NRA

[saltydog]

I wised up and dumped them back in 86, when they gave us no warning about the machinegun ban, and then did nothing after to try and get it repealed. Not that they've done much for anything else either, before or after.

The NRA is just another branch of DC politics and needs all the drama and threats, imagined or otherwise, to keep the minions sending in their hard earned cash so they can keep the big salaries and fancy offices.

If they would just sell that high dollar crap off, get people who really cared, who will actually try and get something done, and take some of that money from what they sold, and buy the votes needed to stop this crap, they might be onto something.

This...

 

[PapaG]

Annual, 1958-1978, life, 1978 and on through Endoement, Patron, and Benefactor by 1990. In spite of Wayne.

 

[WheelGunMan]

When do you figure they'll get on that weeding? At least one bad egg has been there for over thirty years now....

I guess if there were solid evidence of that..he would have been ousted by now or certainly demoted. Hearsay and conjecture is not proof of wrong doing..

 

[crestoncowboy]

And besides all that... the anti2a politicians always blast the NRA. Not any of the others. Just the NRA. Proves they do something, or at least proves that the antis think they do..... at least.

 

[GEM]

I guess if there were solid evidence of that..he would have been ousted by now or certainly demoted. Hearsay and conjecture is not proof of wrong doing..

The personnel policies of the NRA and board makeup do not have a clear path to ousting him. That has been a major part of recent discussions. However, diverting this thread to a complete analysis of WLP isn't really its purpose, so let's skip that.

 

[SwampWolf]

Of late I've had the feeling tht if I donate $50 they'll spend $60 sending more solicitations.

If an organization doesn't solicit funds continually, it won't survive as a viable entity. Every business or mission knows that and asks for new funds in perpetuity. Because a request is made for a cause that costs money to achieve, doesn't mean you have to pay. Just throw it into the trashcan along with every other pitch you get in the mail every day and go about your business.

 

[OneFreeTexan]

Is there any indication that WLP is aware of what is going on, about his excessive spending?

 

[crestoncowboy]

If an organization doesn't solicit funds continually,

I agree. But they waste more money by soliciting their already paying members than they should. Solicit the non- members and the expired members. Instead of sending ten million members a letter every two days, put one in every single mail box every month.

I feel like they could get money better ways. Organized events. Selling decent stuff (everything i ever got from then was absolute trash . Range bag. Mexico made knife, wind proof lighter that was apparently also fireproof....)

Rather than all the "win this huge stack of guns" papers. Just seems like they waste a lot on soliciting. We are already on their side or we wouldn't be members right?


But I'm sure they have people much more informed than me making such decisions on how to handle the money.

Or at least I used to be sure. Either way I'll give them the dues and a bit extra.

 

[SwampWolf]

Just seems like they waste a lot on soliciting. We are already on their side or we wouldn't be members right?

Just because you're a member doesn't necessarily mean that there's no need for your continued monetary contributions. I've been a member of the NRA since I "enlisted" in the cause (preserving the Second Amendment) while serving in the Air Force in the early sixties. In 1974, I paid the $100.00 life membership fee via $25.00 quarterly payments. Along the way, I moved up in the ranks to my current Benefactor status and, yes, along the way, I've periodically contributed money whenever I could (I happen to like the occasional token knives, etc.).

"Non-members and expired members" are never going to constitute sufficient revenue to advance the political means necessary to thwart anti-gun legislation. Committed members (and new recruits) will be the reason the NRA achieves its (our) ends; apathetic members (along with gun owners who are too cheap or too naive to recognize the importance of what's at stake) will be the cause of failure (the end of the Second Amendment and firearm confiscation by the government).

Obviously, no organization is perfect or doesn't require ongoing reviews of what should or should not be changed. But this is a time for circling the wagons; this is not the time for dissension. So, again, I implore the op to vote "yea" for membership in the National Rifle Association and to get on board to fight for the worthiest cause of our lifetime.

 

[crestoncowboy]

So, again, I implore the op to vote "yea" for membership in the National Rifle Association and to get on board to fight for the worthiest cause of our lifetime.

I did the same. I was definitely a yea.

I've paid the yearly membership for years knowing it would be cheaper to be a lifetime. Donated as well. Ive also bought some of their junk they peddled and subscribe to 2 of their magazines that I rarely open. I just think they spam a bit too much when they could do other things.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

One thing is for sure, this has been the best discussion on the NRA in a long time; thanks to the OP for starting it.I've been having the same internal discussion. I've had the same concerns about mismanagement already mentioned, but the comment about circling the wagons hits home.

I'm not sure I believe NRA is as effective and cost-effective as some here have mentioned. I recently joined or renewed with all of NRA's competitors, and all of them were significantly less than NRA. (Meh, I gave more than they asked so perhaps that is irrelevant.) FPC, SAF, and GOA are all involved in significant litigation on various issues in various states. (Magazine and AWB in California, 80% lowers, Bump Stocks, I-1634 in Washington state.) I don't see the NRA involved in much of this nature. I feel like the future of the second amendment will be won or lost in the courtroom, and NRA appears to be absent there.

For me it's not really the money out of my account; it's what is the best use of the money in my account. Certainly, I have enough income to contribute to NRA as well as the other three. But is that the best use of that money for the 2A? Disregarding the noise around WLP, even without him, is the 2A better served with donations to the other three than it would be with a donation to the NRA? I think that is the difficult question.

 

[230RN]

Annual, 1958-1978, life, 1978 and on through Endoement, Patron, and Benefactor by 1990. In spite of Wayne.

Reminds me of Montgomery, Overthinking, overcautious, underaction.

Stop to think about it, if it weren't for the vigorous opposition to Second Amendment rights, the NRA would still be merely a blued steel, polished wood, competition-sanctioning good old boy organization.

Where's the money in that?

 

[crestoncowboy]

I think that is the difficult question.

Maybe. But the number helps. Even if you just sign up and forget it. The fact that it has xx million members is a thorn in the side of the anti folks. Look at the anti 2a picket signs. Very few don't mention the NRA. And let's face it....Gun owners are paying over a 2 year membership for a brick of 22 LR. If every dummy buying 70 dollar boxes of 9mm white box and 120 dollar golden bullets would spend that on a two year membership, then what would that say to congress? "NRA membership up 300%"....

If I don't throw them a measly hundred bucks every so often and lose one inch of my rights then that's on me. If they abuse the money and blow out on cognac and suits then that's on them. I'll sleep just fine

But yeah I do agree it's a personal thing. Do or don't. Idk.

 

[kwguy]

All the negative NRA press over the past several years is the direct result of the Bloomberg / Anti campaign against them. This action from NY is driven by that. Period. We have no legislative advantage now in Congress. They hold both chambers. The best we can hope for is flipping some Dems to the side of “good”, and keeping ALL the Republicans in either the Senate or the House during a floor vote to hold off any legislation, because it WILL make it out of committee (either Senate or House). That is going to take a powerful Lobby, like the NRA. It doesn’t matter what kind of suits LaPierre wears or what kind of plane they fly in, as long as they get the job done. They are more than just a pro 2A YouTube channel, which is why they are being targeted.

 

[straightShot]

As an NRA member (Benefactor), I am torn between telling you to do so 'because it's the right thing to do' and the undisputed fact that LaPierre and company have wasted millions of dollars through misuse and self-aggrandizement to the detriment of the NRA and our great country. They must go.

I've recruited and signed up many members over the years. I have now stopped. I have also stopped donating money. I have chosen not to pay for what has been the mismanagement of many, many millions of dollars from NRA members for the benefit of a few. Good luck in your decision.

 

[GEM]

Most of the problems would go away if the current leadership would realize that their time has come. If they were truly dedicated to the cause, they would see that they are counter productive. I fail to see why this is not apparent to them and to some of you. Do the right thing and save the organization.

If you cannot be an effective leader - yes, you may feel that you are being picked on, but do the right thing.

 

[AK103K]

They should have done the right thing in 1934.

 

[Jack B.]

5 years at a time for me. As far as I know they are our only real voice in the fight. Always have been . I became a member because some of the ranges around here require NRA membership to join their range and I wanted all the opportunity to shoot at as many different ranges as possible. All of them are different and have varying disciplines.

 

[gnappi]

I've been a life member since the 70's, the NRA for better or worse is the only collective voice we have, our elected officials swear to protect our rights but so readily try to remove them.

Do or do not, but those who are not members can't crab to me about their losses on the 2A front

 

[CraigC]

I went life and then upgraded all the way to Benefactor a few years ago, when you could do it for $250 a pop. Glad I did. While the leadership is not what I would like it to be, I don't throw babies out with bathwater.

 

[bassjam]

I decided some 15 years ago that I would never become a life member, just so I could pull my membership at any time if I disagreed with the direction the NRA was going. I sign up 3 years at a time, and generally donate extra money throughout each year. I stopped the extra donations during the Obama administration when I read a multi-page spread in American Rifleman arguing against the ACA. It's not that I disagreed with the article, it's just that I realized the NRA had become a "Republican" organization that no longer focused strictly on the 2nd Amendment. It's foolish to alienate the registered Independents and Democrats out there who are still 2nd A friendly, and it's clear to me that at the moment the NRA is focusing on being divisive instead of inclusive.

I had ultimately decided 2 years ago I wasn't going to renew my membership when it expires in '21. Unfortunately I've since joined a range 5 minutes from my house that requires NRA membership so it appears I'm stuck unless I want to join the next best range, which is 50 minutes away. I asked during orientation if they'd consider changing that rule to allow any 2nd Amendment group, and they admitted that they are getting more and more requests to do so but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[wiscoaster]

....the NRA for better or worse is the only collective voice we have, ...

No, that's not true. There are several national organizations working for our rights as our collective voices. Take a look at my signature line. Not to mention the more focussed groups that represent various activity and interest based participants, and the scores of regional groups. The NRA is not the only game in town. Nor even the best at what it does. I think the main thing is to just support one or more organizations that you believe make the most effective use of your support. Don't think you're locked into just one "for better or worse".

 

[GEM]

better or worse

There is a solution for 'worse' and how to make it better. See my posts above. I recall when an NRA representative would appear on Meet the Press or Face the Nation to defend the 2nd Amendment. That would be a disaster now because of the scandal entanglements. Don't give me main stream media BTW, we need folks who could have sterling reputations making the case across the entire media spectrum.

In Japan, I was impressed by when an executive was caught or screwed up the company, they resigned. That's a hint. Save the organization.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've been a life member for about twenty years. I figure that I've gotten my money's worth from the insurance coverage. Everything else is just gravy.

It would be nice if their leadership cleaned up its act, though... .

 

[Jimbo80]

It's a no for me.