Should i join the NRA ?

[chetrogers]

I have heard some good things and some bad things about the NRA.Im Just curious to why people think i should of shouldnt join.Im just not sure about if i should join just because its an organization that respects gun rights.Im going be taking some training classes that are teached by instructors that are NRA certified i could always ask them but im sure they would all say yeah i should..Thanks for any info.

 

[PeteyPete]

I say yes...

Though the NRA isn't infallable, they have done more to protect our 2nd Amendment rights than any other lobby group in the country. They, and their millions of members, are literally an 800lb gorilla in Washington. They have been out on the forefront of the AW ban and any new legislation, and have been working hard to see it sunset. They have also been a major element in many states getting CCW permits as well.

I say join, it works out to about 9 cents a day...not much to protect our rights.

 

[Jim Diver]

I have to say what do you expect to get from the NRA?

If you are joining to help protect RKBA rights, then no. Do not join.

NRA does not take policy input from members. They could not give a crap what you think. NRA has really screwed us here in PRK and is on the wrong side of many RKBA issues here in PRK.

If you are joining for other reasons, education, safety, range preservation, then join.

This is what one NRA instructor thinks.

 

[Wildalaska]

Join...stregnth in numbers

WildwontsyamorethanthattoavoidflamewarsAlaska

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I seems to me that the NRA has become MOSTLY a self-promoting vehicle to preserve the income of those who work there. I do however suggest that you join, just to keep the numbers up but the value is not in the work they do to help us keep our Right to Keep and Bear Arms...

For political effectiveness I suggest www.gunowners.org

 

[Wildalaska]

For political effectiveness I suggest www.gunowners.org

Yeah, they just make congresmmen sweat, dont they

And some of the other organizations are self promoting nightmares..like the one that raised all sorts of $$ for a Supreme Court Case that never occurred and screams traitor at anyone who dares to disagree with them...

No mind...Like I said, join the NRA...if you want to throw some money to one of the other orgs, go ahead.


WildrunsscreamingfromtheflamesAlaska

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Both woman and the NRA have pi$$ed me off at times.

However, the alternatives are NOT attractive to me.

Join.

I have also join Gun Owners of America and Jews for the Pres. Of Firearm Ownership (they need a shorter name).

 

[Drjones]

Both woman and the NRA have pi$$ed me off at times.

However, the alternatives are NOT attractive to me.

I agree with what most people here have said, and the first poster nailed it.

While they aren't perfect, they are our biggest friend out of the bunch.

But don't join just the NRA; if you really care about your gun rights, join other groups too. Don't limit yourself to just one.

 

[Ala Dan]

Join, we need all the help we can get in fighting
the Kennedy, Schumer, Frankenstein, Brady war's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.

 

[Hal]

Around here, here's what's sometimes offered:
- NRA Cap.
- Subscription to American Rifleman.
- One time free admission to a local gun show.
--------------------------------------------------------------
You might want to check out the local gun showsand see if they offer a free admission to the show if you join the NRA. Locally, that's worth $5.

The NRA cap is probably worth another $5.

The American Rifleman magazine is pretty decent throne reading material. It worth every penny of $2 a pop.

Final liability = $1 for a 1 year membership.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Like others have said, the NRA is the 600lb gorilla in DC for gun owners. The politicans take notice when the membership numbers swell. With the AWB on the agenda, I figure a buck is a cheap way to make a statement.

 

[SMLE]

I used to be a member and my late Mother was a member. I've been POed at them for some of the sorry compromises they've made. I think they've sold out a few times. But I'm now thinking that those of us who are the most ticked off at them, should all join en-mass, establish ourselves as voting members and see if we can't just take over.

I do get sick of some people here in the NM Shooting Sports circles who are NRA sycophants and toadies. They seem to think they are the ONLY gun rights org. and that any money spent on another org. is totally wasted.

I'm also a member of JPFO, and think a lot more people should join that group. I tend to like JPFO's philosophy better than the NRA's.

My two cents, YMMV

 

[gabeodog]

AHH yes. At worst you get is a hat.

 

[PAshooter]

Yes.

They're the guys the antis love to hate. There's strength in numbers, and if every gun-owner in the country would just spring the equivalent of a box of premium ammo once a year the NRAs numbers would be mind-boggling.

Is the organization perfect? No. Do you know of one that is? Didn't think so.

If you don't like some of their positions join, roll up your sleeves, and get to work changing them.

Those who refuse to participate because some of the NRA's activities or positions in the past have not been to their liking are about as helpful to the RKBA cause as the Shumers and Feinsteins of the world.

 

[JohnBT]

Join and vote. JT

 

[whoami]

Im Just curious to why people think i should of shouldnt join.Im just not sure about if i should join just because its an organization that respects gun rights.

Argh. You might also want to do some searching through both THR and TFL...there have been a number of doozy threads on this subject alone, and I don't think I've seen it come on a gun board where it doesn't get pretty thick.

Most of the reason I'm not a member of the NRA (member of GOA, sending in JPFO very soon) has to do with what state I'm from. Regardless of what the 'letter of the law' might say, NRA has ZERO presence in NJ. They've abandonded it, and when asked the NJ rep (who from what I have told is a decent fellow) came close to saying the same thing. So part of it is the very petty (yes, I admit, it is petty) position of 'why should I do for you, when you leave me swinging in the breeze'. ANJRPC has done a heck of a lot more in a given year here than the NRA ever has. Heck, I get better updates from the much smaller and oft-maligned GOA than I do from the NRA site.

Another was a discussion very similar to this on another board, where I was told by a very respected and longtime NRA member that the Lautenberg amendment was a good thing, and that the NRA supports it wholeheartedly.

Another is that I'm not a hunter. I'd like to be, and NJ being NJ it's not exactly easy to be, but that's not my primary reason. I'm not a shotgunner.
In fact, the first and probably only shotgun I'm going to buy will be something in the 18-20" HD range. Lets just put it this way....if I ever see a pre-ban AR-15 to go along with the 'cold, dead hands' speech, I'm there.

Those who refuse to participate because some of the NRAs activities or positions in the past have not been to their liking are about as helpful to the RKBA cause as the Shumers and Feinsteins of the world.

This is the second biggest point, aside from the NJ thing. This really shows the level of unity and support of the NRA organization, and the quality of it's members. Then again, I've never been one to get caught by the whole 'Support us, cause you suck!' campaign. Not to mention the whole 'bow down and worship before the altar of the NRA, for without us Gods ye lowly mortals would have no 2nd Amendment' campaign.

 

[FPrice]

Ask yourself one question, "What other organization out there on the national level does as much across the entire spectrum of firearms safety, training, competition, AND defending our rights as the NRA does?".

Sad to say for GOA, KABA, SAF, CCRKBA, JPFO, and many others but as well-intentioned (and probably successful on some matters) as they may be, no one, and I mean NO ONE approaches the NRA. If they did I am sure you would see them being bashed by the anti-gun groups.

Yeah, the NRA does make some mistakes. Please point out to me any organization the size, complexity, and as involved in such a complex and divisive issue as guns and gun ownershop that does not have problems.

Many of the people who bad-mouth the NRA do so from the fact that they are not the ones who are running the organization. And sometimes they have good points about what may be happening. But if we abandon the NRA you might as well abandon all hope of future firearms ownership. Cuz there ain't no one else out there who can carry the load.

I am not saying NOT to join any of these other organizations. But just look at the totality of what the NRA does and you will see why they are still the biggest and best force we have working for us.

 

[RCL]

Join the NRA.


They ARE the BIG STICK.

 

[Quantrill]

Yes, Join!! Quantrill

 

[zahc]

what I usually post in these threads

In college we learned about the most powerful interest groups in the US.


1. NRA
2. AARP
23 other random interest groups.

It's not expensive and you get a decent magazine. And free stickers!

 

[Waitone]

The NRA is perhaps the single most effective grass roots organization in Washington. It scares bodily waste out of statist and fascist organizations, some of which oppose the second amendment. Quite frankly the NRA is perceived to be a large, aggressive, and ugly gorilla by our opposition. That's a good thang! Unfortunately the NRA does tend to compromise on issues which hardnosed RKBA-types support.

I suggest joining the NRA just to keep up the intimidation factor. Join GOA or JPFO to demonstrate your unwillingness to compromise.

 

[WT]

I'll say no.

I don't think the NRA does all the much which benefits its members. The only guys that make out are those in headquarters.

 

[SaintDavid]

YES

Yes there are good and bad aspects of the NRA and other gun groups. I do not agree with all their politics and policies but I am a millenium endowment member and a life member of several other gun groups. It is important in these political times to belong and hold strong with other gunowners for all our rights and the NRA is a large and important force for our gun rights.

 

[hillbilly]

Scrounge up about $60.

Join the NRA first.

Then, with your left over money, join the other RKBA organization of your choice......JPFO, Gun Owners, Pink Pistols, CCRKBA, what ever flavor you wish.

hillbilly

 

[iapetus]

PeteyPete
They, and their millions of members, are literally an 800lb gorilla in Washington.

Congratulations! You win the "Murry Walker Award for Humorous Misuse of the Word 'Literally'".

Hal

Like others have said, the NRA is the 600lb gorilla in DC for gun owners.

Is it on a diet then?


(Hmmm... Is Murry Walker known in in the US? If not, he's a (now retired) Grand Prix commentator, famous for coming up with nonsense comments, often using "literally" in cases that were anything but. I may be able to find some examples if you want).

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Those who refuse to participate because some of the NRA's activities or positions in the past have not been to their liking are about as helpful to the RKBA cause as the Shumers and Feinsteins of the world.

Thanks. Maybe I should shut the board down and send $20 to the NRA. I'm sure it's more helpful to the cause. It's more than 200 times cheaper too. I must be an idiot.

Hey -- I think I'll vote for Bush now too...