NRA and high pressure tactics.

[Too Many Choices!?]

NRA are sold out gun owners and future gun owners!! I won't forget!

I was only a youngin' when the "86 Ban was made law :banghead: ! Now I am forced to save money forever to buy an atleast 19 year old gun that should be the birthright of all Americans ! When I think of the NRA, I always seem to get a picture of John Kerry holding that shotgun in his orange hunting vest , and until they (NRA)show a more aggressive stance that does not involve compromise on the antis terms, they can kiss my ....The Republicans too...

I bet 90% of the money they raise goes back to paying salaries.

 

[Jeeper]

I am not a big fan of the constant solicitation but I do understand it.

My real problem is that TWICE I ordered some promotional video or poster set and never got it even though my credit card was charged. It was one of those Tom Selleck posteror Nolan Ryan, I foget. I think I gave $100 to get it but never did. i dont mind the solicitation but at least send me the stuff. I called and got the typical "we'll look into it answer". Oh well, it was really a donation where you got a free gift so I cant really bitch much!

 

[Russ]

Too Many Choices,

It appears you do not like the NRA from your comments. My question to you is which group do you support? If none then you have no right to complain about it. Just like people who don't vote. When they don't like the elected official, they really have no right to complain because they did not bother to be a part of it.

I am a CPA by profession and one of my specialties is tax exempt organizations. I can guarantee you that no where near 90% of the money goes to salaries. Even if it did, do you expect those people who work full time for the NRA to work for free? I don't work for free, do you? I have mouths to feed. The NRA has to raise money just as the GOA does and the JPFO and all the rest of them. They do it they best way they know. Many don't like it and their tactics may evolve into different methods over the years. The fact is that telemarketing works. Direct mail works. TV ads work. Not all methods work well for every company but they are always trying to refine things just as I do in my business.

I know what the head of the GOA makes and he is not far behind Wayne LaPierre of the NRA. For an organization that is less than 1/10th the size of the NRA you might want to complain about them also.

You need to put your money where your mouth is. Join something to further the cause. If you don't support any pro 2A groups then you have no right to complain.

 

[oct_97]

Your annual dues cannot be used for political purposes, hence the need for donations/fund raising. I always make it a point to send a few extra bucks at least once a year. Would I do so without their mailings, I do not think so. If you are a gun owner and do not support them in their efforts shame on you, they are the only ones effectively fighting for us.

 

[rick_reno]

You forgot to say the magic words "Add me to your do not call list".

 

[Texian Pistolero]

I have a new tactic!

I just interrupt them and say loudly'

"I am happy to be talking to YOU!

Have you learned the BLESSINGS of Scientology?"

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

Russ,

I understand the idea of,"overhead", and what not, but I would like to see a positive return on funds if I put into something, you too , no? Now by pandering to politi-cons and trying to,"play the game", as it were, the NRA is as much a part of the problem as the antis, IMHO ! Sure, we all have to,"play the game", sometimes but damn man, play to win !!

PS I don't currently contribute to any firearms group or orginization, as I have not found one with an aggressive enough stance. I say take the fight to the antis and screw the pandering to politi-cons and sheeple....Is it the right to Keep and bare arms(which means government hands off ,state and fed)or right to bear arms ,"approved", by the majority and regulated by the government? Change happens locally(grassroots or whatever you wanna call it),and I have yet to see a single NRA billboard or advertisement endorsing firearms ownership/usage in this country !

 

[mec]

High pressure tactics and bullcrap abound but I will stay in the NRA because it's the best power play we have going. The gun culture doens't have a mainstream though a lot of segments think they are sitting right in the middle of it. The NRA is a powerful voice for gunowner rights regardless of the part of the culture we occupy

 

[45crittergitter]

You, sir, are part of the problem, not part of the solution!

 

[wmenorr67]

The NRA does a lot of good that a lot of people don't know about. Most of the calls from the NRA is from the ILA. The political side of the NRA. There also is the Friends of the NRA that raises money to support youth groups such as the Boy Scouts, 4-H, gun clubs, JRROTC, Eddie Eagle and other types of training. This money cannot be used for political reasons and the IRS looks ovet the books rather closely.

 

[Tory]

Lots of talk - any ACTION?

"PS I don't currently contribute to any firearms group or orginization [sic], as I have not found one with an aggressive enough stance."

Gee, no "Minutemen" in your neighborhood?

What you are REALLY saying is that, of the plethora of firearms rights organizations, from state entities up to the NRA, GOA, SAF and JPFO, you help exactly - NONE. Aren't you the stellar supporter of the Second Amendment...

"I say take the fight to the antis and screw the pandering to politi-cons and sheeple...."

My, how brave. And how do YOU "take the fight to the antis," as you, by your own admission, belong to and support none of the gun rights groups so dedicated? Besides by posting rant-faces on forums?

"Is it the right to Keep and bare [sic] arms(which means government hands off ,state and fed)or right to bear arms ,"approved", by the majority and regulated by the government?"

Doesn't really matter, as you are doing nothing to support either position.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I quit the NRA when they let the machine gun ban slip by, without any warning I might add.

How was it the NRAs fault that Democrats in the House added the machine gun ban to the Firearm Owners Protection Act based on a questionable voice vote?

Here is a little more history that people who hold this point of view might want to consider:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=142097&page=1&pp=25&highlight=FOPA

They do not want the gun control issue resolved; too much money involved in it.

The NRA receives dues of $35 per year for around 3 million members. According to the charter of the NRA, these dues may not be used for political purposes but are only used to support the organizations goals of promoting firearms safety, matches, etc. So around $105 million a year is devoted to that purpose.

The NRA-ILA and the NRA-PAC are the political wing of the NRA. From 1989-2002, they managed to spend about $13 million supporting gun rights (this includes salaries to their own lobbyists).

Now, let's just assume that your unsupported accusation concerning the NRA is correct and they are only in it for the money. In what way do they need the political issue of gun control to generate money?

For that matter, how does your accusation compare historically? Did the NAACP or the ACLU fade into the woodwork after these solely political organizations achieved the goals they were formed to promote? Were their leaders suddenly jobless and destitute?

When I think of the NRA, I always seem to get a picture of John Kerry holding that shotgun in his orange hunting vest , and until they (NRA)show a more aggressive stance that does not involve compromise on the antis terms, they can kiss my ....The Republicans too...

And why should the NRA care about your outside the group opinion any more than they care about Sarah Brady's opinion? What world do you live in where the NRA suddenly starts thinking "Hey some random guy on the Internet won't join us until we completely change our policies to suit his whims, even though these same policies might not be supported by our current membership? Kind of tough to make an organization more hardcore by shunning it and allowing only the soft-hearted to make the rules.

PS I don't currently contribute to any firearms group or orginization, as I have not found one with an aggressive enough stance.

So what are you doing locally to change that?

 

[RonS]

The problem with the NRA is the same as in the late 70's, all of their communications come looking exactly like the stuff from AARP, Capitol One, VISA or any other corporation that uses professional advertising hucksters. When Wayne LePiere and Charlton Heston were running things they put a damper on that kind of insincere, manipulative BS, but now I see it is coming back. As a member I want to see the business of the NRA conducted with dignity, integrity and sincerity.

I'm sorry, I appreciate what they do, and I support them with my membership, an occasional gift, and by writing letters, but the way they seem to think that they have to use these slick tactics makes me distrust them. Since Heston retired, I hate to get anything from them because I know it is just going to be more junk mail trying to make me feel guilty because I am not giving them more money.

I let my membership lapse for several years because I just felt like it wasn't an organization that I was proud to belong to. All the infighting, the thing with the bylaws, nomination and voting issues, the so called members revolution. Well I think we are headed back there.

 

[45crittergitter]

Well, you know, Ron, only as a voting member can you influence that.

 

[chetrogers]

I have been an NRA member for almost 2 years now and i have never got a call from them.I do get something in the mail every month 0r so but that doesnt bother me.I guess im just lucky,If they do call i will let them no to take my name off of there call list or i will drop my membership.But i never have got a call like i said,Just lucky.