NRA...YES or NO

[Lemon328i]

Every gun owner should join whether they agree with the politics or not. The NRA has only about 5 million members out of an estimated 80 million gun owners. That is frankly pathetic.

Look at how much political clout the AARP has with some 35 million members. No pertinent legislation is passed without AARP backing. The NRA has a lot of power, but with 40 million members, the anti's would become a footnote in history, the '68 GCA could be repealed, strict constitutionalist judges would be appointed in every Federal Appeals Court, shooting sports, hunting, ranges could all be expanded, etc.

It is perfectly acceptable not to like all of the NRA's positions (just as not every retired person agrees with the AARP),but change can only come from within by electing leaders who will do what you want. Not being a member, you can't change squat. There is no good reason for a gun owner not to join the NRA.

 

[JohnBT]

"and try not to insult others over who belongs or does not belong to what group."

I do try, but I'm not always perfect.

Can you get the NRA haters to stop insulting the NRA members?

JBT

 

[MudPuppy]

My membership is mainly to add to the statistics--a politician better reckon with a group that has that many members.

They are more "hunter" gun rights than true RKBA and 2A, but they're still a gun owner's best advocate.

Like others said, join more groups if you can. And don't expect them to do it for us--it's our cause too.

 

[cracked butt]

i am sooo tired of being treated like this by non-hunting gun-owners... kinda makes it obvious why some of your area hunters could give a flip about your causes, eh?

Dakotasin- you are pretty much right on. Its hard to win converts by browbeating them.

Being a hunter, a collector, and a competitive shooter, I've seen both sides of the fence. I've never heard a rifle or pistol competitor ask me why I need an 'assault rifle' or tell me that having a semiauto handgun in my house makes it a place more ripe for violence. On the other hand, hunters are too diverse of a group to paint with a broad brush.


edit: Life member here

 

[NineseveN]

Can you get the NRA haters to stop insulting the NRA members?

I wish I could. Non-members should feel free to criticize the NRA itself, but the members are simply contributing to a group they believe in, and there's nothing wrong with that and no one should be insulted over it. Though, as you said, it is difficult sometimes to get into this conversation without it snowballing into an argument. There are some deeply passionate ideas on both sides of the coin.

 

[AK-74me]

Since I am working 12 hrs. double time today I think I'll take some money from my gas fund and renew my NRA membership today.

 

[pauli]

i'll join the nra next time i renew my vcdl membership.

every state needs an outfit as good as vcdl.

 

[M-Rex]

M-REX

If you don't join and help, how do you expect to gain anything!!!!!!! Is this a typical "You do the work so I can benefit.

I was paying on a life membership when they made the big announcement that they had just built an uber-million dollar facility several years ago. At the same time, I watched the federal gun ban come into existance. I also watched the California gun ban get passed. A lot of good my dues did. It became very evident where my life membership dues were going. Also, for all their 'political clout', my home state of California is still barely marginal when it comes to firearms freedoms. Where are they? Thanks, but no thanks.

Spare me the kool-aid drinking, union thug act. I support the RKBA every time I purchase another firearm for my collection, more ammunition, more reloading supplies, etc. I don't need the NRA to tell me how to do it. I don't begrudge anyone wanting to join. I just didn't see the benefit where the rubber met the road.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Tory]

Confusing cause and effect

"i am sooo tired of being treated like this by non-hunting gun-owners... kinda makes it obvious why some of your area hunters could give a flip about your causes, eh?"

You have completely backwards. It is because hunters, as a group, do so little for firearms rights preservation - and, often, much AGAINST it - that they are "being treated like this by non-hunting gun owners."

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters} who have no problems with "assault weapon" bans, handgun bans, "one gun a month" restrictions and the rest of the blissninny anti-gun agenda.

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters) who call me up because they just heard about a major revision of firearms law that occurred over half a decade ago and they paid no attention to.

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters) who selfishly - and stupidly - say they have nothing to worry about because they have "sporting" guns.

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters) who support restrictions on everyone else's rights because "you don't need a handgun/machinegun/assault rifle" to hunt.

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters) who have no concept of the fact that the Second Amendment has NOTHING to do with "sport."

It is the hunters (and skeet/trap shooters) who do the least among gun owners to protect the right to BE a gun owner, while getting a free ride from those of us who do.

It is the hunters who criticize the NRA for being too "extreme" while they wilfully ignore the fact that the anti-hunting and anti-gun forces share a common agenda, goal and source of funds.

And THAT'S why you hear disparaging remarks about hunters from those of us who actually read papers, listen to the news, monitor political events, generally pay attention to gun rights issues and generally "have a clue" - even if it ISN'T hunting season.

 

[NineseveN]

Tory, I generally agree with the stereotype you put in your post, even though I feel that stereotypes are no way to frame an argument. Hunters and Sportsmen look at MY FALs and HKs and roll their eyes. I hear things such as, "What do you need that for, you can't hunt with it?"

I don't bother explaining to them that my .308 is as good on Deer as theirs is, even if I could make 20 hits without reloading.

I hear things such as, "You don't need that kind of a gun to hunt. The Second Amendment is about muzzle loaders".

I then quickly lecture them on the finer points about how the 2A has nothing to do with hunting, sporting or muzzle loaders, and in fact, protects guns that the media feels are worse than my semi-auto FAL. If we really had 2A protection, we'd all have access to machine guns and artillery if we had the means.


The interesting conundrum we have here, is that while Hunters and Sportsmen criticize the NRA in your example and they criticize my firearms choices in mine, the NRA has done more for Hunting/Safety and Shooting Sports than it has done for the RKBA. Funny how that works out.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

NRA YES...

BTW, had a lady with her kids shooting with us at the range two weeks ago. Apparent hunters. Okay, she asked a bunch of questions, and we had a nice time.

My fiancee was up with the G19 shooting the absolute EYES out of the target at 7 yards. Lady with kids (who I think was a bit jealous of fiancee) says, "boy, that target isn't very far away, why do you shoot handguns that close". I replied, "Measure the hall to your bedroom".

 

[JohnBT]

"they had just built an uber-million dollar facility"

Checked the price of D.C. area real estate recently? I'd guess they've tripled their money, if not quadrupled or quintupled it. Why blow money on rent when you can make money. In addition, they have a nice museum and an indoor range.

John

 

[FPrice]

YES! Join the NRA!

Every gun owner should be a member of at least three organizations.

1. Federal: NRA to support efforts at the federal level.

2. State: Join your state-wide organization to support efforts in your state.

3. Local: Join your local club/range to keep them active and insure their survival.

And do what you can to insure that all three know your views on the future of private gun ownership.

 

[benEzra]

i am sooo tired of being treated like this by non-hunting gun-owners... kinda makes it obvious why some of your area hunters could give a flip about your causes, eh?

It probably comes from the fact that the handpicked hunters one always sees in media interviews are the ones that say that only THEY should be allowed to own the guns of their choice, and the rest of us can go jump in a creek. The "you shouldn't be allowed to own nonhunting style guns" crowd.

I am not a hunter, but I strongly support hunting and hunters rights. HOWEVER, hunters should realize that they are only a small minority of gun owners (only 20% of gun owners are hunters, 80% are NOT), and should carefully avoid giving the impression that they think only "sportsmen" such as themselves should own guns. The vast majority of gun owners in this country own guns primarily for defensive purposes, followed by recreational plinking, with hunting coming in a rather distant third. Every time a hunter gets on TV and says "people shouldn't be allowed to own nonhunting firearm X", it hurts your cause.

I personally don't give a flying fig whether I'm "allowed" to own a deer rifle or a skeet shotgun. I want to keep my modern-looking small-caliber self-loading rifles and my handguns, thanks.

 

[MudPuppy]

"What do you need that for, you can't hunt with it?"

You don't NEED to hunt. Or NEED to speak your mind. Or go to church (okay, maybe you could argue that one).

Hunters with that attitude will be in for a nasty shock if the anti's have their way with the black plastic guns.

All that aside, the NRA is still the loudest voice. As long as they don't through 2A principles out the window for lever guns, I'll support them.

 

[orangeninja]

In answer to the origional question: If you're not part of the solution...you're part of the problem.

 

[pharmer]

Yes, and do it now if you own a gun and want to keep it. Even if he ain't the nicest or best player on the team, you want the big kid who always hits the ball over the centerfield fence when it counts. Joe NRA Endowment member.
PS- it wasn't the NRA that sent Cali gunowners into the toilet, it was the Jackass politicians you Cali "residents" keep electing (Over and Over!)over.

 

[SteveS]

It probably comes from the fact that the handpicked hunters one always sees in media interviews are the ones that say that only THEY should be allowed to own the guns of their choice, and the rest of us can go jump in a creek. The "you shouldn't be allowed to own nonhunting style guns" crowd.

I am a hunter and can honestly say that the vast majority of hunters that I know are supportive of the RKBA. Additionally, many of the major hunting orgs (SCI, RMEF, etc.) are also supportive of the RKBA and keep their members updated in regards to laws and proposed laws. I am sure that there are some hunters that would be perfectly fine with a new AWB, but I have also met other non-hunting gun owners that are ok with restrictions on what they can own, waiting periods, and limits on how many guns you can buy in a certain period of time.

I see hunters as a group that, if neutral, can easily be converted. Most own guns, so they don't have the "guns are bad" mindset or fear that many people that do not own guns have.

FWIW, some of the best allies that hunters have in my state (MI) are non-hunting gun owners. We have a ballot initiative coming up the next election to see if we will have a dove hunt and some of the most active supporters are non-hunting gun owners.

 

[PCGS65]

There's always good and bad in everything especially people. Nothing or no one is perfect. My opinion is NRA is a big plus for our 2nd amendment rights. Go for it!

 

[M-Rex]

PS- it wasn't the NRA that sent Cali gunowners into the toilet, it was the Jackass politicians you Cali "residents" keep electing (Over and Over!)over.

Don't blame me. I vote Conservative.

 

[Titus]

Checked the price of D.C. area real estate recently? I'd guess they've tripled their money, if not quadrupled or quintupled it. Why blow money on rent when you can make money. In addition, they have a nice museum and an indoor range.

They own the building, don't they? They aren't the only business in there, so I imagine they are collecting rent, rather than paying it, as you point out.

 

[Sewerman]

ill loan you the money if you dont have it

 

[dakotasin]

tory- 15-yard bs flag just flew from my pocket.
every hunter i know personally is very supportive of all gun-rights - although only about 3/4's are fanatical and only a half to 2/3's are downright militant about it.

when you make statements like that, it certainly doesn't prevent fragmenting gun-owners.

maybe its the difference of where we live (i live in a very, very pro-gun state, surrounded by people w/ guns, and routinely see the neighbor kids out taking their shotguns for a walk). maybe it is what ben points out (handpicked interviews by your liberal media). i don't know what the source is, but for me, and the hunters i know, it is utter nonsense. is this a case of perception beats reality? meaning that you percieve hunters that way, regardless of which way their pendulum swings? i don't know.

i do know there may be a wedge between hunters and non-hunting gun-owners and that nonsense you are spewing is akin to whacking that wedge w/ a sledgehammer.

 

[CajunBass]

My wife and I are both members. We plan to stay members.

 

[ewb45acp]

Yes! join today!

They are our loudest voice.