Putting the 800# Gorilla on a Weight Gain Program

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chemist308

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In my last NRA related thread, I attempted to get membership pledges or donation pledges here. There was limited interest that, and I'm going to think the best of us and believe that's because we're already donating as mush as we can.

Last week I was talking with someone I work with who owns and shoots pistols. He too was concerned about what our current house, senate, and president elect will do to our rights. However I was shocked to learn that he wasn't a member of the NRA, GOA or any other RKBA organization. Yes, it's true. The biggest one is the NRA. 4 million or so members? Yet it's speculated that there are 40 to 80 million gun owners. So, it's plainly obvious that there are many out there who simply own firearms and sit back.

So, what could we in the form of an NRA or other RKBA organization membership drive?

The prices of firearms have gone up drastically. Supply and demand... Are there any gunshops out there that would be willing to increase prices $5, and offer to kick in half of the membership fee for every firearm or bulk ammo order they sell?

I'm figuring you'll either break even on that or possibly make a slight profit as not everyone will opt for this.

Any other ideas?

The fact is that increasing the membership or financial clout of RKBA lobbying organizations will help our cause. If our proverbial 800# gorilla weighed more like 2 tons it certainly wouldn't hurt. Also wouldn't hurt to have another 800# gorilla on our side...
 
I would steer my business to any seller who does this. I also buy from Brownell's online. At their checkout, they ask if you would like to give a donation to the NRA, and I tip them according to the size of the order, since they give me a discount for being military.

And yes, you are absolutely correct in that those who are not members are luxuriating in the protection provided by those of us that are. If ALL of us were members, we wouldn't be worried about a ban.
 
"And yes, you are absolutely correct in that those who are not members are luxuriating in the protection provided by those of us that are. If ALL of us were members, we wouldn't be worried about a ban."

What protection are you talking about? Certainly not Heller, the biggest thing protecting our gun rights in years.

I didn't renew my membership after it became obvious that the NRA was trying to derail the Cato Institute during the Heller trial by getting the lawmakers to to write a law allowing handguns in D.C. The NRA stated that their reason for doing so was because they were afraid that SCOTUS would rule against us. But when SCOTUS ruled in our favor, the NRA jumped on the bandwagon and took as much credit for the victory as they could. To me, in many ways, the NRA is no better than the Brady Campaign. They both lie to contributors and the general public, for their own reasons, ie-money. Your money, my money. That is the main reason for being in the NRA. If you are convinced otherwise, you are lying to yourself. The fact that they support something you believe in is just gravy. Its a mistake to think that they are being altruistic. Their political power cannot be denied, but if you are wondering why some don't support them, well you have my reason why I don't.
 
Money makes the world go 'round. But just writing a check shouldn't make people feel superior to those who don't. A few cleverly targeted emails can have the same or more effect than an annual membership in an RKBA organization. If you're already an NRA member, you should be reading and responding to their email newsletters. Writing and emailing your representatives can have a bigger impact than we realize, especially if we do it in numbers. I think that gun owners and RKBA activists should be using methods similar to, but less dubious than organizations like PeTA. A great example of this is concealedcampus.org
 
If all gun owners were NRA members, they wouldn't be in a position where they HAVE to compromise.

The protection I am referring to, (which you are pretending you don't understand,) is that the NRA is probably the singlemost powerful lobby in Washington. No one does more to protect your rights than they do.

All of my representatives are strong in RKBA. I helped to put them in office in MANY ways. You are erroneous to assume that just because someone supports the NRA, they don't do anything else. How are the reps from YOUR state? YOU NEED TO BE AN NRA MEMBER TO GET THEIR NEWSLETTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Being an NRA member and contributing to them doesn't make me superior. It makes those who enjoy the freedom they protect while doing nothing in return for it freeloaders. THEY are the reason we are worrying about a new assault weapons ban.
 
I didn't renew my membership after it became obvious that the NRA was trying to derail the Cato Institute during the Heller trial by getting the lawmakers to to write a law allowing handguns in D.C. The NRA stated that their reason for doing so was because they were afraid that SCOTUS would rule against us.
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2 Things:
1. The NRA was right to try to derail it. I didn't realize it until I saw the vote--we only got it by 1 out of 9. That could just as easily gone the other way.
2. I finally understand why the NRA compromises. They are compromising on battles they think they'll lose all out if they fight. It actually equates to a slick negotiating tactic. It's giving an inch versus losing half a foot.

Either way, please don't limit ideas to the NRA. As someone else said earlier, it would be nice to have two 800# gorillas--maybe one with a different attitude that throws things when agitated. :)
 
Hostile much? I never pretended to not understand. I also never questioned the benefit of the NRA. I am also a member. Yes I do know my representatives, because I email them frequently. I wonder if you read my post before your apparent attempt at a flame war. Calling people freeloaders and pointing the finger at "THEY" will often illicit the same response you had to my post. I think your post actually is an example of what I was talking about. My suggestion was that anyone can easily do more and different things that are free. Did I say anyone shouldn't join or donate?
 
I would steer my business to any seller who does this. I also buy from Brownell's online. At their checkout, they ask if you would like to give a donation to the NRA
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CDNN also has a round-up for the NRA option at check out, if I remember right.

The prices of firearms have gone up drastically. Supply and demand... Are there any gunshops out there that would be willing to increase prices $5, and offer to kick in half of the membership fee for every firearm or bulk ammo order they sell?
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Glock, Kimber, and various other gun makers still offer discounted new memberships for the NRA as part of the paperwork with guns they sell, don't they?
 
Glock, Kimber, and various other gun makers still offer discounted new memberships for the NRA as part of the paperwork with guns they sell, don't they?
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Bingo! I'm talking about getting people signed up for free or close to it. I'm not liking the idea of freeloading, but these organizations would have more clout if their membership suddenly doubled!
 
you will get more bang for your buck buying stamps to write your reps then you will giving it to the NRA. Thats 83 stamps for those wondering...
 
"1. The NRA was right to try to derail it. I didn't realize it until I saw the vote--we only got it by 1 out of 9. That could just as easily gone the other way."

I understand why they did it, although I don't agree with them doing it. My real problem is the way they jumped on the bandwagon after the case was won. A lot of the general public attributed the win to the NRA, and the NRA did nothing to correct them. The NRA then went on a suing tangent to force other cities like Chicago to knuckle under the SCOTUS ruling. (Not that there is anything wrong with that) But the least the NRA could have done was share some of the costs with the Cato Institute so as to have actual ground in taking the credit on winning the case.

I'm glad the public at large has gone on a gun buying tear buying up as many guns as possible before the admin change. It sends a much more powerful message than if they all just sent their money to the NRA.
 
Again, you are erroneous to assume that just because we are NRA members, we don't do anything else. And no, I don't think that 83 letters are more effective than the cost of NRA membership. Letters to politicians get opened by interns and tallied. The tally is only significant to them when there's a surprise. The NRA is on the ground in Washington where they can exert pressure BETWEEN elections.

All three of Utah's congressmen (including one Democrat) and both our senators (Bennett and Hatch) are strongly pro-gun. I have spoken to my congressmen and BOTH senators face to face about it. The letter-writing already worked here.

I'm involved in lots of things, including getting into law school, but until I'm done, the NRA will be able to exert pressure better than I can.
 
yeah lets see... 4 mil NRA members or 332mil letters, which sends a clearer message?
 
take that 40 mil people, each sending 83 letter... each member of congress would get 6205607 letter each. That would whip the NRAs butt.
 
I'm not suggesting we stop doing other activism activities after getting others signed up for a RKBA organization. I'm merely looking for ways to make the RKBA organizations bigger. And I'm looking for ways of making it cheap for those who otherwise wouldn't join just to get them to do SOMETHING. Why would anyone in their right mind oppose or derail that?!
 
yeah lets see... 4 mil NRA members or 332mil letters, which sends a clearer message?
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Okay, but what about 20 million NRA members and the letters you talked about? I bet that message is clearer still!

That said, I've gone as far as buying books of stamps, and attaching them to envelopes that I preprinted addresses of state house and senators, as well as congressmen on. Then I left those envelopes along with blank stationary at gunshops throughout the area along with copies of proposed anti-gun bills for people to read and get pissed about. I fully plan on continuing to do stuff like that. I recommend you do the same.

However, this one is about getting people to join pro-RKBA organizations like the NRA and GOA. Like them or not, if organizations like the NRA and GOA even had a quarter of the firearms owners as membership, we may well have a different president elect... Deeper pockets for those organizations equals more lobbying, more TV ads prior to elections and ultimately affects our rights.
 
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