NRA Begging Letters.

[minnesota oldie]

I'm not sure this is the right forum for this but is any body but me getting bombarded by begging letters from the NRA. Everytime anyone no matter how obscure makes an anti gun comment the NRA says they need my money to fight against them. Once or twice a year, OK, but 3 and 4 times a month? Also how about an accounting for the money they get? I think that we need a better organization to fight for our cause. Any ideas?

 

[Mike Irwin]

Political activism is expensive as hell.

Those letters go out for one reason -- they're an effective means at getting funds. Remember, none of the money that's used for lobbying purposes can be taken from membership dues. It ALL has to come from donations.

As for an accounting of how the money is spent, there are any number of ways to get that, I'd suspect. I believe reports have to be filed with the government.

 

[RatFink]

That's the biggest reason I let my membership slide a few years ago, they kept asking for money, but my rights kept going away. After what happened last tuesday though I signed back up again. I expect the begging to begin any day.

 

[PATH]

I send what I can when I can. If you can't contribute at least read what they are sending you. It may be painful but the other side of the issue is well funded by Soros et al.

I am willing to send what I can in orfer to keep my guns and my freedom!!!

 

[Black Snowman]

I try to give the GOA at least twice what I give the NRA. What pisses me off is all the money spent on direct mail and advertising for trinkets when they can just pester me by email. They could get their begging across for a lot less overhead.

 

[Highland Ranger]

I joined GOA after last week. Time to give, enough of this.

NRA sends me more than one solicitation a week. I give when I can. I'd like to tell the to save the postage but them giving me a bump now and again works. Be better if they did it via email though . . .

 

[Greg L]

You can call them & ask to be put on the "reduced mailing list" (or something like that). It will reduce the begging letters/member surveys /etc to about one a month.

Greg

 

[El Tejon]

Freedom isn't free.

Our enemies are raising far more money. Write a check or shut the f#@k up!

 

[StrDog]

Black Snowman

Thanks,

Until your post I not heard of the GOA.

 

[Art Eatman]

I get solicitations from the NRA, the TSRA, the GOA, the CCRKBA, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party (!), the March of Dimes, and Lord knows who else. I just look at it as part of life in the U.S. of A.; the killing of lots of trees. I'd rather get those solicitations, however, than some nasty notice from IRS. The gun groups serve a worthwhile purpose.

I have a sort of budget for donations. Once I've "done my duty", solicitations go to the circular file--unopened, unread.

Shifting emphasis, telemarketers can be fun. I ask where they're located, check their local weather, ask about "Mom'n'em" and suchlike. I like to help folks avoid boredom while they're on the job. Get them laughing and then hang up.

, Art

 

[Shooter 2.5]

You can't call the NRA and ask them to stop?
You don't have a fireplace that needs some paper to start a fire?

While you're whining that you have to get your fat ### off the couch to throw away a letter, others are sending in money, working as range safety officers, manning NRA booths at gunshow, going door to door for candidates, teaching Eddie Eagle and ladies classes and hosting competitions. In short, they're doing more than pretending voting once every couple of years does something.

Sorry about the rant but I don't expect someone to watch my back if they can't visit the trash can once in a while.

 

[FPrice]

You think the NRA is bad?

I belong to a number of professional and fraternal organiations connected with my line of work (Air Force). You would not believe (or maybe you would) how many solicitations I receive from them! And their trick is to send you something, "free" and then ask for a donation. If you don't send a donation, they send follow-up letters reminding you of that fact.

Please think for a moment about how much money people like George Soros and the many liberal foundations give to anti-gun groups and then see if it's reasonable to expect the NRA to fight against their influence with a bank account of just a few hundred dollars.

Look, it's not right that we have to fight to maintain our freedoms against the onslaught of our own countrymen. But it's real. And if we fail to show up for the fight, guess who's gonna win?

 

[TimRB]

"Sorry about the rant but I don't expect someone to watch my back if they can't visit the trash can once in a while."

Don't worry about it, Shooter; it was a good rant. I get so tired of our fair-weather friends who seem to think that the NRA *owes* them something in terms of gun legislation.

The NRA is a pro-gun organization, and, yes, they solicit funds relentlessly. But they do fight. Sometimes they win, and sometimes they lose, but on average they win enough that the gun-grabbers absolutely *hate* them. That's good enough for me.

Tim

 

[Partisan Ranger]

Some think the NRA is worthless, but all I know is Feinstein said last week she was amazed that NRA could turn 60 Senate votes with an email. NRA is strong and mostly on our side.

 

[USAFNoDAk]

The NRA is a pro-gun organization, and, yes, they solicit funds relentlessly. But they do fight. Sometimes they win, and sometimes they lose, but on average they win enough that the gun-grabbers absolutely *hate* them. That's good enough for me.

I would bet if you joined the VPC or the Brady Bunch, you'd get just as much "begging" correspondance as the NRA puts out. The only difference is, you probably wouldn't hear their "real" members complaining about it. Just toss it if you don't want to give. The money spent for mailings is a necessary evil. Another good idea would be to give one of these NRA mailings to someone you know doesn't belong, yet has a strong sense of gun owners rights, even if they don't own any guns. Just the information content is worth the money paid for the mailing. The other thing you can do to help defer costs for the NRA, if and when you do contribute, is to put your own stamp on it. It's only 37 cents on your part, but if everyone did it, they could save even more money.

 

[Tropical Z]

Take a chill pill people.It annoys me too,but i send them a check for $5.00 most of the time.Even this adds up over the course of a year.You cant just pay your initial dues and think youre covered! Its more important than that!!!

 

[Mark Tyson]

I've noticed an increased amount of solicitations recently too. I support the NRA generally, but I wish they would do a better job of representing our viewpoint. During the lead up to S659 the airwaves were filled with a revolting and deceptive Brady campaign ad that reached millions of people. The NRA needs to answer that! If not them then somebody . . .

 

[Eskimo Jim]

I do believe that the NRA sends out too many begging letters. I see their repetative letters to be a waste of money.

I joined a while ago and keep renewing my membership. If I want to send more than my membership, I send it if I can afford it. I usually participate in the NRA Round Up program if a shop or online vendor gives me the option.

-Jim

 

[TimRB]

"During the lead up to S659 the airwaves were filled with a revolting and deceptive Brady campaign ad that reached millions of people. The NRA needs to answer that! If not them then somebody . . ."

Did you ask them why they didn't? Maybe they didn't have the money.

As for your last statement, if not them, why not you?

Tim

 

[PATH]

That's it! I'm fired up! Just got off the phone with the NRA. I'm giving up my daily cup of morning coffee and sending the saved money to preserve my freedom. George Soros and his cronies can go to perdition!

Folks, to paraphrase Ben Franklin, "We shall all hang together or we most assuredly shall hang seperately"!

 

[Mike Irwin]

"I've noticed an increased amount of solicitations recently too."

Gee, you think the current political climate and activities might have something to do with that?


As for NRA not getting commercials out to counter Brady crap, the sad fact is that many TV and radio stations and newspapers refuse to accept NRA advertisements.


I've said this before, and I'll say it again, as many times as it takes to get the concept through to people.

These letters go out BECAUSE THEY ARE EFFECTIVE AT GENERATING FUNDS FOR NRA ACTIVITIES!

If they were not, NRA wouldn't continue to use this fundraising vehicle.

As for these mailings wasting money, here's another fact...

The concept behind direct mail (and I worked for a company that did a LOT of direct mail solicitation) is that they pay for themselves.

What? They pay for themselves?

Yep. The money that comes in for a particular solicitation pays for that solicitation by bringing in more money for the organization than it costs to produce.

 

[dwkennedy]

I'd send NRA $500 right now... if they'd promise not to bother me for another year

I'll call them this evening and make the offer! They'll make $500 and save another $100 in postage and printing at one swoop.

 

[minnesota oldie]

Hey Shooter, cool down a bit. I didn't say I don't support the NRA, I was questioning their methods. If they asked me once every 6 months, then I would be willing to send them $100.00 or so. It's this constant bombardment that I object to. It's like the boy who cried wolf. They send out so much that if something really important comes up I'm probably going to throw it away unread.

 

[Shooter 2.5]

Cool down a bit?

No.

Get off the couch or move away from the computer and call the NRA right now and ask how you can volunteer for the election. This way you can see what a better organization the NRA really is.

I know what I'll be doing during the whole month of October and the first half of November. Do you?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I give what I can when I can. I'm not sure it's actually doing much good, but am sure giving nothing would do harm.