RKBA Organization Pledges

[chemist308]

The time to do this would have been November 2007 or earlier, I'll give you that. But I think it's time we start doing pledges to RKBA organizations.

Right now everyone is going out to buy guns. Everyone thinks they need to stock up on guns and ammo. Maybe more ammo would be a good thing, but do you really think you need more guns? Every time you buy a new gun there's paperwork on it. And when they say 'turn them in' they've already got the paperwork for that fancy AR15 you purchased November 5 on file! So, to hell with buying more guns. Buy pens. Buy lobbying power. Buy political bribes and bullying. If you got a $1500 to spend on an AR or $500 on an AK, then you lack a good excuse for not doing this.

So, our economy is in the crapper, I'm a month behind on my mortgage and I've got creditors calling. But I'm also renewing my NRA membership on Friday, when I get paid. I could do it now, but I want to be sure I've got gas for work. Then, every month thereafter, I'm sending the NRA $20.

So, that's it. I just pledged to send the NRA an extra $220 over the course of the next year. I'll check in every month to mention that I've sent the payment. My financial situation could be worse--I could be unemployed. Instead, just my wife is unemployed. I'm not asking anyone else this bad off to donate. Not everyone can do this. Some can only do $5 or $10. Some of us are physicians and can do more. Others work at McDonalds, and can only afford the stamps to write their politicians. But I ask this:

If you still have a job, I ask that you donate a specified dollar amount that you can easily afford to the RKBA organization of your choice. I ask that you do this every month, and that you do it for your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Perhaps we could check in to this post and list your pledge and organization of choice.

Who knows, but if 500 people actually sent an extra $200 as a result of pledges like this, then that is an extra $100,000 dedicated to our rights.

If no-one does it but me, that's still $220. If it get's locked, I guess I'll save my money and my ink, shed a tear and go clean and disassemble them so they're ready to turn in...

Strengthening the RKBA organizations is one of the most important things we can do.

 

[jrou111]

I joined the GOA this week, and plan to get a NRA life membership when I get paid next week.

 

[ilbob]

I would suggest giving serious thought to where you put your money.

If you plan to donate to the NRA, remember there are different parts of the NRA that can use your money.

The NRA/ILA is the political activism side of the NRA.

The NRA foundation supports all kinds of worthy activities, many oriented toward youth shooting programs.

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund funds legal activities supporting the RTKBA.

Some supposed RTKBA groups are not much more than money raising machines to support their paid staff. They have no history of actually accomplishing anything, other than making a lot of noise. I will leave it to you to do the research on which ones might be worthwhile and which ones might not. I urge you to look past bombastic claims and look at what the organizations might actually have accomplished in the past.

I have put a small amount of my own money into an effort by opencarry.org to put up billboards advocating open carry in Texas. It won't do me any good in Illinois, but any improvement in the RTKBA in any state helps us all.

State organizations are going to be very important as well. Some states are very lucky to have some good organizations, others have virtually nothing. Most states have at least one active Internet group, but whether that is actually accomplishing much is another story. If the sum total of the group is a web site run by a single person, you should probably look elsewhere. If it actually has an organizational structure, bylaws, and elections to select officers, it may well be a keeper. Think along the lines of VCDL and Calguns Foundation.

Each state also has an NRA affiliate. Most of them seem to be a little late coming to the battle. Take a look at the affiliate in your state, and decide if it is worth joining. If so, send them some of your money.