belong to one gun group? Join a bunch. Or quit complaining if you don't join any - IMNSHO.

The NRA(training, safety, etc.) is different than the NRA-ILA (political lobbying, etc.) It's the law. Look it up.

As has been stated, these mailing campaigns work and are self-supporting.

Anyway, you CAN call the number and tell the NRA and/or NRA-ILA to take you off the mailing list. This is not that hard to do and is certainly simpler than whining.

John

 

[CannibalCrowley]

Mr Jody Hudson

Personally, I consider the NRA lobbiest, to be a bunch of compromising self-promoting money sucking liberals who are taking our money and pretending to help us. That is NOT to put down members. That is to put down the compromising instead of holding thier ground and taking more like Sarah's kids do.

That's pretty much my stance, except I'd also add that they're incompetent too. I was going to join a few months back, but after paying for my first year of dues I was getting letters about how I hadn't paid them. I even had my bank fax them a copy of the payment. I'm still trying to get my money back and after being the victim of fraud committed by the NRA, I can safely say that I will never join their organization.

The NRA has been around since 1871, and all kinds of restrictive gun laws have been passed in that time. They might be good when it comes to sporting events but they have a horrible track record when it comes to legislation.

 

[Bravo11]

I get NRA junk mail all the time. I usually get renewal mail well before its time to renew. I throw it all away except for the renewal when its time to renew. They are in the business to solicit members and money and they are good at it. They have served us all very well. I'm sure GOA is a great org but you never hear about them like you hear about the NRA so their lobby is not as strong.
I got in the video mess too. They sent the video and said keep it as a free gift. Then I get letters saying send them money or send it back. I called the toll free number and they took me off the list. No problems. I try to recruit members every chance I get. Congressmen look at those membership numbers.

 

[NoHarmNoFAL]

I was a member of the NRA before 1994 and did not renew after that until last year. I will NEVER be a lifetime member, I will only go year to year. Whether or not this is correct, I feel that I hold the purse strings a little more closely that way if the screw up again like 1994 I'm gone and will be sending all the mail back to them in their little postage paid envelopes. I will not support nor condone behavior that is not in the best interest of the 2A that is that simple. I see no need to throw good money after bad. If the ban goes away I will stay a member until they compromise some more of our rights away then that is it.

 

[flatrock]

My wife let her membership lapse for about a year, and I have come close to doing the same because of their overzealous fund raising tactics.

The NRA is far from a perfect organization, but they do a lot of good work toward protecting our 2nd ammendment rights.

However, they need to learn that using strong rhetoric to try and get money out of their members is going to piss people off and lose them money in the end.

There are a lot of smaller, grassroots organizations fighting for our gun rights, and it's those that I turn to when the NRA pisses me off.

I am also quite capable of writing my representatives without sending a donation and filling out a pre-printed post card that they send me.

I do pay attention to the NRA alerts I get in my email, but I've usually already written my representatives before the alerts arrive.

I plan on maintaining my membership, because I believe that the membership size of the NRA allows it to do things that cannot be done with lots of smaller groups, however until they start treating me like a member that they represent rather than a source of income, I'm not big on sending them additional donations.

There are lots of worthy gun rights organizations out there. I feel that being a part of the NRA is important, but there are other groups that I feel need the money more and use it more wisely.

 

[moa]

I have been a member of the NRA for a long time.

So, if you please, let me know where and when the NRA stabbed in the back its members and gun owners in general? I do not recall under what circumstances that back-stabbing happened.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Think you guys are for the most part being a bit sensitive.

As I believe Pax pointed out, if their approach to fundraising didn't work, they wouldn't do it.

They are the biggest and best of the pro2a groups and the gun grabbers absolutely hate them.

Good enough for me.

 

[CannibalCrowley]

moa

So, if you please, let me know where and when the NRA stabbed in the back its members and gun owners in general? I do not recall under what circumstances that back-stabbing happened.

Well, IIRC the vice president of the NRA testified to Congress that he was in favor of the GCA of 1968. There were likely other situations too, but I can't come up with any off the top of my head. However, by looking at the current gun control laws it's fairly obvious that the NRA has repeatedly failed at defending the Second Amendment.

 

[raz-0]

Yeap I got one too, but I'm paid up a year ahead.... They're trying to drudge up some funds!!!!!!!

YEah I got that too, and I'm paid up for another two years.

Most of the mail the NRA sends me angers me. Most of it has a very bad attitude lately, or sends me something I don't want and tells me I have to pay for it or return it.

 

[jsalcedo]

Anyone have that toll free number to get off of the mailing list?

I urge all of the NRA members on this board to call it and stop the mailings.

It will save the NRA money and possibly send a message to the higher ups.

 

[moa]

In some cases I do no mind the mailings. Example, I noticed recently in my area of Maryland, the NRA Political Victory Fund is financing a number of anti-Kerry adds with Wayne LaPiere (sp?) and Chris Cox. I thought this is great and about time.

About the same time in the mail I get a solitication for a donation to the NRA-PVF and I ponyed up a rather sizable donation.

I love the opportunity to get a chance to hit Kerry in the shorts in a meaningful way.

I think the NRA has had many, many successes. Having been a member a long time, I can see the progress they are making. We have come a long way for the RKBA, especially on the State level. There will always be some set-backs. But the final score ain't too shabby.

And, it has been a very uphill fight considering major news media is anti-NRA and anti-RKBA. I am talking about a period of 30-40 years, at least.

 

[DMF]

rather than berate the guy who lets his dues lapse, why not berate the 76 million gun owners in the US that AREN'T NRA members.

Because maybe those 76 million gun owners are like me, Bush 41, and many others who got tired of all the BS coming out the NRA. I agree with many of their positions, but I don't like their tactics and some of the positions they take are ridiculous.

Rather than give them my money I will write my Congressmen, and more importantly VOTE.

 

[sm]

I guess age or something kicked in some years ago - though I have always felt " I ain't gotta - If I don't wanna".

Now my NRA dues are paid up for a bit - I think. Yes those letters are annoying, Yes I had my name removed from "bothering me list". I do appreciate some works NRA provides , such as training material and such.

I went through a "dimension" in life dealie years ago, going through another it seems. I had paid $300 in entrance fees for a competition, the "club" refused to allow a few folks to particpate all members MUST be a NRA member. I can understand and appreciate to a degree wanting folks to promote involvement in a Pro Gun Organization. These competitors had let thiers lapse - it happens. I packed up my competition guns, got my entrance fee and didn't shoot.

I have left ranges with the same attitude - and bash other shooters that choose to shoot other platforms or sports.

Screw it....It is a matter of principle. Attraction NOT Promotion is most likely a better approach.

Me, I have to have enough garbage in my wallet as is. Permisson papers ( Res and Non Res) , DL, Student IDs...

I don't need a card, I don't need anything to take a new shooter out, assist with CCW, show how to reload shotshells, clean a gun...

I tell you one thing though - I know for a FACT from one coast to the other, from one border to the other and points in b/t there has been cash sent to support various federal,state, county, city, community - CCW, Legislative Battles , Shooting ranges, ...etc.

Compliments of R.E. Public, B. Fallon, P. Carson, Eric Blair, R. Ruark, L. Davenport, J. Grafton ( he is the one that sent 2 dozen BB guns to a HS in need btw ) others etc, ... Why word is some folks in need had guns appear in the homes, some had holsters, and ammo too...

Word is many of the above "folks" have sent cash monies to JFPO, GOA and the like as well...they don't have "membership cards" - they forgot to provide the information needed for that part.

I would know anything about any of this mind you...


Membership cards are NOT required to ahere to something you believe in.

 

[45Cal]

One solution is to ask the NRA to apply all your past yearly membership dues towards a lifetime membership.

I did!
And, it work's for me.
45CAL NRA Life member.

 

[Brian Williams]

If this pisses you off, wow what a thin skin.

 

[Highland Ranger]

I had paid $300 in entrance fees for a competition, the "club" refused to allow a few folks to particpate all members MUST be a NRA member.

If this is a for-profit org than this is out of line. I'd walk.

If its a not for profit state association, or politically centered org and its their range (like the ANJRPC range where you have to be an NRA member to join) then I'm ok.

In either case, I'm always for folks voting with their feet.

DO what you gotta . . . . .

 

[S.B.]

NRA

Being the only game in town, the NRA is still the best voice for all people interested in keeping their civil liberties. JOIN and VOTE!

 

[fallingblock]

Join / stay in the NRA......

And work to improve it!

If we had an organization as effective as the NRA in Australia, we might have been able to put up some resistance.

Join GOA, JFPO, Pink Pistols, Second Amendment Sisters and all state and local organizations....

But stay in the NRA as well.

As for those 76 million gunowners who aren't members...

 

[Majic]

The begging never stops. Even though you are a member in good standings with your dues paid in full everytime you turn around you have mail soliciting donations to fight this or that. Funny how they seem to lose these fights. If it is so tough and expensive to fight these laws then how did the LEO's get their nation wide CCW permit law thru so easily? Maybe they should adopt the plan used by the LEO's. It can't hurt as they aren't doing much now besides telling us how much worst it could have been.
There should be a better value for the dollar they spend. Losing a small portion of a right vs losing the entire right is still a lost in anybody's book. We lose and have the pleasure and honor to even pay for it.

 

[Kharn]

Do Life Members have to pay yearly to get a magazine?

I'm going to do my best to become a Life Member when the AW ban sunsets and was wondering how the magazines worked.

Kharn

 

[Rob62]

For anyone annoyed by the NRA mailings why not simply telephone them at 1-800-922-4868 and ask to be taken off of any and all mailing lists. Also be sure to ask that you not be sent any advertisement or request for funds in the future.

I used to get tons of unsolicited mail like many folks here until I did this and now only receive about 1-2 letters per year. Proof that my telephone call was not totally effective.

Rob

NRA Life Member
NAHC Life Member