NRA: Yay or Nay

[DJ E.]

So I got an 'Official Membership Acceptance Reply Form' in the mail. I've heard alot of great things about the NRA through various messageboards, but I've also heard an equal amount of bad things. Convince me to pay the $25 for the 1yr membership or the $70 for the 3yr, or join a different organization altogether such as GOA. Thanks for any input...

DJ

 

[Jack19]

Well, for their faults, the NRA is the largest organization of its kind. I've been a member for 15 years and have watched them, in some cases, assist in the reduction of our rights. Still, they do do some good work and I remain a member.

If however you want a no-nonsense, no-compromise approach, I'd suggest the JPFO. http://www.jpfo.org/

 

[stevelyn]

Until the NRA stops compromising and jumps into the trenches and gets their hands dirty, I'll take my money and membership elsewhere.

 

[Border]

The trouble with no-nonsense, no-compromise, approach splinter organizations is that they most often don't even get a phone call returned from a member of the legislature! Don't get me wrong, I agree with the statement that: "in some cases, (the NRA) assist(s) in the reduction of our rights" but I also agree that they are one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington and they are seen as a force to contend with! I do support the other national groups and my local action committee, but if money is tight and you want to put it with a team that will deliver some real victories, in my mind it's the NRA! The antis would LOVE to see us all dump the NRA and join little groups that don't have a chance of making it over the wall so to speak and I think that you should still join them, particularly those that fight at a local level. But not at the expense of the NRA!

 

[stevelyn]

Until the NRA stops compromising and jumps into the trenches and gets their hands dirty, I'll take my money and membership elsewhere.

 

[GySgt]

I'll disagree with these libertarian malcontents and say YAY !!!

GySgt
NRA Endowment Life Member

 

[TheOtherOne]

What I did was get a membership to both the NRA and GOA (Gun Owners of America). I figure the NRA, being the largest and most recognized, by far has the most pull and is our best hope right now but since I like the ideas of some of the other no compromise groups better, I joined one of them too. The more pro-gun groups the better.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If you own firearms, you should join the NRA. It isnt perfect. But they scare the hell out of the liberals, and that alone is enough reason to vote for them.

Without the NRA the upset that ocurred in the 1994 Congressional election would not have happened, and Clinton would have had a democratic house.

Without the NRA, Gore would be your president now; wouldnt you rather have a liberal from Texas instead of a liberal from Tennessee?

 

[NRA Instructor]

Another Yea for joining the NRA.
As an instructor I can tell you that they do a lot more than just what the nay's will tell you they are not doing. Here is one example, there is no other group that is active in teaching safe gun handling in the world. There are thousands of us who have been trained and are active.
I am a life member and first joined the NRA back in the mid-50's

 

[aerod1]

I will say yea, for NRA as well. I am a NRA lifer and a TSRA lifer. Are these organizations perfect? No. Is any other organization perfect? No. Am I going to duck my tail and run because I don't get my way NO! NRA has more clout than all the rest of the so called pro gun organizations combined. NRA does a lot of good towards "trying" to preserve our gun rights. Could NRA do more if more gun owners were members? Yes. I only wish more gun owners would join so the NRA could be even stronger.

Respectfully,

Jim Hall

 

[Daedalus]

Instead of YAY or NAY I choose MEH. I am currently a member of the NRA but I am only in it a year at a time. This way whenenver they really tick me off policy wise I can jump ship easily.

 

[redneck2]

It easy to say...

we oughta have this or that..

trouble is, we live in the real world.

Massachussetts Kali, or Chicago should have total CCW, but they may never because of the majority of the voters don't want it. Just because the NRA can't make it happen doesn't mean they're not effective. My opinion is that we might not even have handguns in the USA if it weren't for the NRA.

you just have to pick battles you can win. Every liberal group considers the NRA their #1 enemy. Doesn't stop you from joining other groups you think are as good or better

 

[oscar]

All you have to do is listen to the liberals. They hate the NRA and talk about it all the time. It has power and I have been a member for 30 years. They are the best friend that gun owners have.

 

[RCL]

NRA---YES!!

The NRA is the group the anti's love to hate. Why?
Because they are the big dog on the block, with the most clout, the most teeth, the dog the small gun grabbing "yap dogs" have to get by to get anywhere.
Every gun owner should at least belong to the NRA.

 

[Butch]

You will ultimately have to look around & get informed, then make up your own mind. As for me I will support the NRA because they are the ones that have the ear of the congress. I do support the JPFO & GOA as well but if I have to choose one it is the NRA.

 

[PAshooter]

If you're holding out for the perfect gun rights organization... the one that agrees with your own personal beliefs and opinions on every single gun-related issue, be prepared to become an organization of one, with political influence of zero.

As for the NRA, they are the oldest, largest, and most politically powerful gun rights organization in the nation, and as RCL pointed out they are the organization the antis love to hate. That alone should make every red blooded gun owner sign up without hesitation.

Does the NRA always get it right? Of course not. Do they sometimes let us down? Of course they do. Do you seriously think you'd have any gun rights left at all were it not for the NRA? Don't kid yourself.

GOA is an outstanding organization... I'm a member and I greatly appreciate all the hard work they do. These are truly the "no compromise" gun rights guys. But their numbers and their impact is tiny compared to the NRA's.

I know less about JFPO, but from what I've heard they're also a great organization.

I have no patience for gun owners who refuse to support the NRA because they're not perfect. IMHO they're enjoying what gun rights they have at the expense of those of us who help provide the most effective representation we've got going for us. YMMV.

 

[feedthehogs]

It seems most pro NRA people want to support them because they irritate the anti-gun people.
Not a very sound argument.

They do have alot of very good educational and safety programs.

The problem as I see it is they talk out of both sides of their mouth.
Read any of their publications, go to a convention and you see their policies and beliefs.

But then again you see their support for the NICS improvement check which will allow many more records, including medical to be screened for gun purchase.
If anyone had a short bought of depression and took a valium or Zanex, they could be labeled as mentaly unstable and unable to purchase a gun.

With the NRA blasting the typical gun grabbers, Schumer, Feinstein, Kennedy, McCarthy, etc., these are the same folks they are shaking hands with over this bill.

I have written to the NRA and have gotten no response over this issue. I showed our rep for the Friends of NRA banquet and he read with dis-belief as he had heard nothing about it.

Its hard to support one side of the NRA, its education and safety without supporting the give away the farm side.

They do what they do because the members are lazy people who believe that by sending in their money for membership, that's enough. That relieves them of any responsibility of doing anything else.

The NRA and other groups depend on this ignorance to do what they want.

If you join, be a vocal member who demands that they do what's right, let them hear from you if you don't think what they do is right.

For those who think I am a NRA basher, I am not.
I am a member, 5 discipline instructor, recruiter, range safety officer, NRA EVC, and corporate sponsor of the Friends banquets.

But I am not a silent , lazy member and when I solicite for new members, I tell them all the same as above. The NRA is the members and its time we took it back.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've been a NRA life member for 40 years.
There were many times I didn't and don't agree with how they are doing things.

The fact is the only reason we still have any gun rights left is the clout of the millions of NRA members.

Join the NRA (and other gun organizations) and scare the crap out of the anti gun low lifes in Washington.

There is said to be 80 million gun owners in the US.
If even 25% were in the pro gun organizations not a politician would think of destroying the 2nd Ammendment or our gun rights.

 

[Sisco]

I don't agree with everything the NRA says. Don't agree with everything my wife says either but we've stuck together for over 20 years.

 

[tcdrennen]

Life Member NRA, GOA, CRPA
Member GOC, Liberty Belles, SAS, AFA, JPFO, KABA
and IDPA, USPSA

Join 'em all, make your voice heard.

Locally, our NRA Affiliated Club (Costa Mesa Newport Rifle Association - aka Costa Mesa NRA ) USED to be a Members Council. Unfortunately the restrictions and demands of the CA MC "coordinator" made continuing that status impossible (e.g. we were told that although the NRA would NOT protect us from any liability if sued over our education or community outreach programs, we were NOT allowed to incorporate ourselves to limit personal liability. Go figure.) But it's the ONLY group I belong to that regularly grills local candidates for office, participates in community events (e.g. Neighbor To Neighbor program where we go out and fix up/paint houses for the elderly), provides a rifle team for Memorial Day, etc. GOA, GOC, CRPA (and the National NRA) send newsletters, ask for calls and letters to the legislature and Congress, ask for money - but none offer any grassroots opportunities to DO something. And we hold a monthly fun shoot open to newcomers.

Only Liberty Belles does anything similar - local range days, discussion/awareness outreach meetings, etc.

The NRA is the big dog, and for all its faults (and the fact that until about 30 years ago, it WAS a 'good 'ol boys' club interested in 'recreational' shooting but apathetic or hostile to Gun Rights For The Masses) it is the one group that the antis fear and respect. The other groups are VERY important, but are 'stealth' in that they don't draw as much attention or active opposition from the blissninnies.

And if those of us who ARE RKBA absolutists don't participate in the NRA, we're leaving the field and the big guns to the compromisers.

 

[rick_reno]

No. I was a member for about 20 years and recently didn't send them money. Until I can determine where their line in the sand with respect to the 2nd Amendment is they won't get a dime. I am assuming, and this may be a stretch, that a line in the sand exists for them.
I'm currently watching what they DO with the AWB. I've heard what they have to say and it's good, but will wait and see what they do.

 

[Hypnogator]

I've been a Life Member of the NRA for over 30 years, now. I agree that they're not perfect, but they're the most effective weapon we have in fighting those who would erode our 2nd Amendment rights down to nothing.

I am assuming, and this may be a stretch, that a line in the sand exists for them.

Those who talk of a "line in the sand" are politically naive. Many times the NRA has to "compromise" our rights in order to provide a viable alternative to totally unacceptable legislation. The choice is to "compromise away" rights in order to reduce the severity of the damage to our rights, or to draw a "line in the sand" and watch the political juggernaut roll over us.

Like it or not, we 2nd Amendment activists are a small minority in this country, even among gun owners. Some times you've just got to roll with the punches and minimize the damage. Meanwhile, the NRA has been active in attempting to restore our firearms rights (e.g., CCW bills) as well.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[ksnecktieman]

The NRA does compromise. The NRA is ONLY four million strong. When gun legislation is proposed it is the NRA the press has to face. If you want the NRA to stop compromising, pull out your check book and buy memberships for two gun owners that do not belong. When the NRA is ten million strong they may have the power to refuse compromise. Do you think any politician will fail to listen to an organization that has one member for every 27 people in this country?

Divide and conquer is their strategy, and I say if you are not an NRA member, you have been removed from the battle in the eyes of the anti-gunners.

The reality is that we can not get our rights back through a good defense. As long as all we do is respond to their attacks we are going to lose. We have to fight this battle at the federal level. There is no reason to have drivers licenses good in all states, and have to get local permission for firearms from every local jurisdiction.

 

[MicroBalrog]

NRA? Why, NAY, of course!

 

[Flak 88]

Use the money to buy ammo!