Got a letter from the NRA that made me very angry today
- Thread starter Dbl0Kevin
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's All-
I think the NRA is still a fine and legitimate organization. However,
during the last NRA election, I questioned some of the candidate
bio's. Quite possibly some anti's have infiltrated our institution;
and hold some type of high ranking position.
Sorry you landed on tough times my friend; as I know all to well
that same feeling; but please don't give up on the NRA as a whole!
Every member counts, and I appreciate your continued support
of their effort in a fight for our rights.
Respectfully,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I think the NRA is still a fine and legitimate organization. However,
during the last NRA election, I questioned some of the candidate
bio's. Quite possibly some anti's have infiltrated our institution;
and hold some type of high ranking position.
Sorry you landed on tough times my friend; as I know all to well
that same feeling; but please don't give up on the NRA as a whole!
Every member counts, and I appreciate your continued support
of their effort in a fight for our rights.
Respectfully,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I'm whatever is the next level above Life, and I get a bunch of solicitations from the NRA. But, I get a lot of solicitations from several other RKBA groups as well.
Once a year I send some money to each group. The rest of the time, the mailings go into the circular file before I ever leave the post office.
The political climate has forced the NRA to compromise quite a few times. The problem with this "all or nothing" view that some folks here have is that without the NRA's efforts, and its compromises, the antis would have achieved even more than they have done to us.
The NRA may have given approval to the final form of the GCA '68, but that was window dressing for PR purposes. The original efforts by Connecticutt's Senator Dodd would have mostly eliminated handguns from the private citizen, and would have had total registration of all firearms.
A good point was brought out earlier in this thread: If the NRA is so ineffective, how come the anti-gun crowd hates us? And how come the NRA is rated as the most effective lobbying group, just behind the AARP?
Art
Once a year I send some money to each group. The rest of the time, the mailings go into the circular file before I ever leave the post office.
The political climate has forced the NRA to compromise quite a few times. The problem with this "all or nothing" view that some folks here have is that without the NRA's efforts, and its compromises, the antis would have achieved even more than they have done to us.
The NRA may have given approval to the final form of the GCA '68, but that was window dressing for PR purposes. The original efforts by Connecticutt's Senator Dodd would have mostly eliminated handguns from the private citizen, and would have had total registration of all firearms.
A good point was brought out earlier in this thread: If the NRA is so ineffective, how come the anti-gun crowd hates us? And how come the NRA is rated as the most effective lobbying group, just behind the AARP?
Art
In the Book, "The NRA an American legend" there is a whole chapter devoted to the dark years of the NRA where appeasers and compromisers
tried to do give and take with gun legislation. (GCA 68 and others)
This chapter states that is was a bad decision to make deals with gun banners because they ended up losing much more than if they had taken a rigid no compromise stance.
tried to do give and take with gun legislation. (GCA 68 and others)
This chapter states that is was a bad decision to make deals with gun banners because they ended up losing much more than if they had taken a rigid no compromise stance.
FPrice
Member
I received a solicitation from another gun rights groups which had in big red letters on the outside, PAYMENT OVERDUE. Needless to say that letter got thrown and I have not sent anything to that group since.
I also get cards, calendars, and miscellaneous other items from many of the professional and fraternal organizations I belong to. If I do not send money I get nice little follow up letters which nicely ask if I received the item they sent and why haven't I send the money they requested.
The NRA is not much different from most other organizations and may well be better than many.
I also get cards, calendars, and miscellaneous other items from many of the professional and fraternal organizations I belong to. If I do not send money I get nice little follow up letters which nicely ask if I received the item they sent and why haven't I send the money they requested.
The NRA is not much different from most other organizations and may well be better than many.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
You can get placed on the reduced mailing list by emailing or contacting the NRA at:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 1(800)672-3888
Be sure to include your membership number and realize it may take a few months before the flood of junk mail gets turned off.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 1(800)672-3888
Be sure to include your membership number and realize it may take a few months before the flood of junk mail gets turned off.
Kev, I'm with you on the fact that their letter is pretty poorly worded. I think it might have hit a sore spot with you, however, as it's just a form letter, and not enough to justify getting your panties in a bunch about. I can't say that I would have taken it any better, though.
Having said that, I thought your reply to them was a very good one. Hopefully, someone will listen.
Having said that, I thought your reply to them was a very good one. Hopefully, someone will listen.
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
First of all, I don't begrudge the NRA the right to send out letters asking, politely, for donations. Phone calls are worse, but I would accept those too.
However, I am apparently a Life Member at the "Ghost in the Machine" level, because nothing I do or say registers with these people. I use the Easy Pay Life option to pay for my life membership, and every single time (five so far) that I respond to their mailed invoice for my payment, I fill out all the paperwork to have the next payments deducted from my debit card automatically. The NRA claims they would like to do this because it saves the expense of mailing paper billing, but to this date, they've never made one debit withdrawal. I can only assume somebody there is either incompetent or desirous that they continue sending me mail.
The other night I got another one of their push-poll/fundraiser phone calls. The lady tells me she wants me to listen to a message from LaPierre about campaign finance reform, and then answer a poll question. I tell her I'll be glad to answer her question, but I'm very familiar with CFR and I'd rather skip the tedious recorded message. She says she can't possibly do that. Might have been true. So I listen to LaPierre tell me about McCain-Feingold and how it will hurt the NRA this election, and how now they need more money to purchase media outlets. I understand this, I agree, but I didn't need to be lectured about it. But, hey, like I said, I understand why they do it, so I wait it out until a different lady comes on and reads me the poll question. Not surprisingly, as nearly as I can remember, it was something like "Do you agree with Hillary Clinton that there is no right to keep and bear arms and that hunters and sportsmen have no right to be heard in the coming elections?"
"Well," I told her, "that's some question you've got there, but no, I don't agree with Hillary Clinton."
She thanked me and then switched me to a third person, who proceeded to ask me whether I was a current member. I told him I was. He thanked me, then asked if I was a life member. I told him I was. He seemed taken aback at that, but he thanked me again. Then he asked me if I would like to donate "between $150 and $200" to help buy media outlets. I politely told him that money is tight and I can't afford that. I was telling the truth; I've got two jobs already and am saving for more college this year.
He asked if I could donate $100. I told him no, again, more testily.
He asked if I could perhaps spare $75.
I hung up on him.
I realize he has no way of knowing this, but I do a whole lot more for RKBA than just send money, and I send money too, when I can. Just doing the Life Membership was a big deal for me. I didn't need to be lectured and hounded over it.
However, I am apparently a Life Member at the "Ghost in the Machine" level, because nothing I do or say registers with these people. I use the Easy Pay Life option to pay for my life membership, and every single time (five so far) that I respond to their mailed invoice for my payment, I fill out all the paperwork to have the next payments deducted from my debit card automatically. The NRA claims they would like to do this because it saves the expense of mailing paper billing, but to this date, they've never made one debit withdrawal. I can only assume somebody there is either incompetent or desirous that they continue sending me mail.
The other night I got another one of their push-poll/fundraiser phone calls. The lady tells me she wants me to listen to a message from LaPierre about campaign finance reform, and then answer a poll question. I tell her I'll be glad to answer her question, but I'm very familiar with CFR and I'd rather skip the tedious recorded message. She says she can't possibly do that. Might have been true. So I listen to LaPierre tell me about McCain-Feingold and how it will hurt the NRA this election, and how now they need more money to purchase media outlets. I understand this, I agree, but I didn't need to be lectured about it. But, hey, like I said, I understand why they do it, so I wait it out until a different lady comes on and reads me the poll question. Not surprisingly, as nearly as I can remember, it was something like "Do you agree with Hillary Clinton that there is no right to keep and bear arms and that hunters and sportsmen have no right to be heard in the coming elections?"
"Well," I told her, "that's some question you've got there, but no, I don't agree with Hillary Clinton."
She thanked me and then switched me to a third person, who proceeded to ask me whether I was a current member. I told him I was. He thanked me, then asked if I was a life member. I told him I was. He seemed taken aback at that, but he thanked me again. Then he asked me if I would like to donate "between $150 and $200" to help buy media outlets. I politely told him that money is tight and I can't afford that. I was telling the truth; I've got two jobs already and am saving for more college this year.
He asked if I could donate $100. I told him no, again, more testily.
He asked if I could perhaps spare $75.
I hung up on him.
I realize he has no way of knowing this, but I do a whole lot more for RKBA than just send money, and I send money too, when I can. Just doing the Life Membership was a big deal for me. I didn't need to be lectured and hounded over it.
Blackcloud6
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 608
The fact that we still have our guns is a big victory that the NRA played a big part in. Those antis want 'em real bad and would have 'em ifwe wern't organized by the NRA. So without the NRA I bet we wouldn't even be having this discussions on a gun board. We would all be members of a tiddily wink site because we certainly wouldn't shootin' no firearms!
BozemanMT
Member
SM,
I would bet large amounts of money, the reason for requiring NRA membership at the range is not to build membership, but required by the insurance for the range. (couple people own ranges here, can you speak to this?) This was true at my range in montana, and I"m sure it's true at others.
Motorcycles are the same way, to play at the AMA sanctioned event, you have to be a AMA member, even if you have to join right there. Doesn't really seem unreasonable to me
oh, and it's all about numbers. the sierra club, which has locked up millions of acres of land, done major damage to our rights to use our own land, etc, has less than 500,000 paying members.
out of a country of 300,000,000 people.
No wonder the NRA of 4 million people scare the politicians. just imagine if it was 80 million people. That's probably bigger than the two political parties.
I would bet large amounts of money, the reason for requiring NRA membership at the range is not to build membership, but required by the insurance for the range. (couple people own ranges here, can you speak to this?) This was true at my range in montana, and I"m sure it's true at others.
Motorcycles are the same way, to play at the AMA sanctioned event, you have to be a AMA member, even if you have to join right there. Doesn't really seem unreasonable to me
oh, and it's all about numbers. the sierra club, which has locked up millions of acres of land, done major damage to our rights to use our own land, etc, has less than 500,000 paying members.
out of a country of 300,000,000 people.
No wonder the NRA of 4 million people scare the politicians. just imagine if it was 80 million people. That's probably bigger than the two political parties.
Partisan Ranger
Member
keep in mind that if you search around on Google, you can get yourself an NRA membership renewal for $25, 10 bucks off.
I forget the URL but every time I need to renew, I just Google "NRA membership' and I find the $25 price somewhere.
I forget the URL but every time I need to renew, I just Google "NRA membership' and I find the $25 price somewhere.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Ya know, I used to think that the NRA wasn't an effective organization.
Then a few months ago I watched the live CSPAN feed of the debates/voting on the bill that would have banned legal actions against gun makers.
In case you don't remember, this was a more or less decent bill that the anti's deliberately tacked a bunch of garbage on to.
I watched a majority of the senate vote for tacking on the AWB renewal to this bill.
And then I watched as nearly every senator voted to kill the entire thing rather than let the AWB be renewed. It was something like 98-2.
In that little space of time between Feinstein tacking on her renewal, and the actual votes being cast for the overall thing nearly every single senator changed their mind in order to vote for us.
You can't get five people to agree on what toppings to order on a pizza. Getting nearly 100 contentious, egotistical blowhards to vote our way is a political miracle of messianic proportions. There's no way that all of those people came to that conclusion on their own. They had to have been pushed by the NRA.
If getting mail from the NRA is annoying or offensive, I can only imagine that getting a personal visit from one of their lobbyists must be the political equivalent of having a root canal.
Then a few months ago I watched the live CSPAN feed of the debates/voting on the bill that would have banned legal actions against gun makers.
In case you don't remember, this was a more or less decent bill that the anti's deliberately tacked a bunch of garbage on to.
I watched a majority of the senate vote for tacking on the AWB renewal to this bill.
And then I watched as nearly every senator voted to kill the entire thing rather than let the AWB be renewed. It was something like 98-2.
In that little space of time between Feinstein tacking on her renewal, and the actual votes being cast for the overall thing nearly every single senator changed their mind in order to vote for us.
You can't get five people to agree on what toppings to order on a pizza. Getting nearly 100 contentious, egotistical blowhards to vote our way is a political miracle of messianic proportions. There's no way that all of those people came to that conclusion on their own. They had to have been pushed by the NRA.
If getting mail from the NRA is annoying or offensive, I can only imagine that getting a personal visit from one of their lobbyists must be the political equivalent of having a root canal.
S.B.
Member
Das Pferd, I like that one. Yea, "A Gun Owners Union"! We could take in all the lame, sit and wait people who have let the "Union" do all the dirty work and payed their way for them! I recently saw an estimate that the US has umpteen(not sure) millions guns and only 4 million give a damn. The rest are content to let the minority pay for their way to keep the firearms they have. No wonder the anit's win a lot of the battles? They can at least stand together. Some of us, on the other hand won't agree if we have to pay for our own privaliges, that is. And please spare me the retoric, $35 is spent more often on beer than gun insurance(NRA) each year, by most who claim to be pro-gun! IF you don't like the NRA, then join and vote to change it! And if you don't want to join, just get back in your hole, your're just gun owner want to be's, in my opinion anyway!
Phil Ca
Member
I have been a life member since the late 70s and I get all the solicitation for funds and even to join for the first time. I also get the request to become am "Endowment" member at only an additional $175.00.
Since we had a reversal of fortune two years back and were forced out of business, I no longer am able to donate any funds to the NRA. No matter what I write to them they send me more mail requesting money.
I just take the incoming mail, rip off the personal information and shred that part and toss the rest. There is no point getting upset over some mailing that no boby will stop sending.
Since we had a reversal of fortune two years back and were forced out of business, I no longer am able to donate any funds to the NRA. No matter what I write to them they send me more mail requesting money.
I just take the incoming mail, rip off the personal information and shred that part and toss the rest. There is no point getting upset over some mailing that no boby will stop sending.
I am an NRA member for 2 reasons.
1) I actively compete in shooting sports
2) I like reading American Rifleman and think the NRA is basically an important organization.
I can't stand reading 1st freedom, it makes me upset how they call some of those articles journalism. Also, being an NRA certified instructor is something I want to do, and the title holds more clout than saying "Yeah I can show you how to line up the sights." Whether or not you like the politics or money raising of the NRA, you have to respect how much support they give the competition community.
1) I actively compete in shooting sports
2) I like reading American Rifleman and think the NRA is basically an important organization.
I can't stand reading 1st freedom, it makes me upset how they call some of those articles journalism. Also, being an NRA certified instructor is something I want to do, and the title holds more clout than saying "Yeah I can show you how to line up the sights." Whether or not you like the politics or money raising of the NRA, you have to respect how much support they give the competition community.
sm
member
First - let me apologize to some folks. I recently started using Firefox and Thunderbird and I messed up somehow. I am only getting 2 of my 3 email accts to work and I am not getting my email notiifications either. I'm not getting the pop- up dealie either. I have to look and visually see the PM dealie or go to PM to check .
That out of the way.
Some asked about the range. No I won't give the name or location. I will say it in was in FL . This was a l-o-n-g time ago. We had to make our own clays and dinosaurs threw them.
I was "warned" about this club beforehand, I was trying to be objective. This NRA requirement was not due to Ins reg's. Nor was it Association or Santioned related . IN all due repect this club was very racist, very "tunnel visoned" meaning -shooting shotguns at clay birds was "acceptable" - if one shot any other type of fiream or sporting event...I think they took you out to sea and deep sixed you.
The two fellows in particular were from OK ...yeah they have Native American Indian Blood apparent...they shot shotguns with the Stocks Painted with Tribal - whatever you call the colors and pattern dealie. Really -two great guys, actually brothers. I thought the stocks were neat - sure psyched some folks.
The NRA was the first straw,that day at the club- the one that broke the camel's back was the racist tones. Understand I was young, hard headed, anti-establishement, don't mess with my friends, agree to disagree - don't go after them because I will be in the mix too.
YES - I will agree, the NRA has shown itself and very well I might add. The CSPAN reference as per Justiin is well noted. Truth is - I probably have spent enough money to be a LIFE member in the NRA - with all the monies I have sent , or contributed In MY own way.
I really need to contact NRA ....I have no idea where some certificates are that I need to reference. I hate the thought of the questions if I contact them.
I have spent the monies to buy HUnter Safetybooks, various classroom materials over the years. I'm wired funny - you folks know that . Some HS Coach says he needs BBguns - I buy them and have the sent anon. Another Husband and wife says they will teach a Hunter Safety Course at a College...well the materials "just appear".
I really don' t want the attention. There is a quote to the effect where one does stuff and shuts up about it.
The only thing I know - when I die someday the only thing left is that which don't burn.
So for me , seeing a coach with his gut over his belt in total shock and seeing the smiling faces of folks getting to shoot...
Seeing a kid with a parent or both at a Hunter Safety Class with a grin from oneear to the other...
Yeah I'm wired funny perhaps , I admit that. You tell anyone I am sentimental, or old fashioned - I'll deny it.
Anyone have any blank NRA certs...I doubt if FL has copies of mine. Heck I forget what all I have. Age...must be age.. forgetter working real good.
That out of the way.
Some asked about the range. No I won't give the name or location. I will say it in was in FL .
This was a l-o-n-g time ago. We had to make our own clays and dinosaurs threw them. I was "warned" about this club beforehand, I was trying to be objective. This NRA requirement was not due to Ins reg's. Nor was it Association or Santioned related . IN all due repect this club was very racist, very "tunnel visoned" meaning -shooting shotguns at clay birds was "acceptable" - if one shot any other type of fiream or sporting event...I think they took you out to sea and deep sixed you.
The two fellows in particular were from OK ...yeah they have Native American Indian Blood apparent...they shot shotguns with the Stocks Painted with Tribal - whatever you call the colors and pattern dealie. Really -two great guys, actually brothers. I thought the stocks were neat - sure psyched some folks.
The NRA was the first straw,that day at the club- the one that broke the camel's back was the racist tones. Understand I was young, hard headed, anti-establishement, don't mess with my friends, agree to disagree - don't go after them because I will be in the mix too.
YES - I will agree, the NRA has shown itself and very well I might add. The CSPAN reference as per Justiin is well noted. Truth is - I probably have spent enough money to be a LIFE member in the NRA - with all the monies I have sent , or contributed In MY own way.
I really need to contact NRA ....I have no idea where some certificates are that I need to reference. I hate the thought of the questions if I contact them.
I have spent the monies to buy HUnter Safetybooks, various classroom materials over the years. I'm wired funny - you folks know that . Some HS Coach says he needs BBguns - I buy them and have the sent anon. Another Husband and wife says they will teach a Hunter Safety Course at a College...well the materials "just appear".
I really don' t want the attention. There is a quote to the effect where one does stuff and shuts up about it.
The only thing I know - when I die someday the only thing left is that which don't burn.
So for me , seeing a coach with his gut over his belt in total shock and seeing the smiling faces of folks getting to shoot...
Seeing a kid with a parent or both at a Hunter Safety Class with a grin from oneear to the other...
Yeah I'm wired funny perhaps , I admit that. You tell anyone I am sentimental, or old fashioned - I'll deny it.
Anyone have any blank NRA certs...I doubt if FL has copies of mine. Heck I forget what all I have. Age...must be age.. forgetter working real good.
perdurabo
Member
With all due respect, I have all the right in the world to complain, if I wish. First and most important, I'm an American citizen with all of the Bill of Rights guaranteed to me. Second, I'm a veteran.
Respectfully,
~ per
S.B.
Member
perduabo, Like some of the rest of us aren't, also! Still we pay our fair share and do what we can to make up for what the slackers won't do. Just like in the military, victory has a thousand fathers while defeat is always an orphan. If your not a member, then your part of the problem.
Piney
Member
I’ve always thought of the NRA on the same plane as Greenpeace and Save the Whales, etc. The NRA is a vehicle to generate scare tactics, generate capitol and perpetuate their agenda, or should I say marketing ploy, to generate cash. Have you ever been by the headquarters of the NRA off route 66 in Manassas, Va.? You won’t find a fortune 500 corporation with finer facilities.
That being said, I am a member because my gun club requires it and I think it sucks.
That being said, I am a member because my gun club requires it and I think it sucks.
Piney
Member
I’ve always thought of the NRA on the same plane as Greenpeace and Save the Whales, etc. The NRA is a vehicle to generate scare tactics, generate capitol, perpetuate their agenda, or should I say marketing ploy, to generate cash. Have you ever been by the headquarters of the NRA off route 66 in Manassas, Va.? You won’t find a fortune 500 corporation with finer facilities.
That being said, I am a member because my gun club requires it and I think it sucks.
That being said, I am a member because my gun club requires it and I think it sucks.
Not a problem.
If you don't like the NRA then join one of the other gun owners rights groups.
If you don't like any of them then fight the battle on your own.
*And, if you don't want to do that then you can always,
turn in your guns to the local Police Department and just be done with it.
Yes, you have a choice.
45 CAL NRA Life member.
*"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in, I would..."
Sen. Finestein.
If you don't like the NRA then join one of the other gun owners rights groups.
If you don't like any of them then fight the battle on your own.
*And, if you don't want to do that then you can always,
turn in your guns to the local Police Department and just be done with it.
Yes, you have a choice.
45 CAL NRA Life member.
*"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in, I would..."
Sen. Finestein.
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