The NRA

[Hanzo581]

So I finally took the plunge and joined the NRA. As I was mentioning it around I started to get a little flak even from the pro-2a crowd. On the surface they still seem to be the most prevalent protectors of second amendment rights.....has that changed?

 

[PCFlorida]

No, you may not believe in everything they do or say, but no one stands up for your 2nd Amendment rights like the NRA.

 

[plodder]

In my opinion, the NRA is still the 800 lb. gorilla that promotes, defends and fights on our behalf for 2A rights and issues. It may be true that the NRA went a bit wobbly in the past on some compromises but there is little or none of that nowadays. There are other pro-2A organizations out there that are more outspoken, confrontational and in fact, better messengers of my views, opinions and beliefs. However, the NRA and NRA ILA (Institute for Legislative Action) get the lion's share of my funding. They get attention and results. Besides, when they are the most hated organization of the antis I'm all in.

 

[Jim K]

I am not trying to stifle "alternate" pro-gun views, but we do need to be careful. Some anti-gun groups have adopted a new tactic - pretending to be pro-gun and denigrating the NRA. Their approach, often seen in newspaper "letters" columns goes something like this:

"I was raised in the country and my family has always owned guns and I support the right to bear arms but the NRA is a far-right, extremist, evil, monstrous, racist group of gangsters that no respectable gun owner will have anything to do with. I believe we can compromise on the gun issue, and I certainly support that. We have to ban handguns and rifles and shotguns, and other guns that have no legitimate use and exterminate the nuts who own them. But I support real true sportsmen who engage in legitimate hunting as long as they don't harm the pretty animals.

Signed, Joe Sportsman"

Jim

 

[CapnMac]

Still the biggest kid in the sandbox.

Like ll large organizations, it is imperfect. Which does not sit well with some uncompromising single-issue folks.

A person could mak a reasonable argument thata they are too close to DC; that too many of the higher-ups are buddy-buddy with too many Beltway Bandits.

However, if you are to contest bandits, you have to go where they do; you have to stand upon their ground. Bob the electrician from Cleveland in a $399 Jos. A Banks suit is not going to get traction. DC is a messed up place; the poverty index is $56K--there are janitors in DC who earn mre (but make less) than school principals out in "fly over country."

So, it's not for everybody. Luckily there are groups representing about everybody else.

You also have to be careful of naysayers--there are plenty who "know all about the NRA" yet have never actually done any research, or joined, or any such like--but, the do know what all their friends say, or heard from a buddy on the internet, or a Bernie rally.

For my 2¢, their only real vice is that they have shopped out all their marketing. Even though I know why, and approve. Far cheaper to hire direct marketing professionals than reinventing the wheel.

 

[Apachedriver]

As a fellow member, thank you for joining.

The key is to be a responsible member, just as you would in any other organization. You don't have to eat, sleep, breathe NRA, however; keep a finger on the pulse so you know what it's doing and where it's moving forward. Keep them accountable and you won't end up supporting a runaway organization. There's enough of those out there starting with the D.C. Beltway beast.

 

[Sav .250]

My question to you......... What took you so long!

 

[AlexanderA]

Just become a life member and don't worry about it from then on. I did that around 1970. I have certainly gotten my money's worth.

 

[Hanzo581]

I missed the $500 sale for life memberships, $1500 is just too steep for me.

 

[Artofgolf]

... yet have never actually done any research, or joined, or any such like--but, the do know what all their friends say, or heard from a buddy on the internet, or a Bernie rally...

I think RR had it pegged: “It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.” ― Ronald Reagan

 

[Ranger Roberts]

They are still the biggest gun lobby around, so I keep my membership up to date. I really do wish that they would stop sending me junk mail to renew my membership. The junk mail literally starts immediately after becoming a member... "your membership is almost up, renew now!!!" I always imagine how much more money they would have if they didn't start that crap until the last month or two before the expiration of your membership.

 

[Ryanxia]

Everyone (including organizations) make mistakes, but they are still the most influential lobbying group for us. Consider donating regularly to the NRA-ILA which is the Institute for Legislative Action, the arm (in fact separate entity) that does most of the hard work on the Constitutional front to preserve and expand our Rights.

 

[SSN Vet]

Without the NRA we wouldn't have the two largest pro 2a victories of the last 100 years....
Keller and McDonald, in which the SCOTUS went on record for the first time in the history of the country as declaring that 2a was and individual right.

The NRA doesn't chase every anti skunk that fouls the air, but rather, they are very methodical and strategic in their endeavors.

Happy to be in "association" with you.

 

[Grumulkin]

I missed the $500 sale for life memberships, $1500 is just too steep for me.

If you wait awhile, they'll probably have their $300 sale again. They had it at that price probably a year ago. I bought my son a membership at that price probably 10 years ago and I got one at that price around 1985.

 

[stchman]

I may not agree with everything the NRA does or says, but Hillary Clinton hates the NRA. Good enough.

Anything that PO's liberals I like.

 

[Apachedriver]

If you're over 65 OR a Disabled Veteran, call them and ask.

 

[rugerman]

Welcome to the club, look at it this way, if Hillary hates the NRA you are in good company. I've been a life member since the 70's, I also don't agree with everything they do but they do enough that I do agree with, and they carry a lot of weight in Washington.

 

[200Apples]

.
When you get right down to it, "the NRA is the greatest civil rights organization in the world". Jeff Cooper said that many years ago, and I believe it now more than ever.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Congratulations! Life member here.

 

[AZAndy]

Without the NRA we wouldn't have the two largest pro 2a victories of the last 100 years....
Keller and McDonald, in which the SCOTUS went on record for the first time in the history of the country as declaring that 2a was and individual right.

The NRA doesn't chase every anti skunk that fouls the air, but rather, they are very methodical and strategic in their endeavors.

Happy to be in "association" with you.

That wasn't the NRA, that was the SAF. The NRA didn't think it was the right time for those cases.

 

[herkyguy]

I'm a card carrying member.

I will be for the foreseeable future.

That being said, I do roll my eyes a bit every time a tele-marketer calls to tell me that 'Wayne' has an important message for me. I kindly thank them for calling (which I don't do for other tele-marketers) and end the call.

Defending the 2a ain't a pretty business and I'm glad someone's out there to do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[45Cal]

For those that missed the last sale. NRA Life membership's are $500.00 for the month of July.
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp?campaignid=XR018983

 

[pjeski]

I missed the $500 sale for life memberships, $1500 is just too steep for me.

If you wait awhile, they'll probably have their $300 sale again. They had it at that price probably a year ago. I bought my son a membership at that price probably 10 years ago and I got one at that price around 1985.

I joined for $1000 just days before a $300 sale. At first I had buyers remorse, wishing I had waited. But the realization set in; I joined so they could have my money, not so I could have their card.

 

[JTHunter]

Hanzo581 said:

I missed the $500 sale for life memberships, $1500 is just too steep for me.

Good for you for joining Hanzo. Tough luck on missing that promo.
I was lucky enough to have a good job about 20 years ago that let me get the Life membership for interest-free installments. Then, about 10 years later, I got a chance to move up to Endowment. No additional benefits but the satisfaction of trying to hold politicians feet to the fire for their actions/inactions.

 

[PapaG]

I became a life member in 78, and have progressed through the next levels to the top. I also belong to the ISRA and am chairman of the board in my local Sportsmens club. I don't think I have wasted a cent and I contribute about a grand a year, on fixed retirement income, to these organizations. Anyone who avoids getting involved, who bitches about the fundraising, or who says "I don't agree with everything" they stand for has no complaint when we lose it all. Get off your butts and stand up for your rights!