NRA- Made in China.

[thirty-ought-six]

Some people have complained that the free hat or duffel bag they got when singing up for the NRA was made in China.

The NRA basically responded with "We have to keep cost lows".

Well free is one thing, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, they don't have to give you a hat any way.


However, recently I ordered a book from them, the illustrated history of firearms.

In the first page listing the authors, copyright date, etc, it reads:

Printed in China


This doesn't sit to well with me, because:

1. They are an American Org representing an American right.

2. They gave money to CHINESE publishers!.



I own tons of books, covering all sorts of hobbies of mine. I never even SEEN a book printed in China. All of mine say Printed in the United States of America.

In fact, as much as this book was ($12.99), I don't really see how it could of been much more expensive to have a book printed here.

 

[Balrog]

I don't see the big deal. The majority of consumer goods sold in the US are foreign made, with the larger foreign maker being China.

 

[thirty-ought-six]

I don't see the big deal. The majority of consumer goods sold in the US are foreign made, with the larger foreign maker being China.

The biggest issue is that you have a .org that supports "America's freedoms", yet gives money to China, and not America.

That isn't supporting our freedom when you give China money.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

If they can save money by smart shopping and use the money saved for the cause, I don't see the problem.

 

[alexander45]

Meh companies get all of their logo swag from companies that specialize in making logo stuff for companies,
as for the book and a number of the other things they hawk with their sticker on it, where it was made is up to the book company or the holster, clock, bag, jacket company.
as you may know the nra isn't a publisher or a clothing company or a any thing else company so this stuff is all farmed out

 

[thirty-ought-six]

Now this bites. Come to think of it, I'm starting to wonder if anything the NRA puts out is US made.

The book still bites. I've never in my life seen a Chinese printed book, except maybe at the dollar store.

 

[Styx]

If they can save money by smart shopping and use the money saved for the cause, I don't see the problem.

100% Agreed!

 

[TennJed]

If they can save money printing a book in china, they they have more money for fighting antis on 2A issues. Their main purpose revolves around protecting the 2A

 

[thirty-ought-six]

If they can save money printing a book in china, they they have more money for fighting antis on 2A issues. Their main purpose revolves around protecting the 2A

Yes but one must wonder how much they are saving?

 

[Styx]

Yes but one must wonder how much they are saving?

Probably a lot else what would be the point?

 

[TennJed]

Yes but one must wonder how much they are saving?

It is the total net of their business decisions that add up to a lot. I bet the NRA offices have desk, chairs, phones, and computers made in China. Their employees are drinking from water coolers and coffee machines made in china. Where do you want them to draw the line? Should they make sure every aspect of their daily operations is 100% american made? How expensive would that be? How much wasted money that could be used fighting for gun owner's rights.

The printed magazines and books are no different than the office chairs and coffee machines. They add up and the money saved can go toward better things.

Would it be nice if everyone bought everything american made? Yes, but I still rather have the first priority be the NRA fighting for gun owners rights

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Welcome to 2015.

It's a Global Econonomy, and capitalism is not just something you can pick and choose when it works for you. Most things in your home aren't made in the good ole US of A, and even if they are assembled here, they probably use foreign parts.

It might be frustrating, but you're better off not worrying too much about it to save your body the stress. That way, you can live long enough to see the rise of the New World Order, or whatever the popular consiracy theory of tinfoil hat wearers are these days...

 

[ku4hx]

At the risk of giving you a coronary, you might want to investigate the sources of some of the raw materials used in the manufacture of American guns, ammunition, accessories, spare parts and etc.

For example, Ruger makes American guns many of which contain significant portions of stainless steel. Chromium is a key element in making stainless steels. The following is a 2014 report excerpt on who supplies the world's chromium;

"Import Sources (2009–12): Chromite mineral: South Africa, 100%. Chromium-containing scrap: Canada, 61%; Mexico, 34%; and other, 5%. Chromium primary metal: South Africa, 29%; Kazakhstan, 20%; Russia, 12%; China, 5%; and other 34%. Total imports: South Africa, 36%; Kazakhstan, 16%; Russia, 10%; Mexico, 5%; and other, 33%."

You can find the whole report here: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/chromium/ It's under 2014 which is under Chromium>PDF Format. There are other data sets on other beloved materials out there, all you have to do is look for them. This may seem trivial and "reaching" to many, but the avoidable fact is money leaves America.

Whether we like it or not, there are few, if any, 100% American products considering all materials sources and their ultimate repositories and who ultimately receives at least part of the American money to supply us with them. As much as I would prefer to buy 100% American, ultimately there is no such thing. And it has been that way for a long, long time.

 

[Plan2Live]

Thank your local union rep.

 

[Tirod]

Think most of the 1911's on the market are American made? Nope. Turkish, Czech, or Filipino among others. Even if they have a Big American Brand on it, sorry, that was likely applied by a workman who attends prayer services 5 times daily.

It's a sheltered life that isn't aware of the huge amount of goods American businesses buy overseas to sell here under their labels. Start looking.

BTW, the source of someone's log in? A US caliber first used in a rifle design from a German company - the 1903 Springfield. During WW1 royalities for the use of their patents had to be paid into a holding account which was disbursed to Mauser after the war.

Is it no wonder so many flea markets now exist for American shoppers to find what is left of our own handiwork?

 

[USAF_Vet]

Thank your local union rep.

What does that have to do with anything? Oh goodness, we can't pay American workers a living wage with decent benefits and possibly give incentive to produce a quality product.

No, if anyone is to blame, its the cheap skate American consumer who wants it cheap, fast and disposable. No one is willing to pay for quality when buying quantity is easier. Why buy a Snap-on tool made in the USA when you can buy a similar tool at Harbor Freight that's a tenth of the cost, made in China?

As someone who is a Union member, and uses hand and power tools for a living, I can say it's not Unions that are driving companies overseas. Its consumer trends, its corporate greed, and ignorant misinformation spread. Basically, the average consumer doesn't want quality anymore, so they buy cheap Chinese junk which only further encourages the corporate behavior of shutting down factories in the US to send jobs to China or Mexico. It's not that we produce over priced junk (GM of years past aside), but its society and the cheap and easy mentality.

Why bother buying something you can pass down to your grand kids or their grand kids, because it'll last, when you can buy just what you need now, and who cares if it winds up in the trash. The same trend can be seen with guns (to keep this THR related). Cutting costs and cutting corners and pass the savings on to corporate bonuses, while we the consumer gets shafted with junk that can't perform.

And as far as union bashing goes, suck it up, sally. Every corporation with a union agreed to it.

UAW Local 19, skilled labor.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

^^^I think both Plan2Live and USAF_Vet are correct^^^

Greed is the major motivator. That's just life and how things have always been. That's why people buy cheap goods at Walmart and why Harbor Freight tools sell so well. I could go on, but that is for another day, I guess.

On the other hand, I think there is a reason so many gun manufacturers are moving to right-to-work states.

Unions are greedy, corporations are greedy, consumers are greedy, people are just plain greedy.

But, these are just opinions, and not facts, but people seem to mix those up nowadays.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Union execs may be greedy. Union workers just want a decent wage, working conditions and benefits that most employers wouldn't give otherwise.

 

[Apachedriver]

Union execs may be greedy. Union workers just want a decent wage, working conditions and benefits that most employers wouldn't give otherwise.

Very accurate statement.

 

[HOWARD J]

You might as well get used to it ---even if you don't like it
Soon very little will be made in this country--we will be a service country
Times have changed--the old America has gone forever

 

[rhinoh]

Personally I've never managed to actually receive ANY of the swag NRA promises when I renew...

 

[45_auto]

The biggest issue is that you have a .org that supports "America's freedoms", yet gives money to China, and not America.

Do you support "America's freedoms"?

In what country was the majority of the components in the computer that you use to connect to the internet manufactured?

Thirty-ought-six: Posting about "America's freedoms" with CHINESE EQUIPMENT!

 

[hso]

I understand the idea, but "buy American" is fine when you're budgeting with your money for your essential and leisure goods. When an membership organization that has the mission of perpetuating shooting and protecting shooting rights is using MY money and HER money and HIS money and YOUR money for that purpose and offers items and books of interest to us most of US want as much money as possible to go towards the social and political programs as fiscally possible. That means the organization makes decisions like printing books in the cheapest place they can find that will produce the quality.

 

[AlexanderA]

So by the OP's logic, we are supposed to boycott all guns and accessories not made in USA? What about imported milsurps?

I don't think this idea is going anywhere.

 

[Robert]

This has nothing to do with the mission of THR.