Why I choose not to be a member of the NRA.

[Bentley4700]

Another thread was being hijacked and I was asked to "backup" a negative statement that I made about the NRA. Here you go. All the info you need to understand what the NRA has really "accomplished" for gun rights...

http://nrawol.net/

 

[mljdeckard]

Then....why start it in the first place?

 

[jmstevens2]

Oh yea, get info from a group trying to put them down. Why not pick the republican candidate based on what obamas campaign says. Good idea.

If you look at things from the view of the NRA, they tell you straight up, they are a one issue organization, Gun rights period.
Bad as Harry Reed is, he has voted consistently in the past for gun rights, at least as of the time they made the endorsement. I haven't looked at him recently. That is the NRAs only benchmark.
They are pro gun and they are the 800 pound gorilla in the room. It would be foolish to abandon them. If you don't like them join, get active and change them from within like they did in the early 70s, I think it was, at the Cincinnati annual meeting.

 

[Davek1977]

Gotta love the internet...You can always find a source that will "back" any claim, no matter how absurd it may be. Do you believe our nation's government is run by lizard people? Me neither, but there's several websites that claim exactly that. Just because you find a website agreeing with a certain viewpoint doesn't mean that the debate has ended, not by a long shot.

My opinion is I throw away far more than an NRA membership runs on far more mundane things like soda. If nothing else, it makes me feel united with other gun owners, and each time the NRA is part of something, in an albeit tiny way, so am I. I've yet to find a group MORE deserving of my annual 20 bucks.

 

[leadcounsel]

People can find lots of reasons to pretend to be pro-2A but save a few bucks on the membership. I can think of only 1 reason to not support the NRA - you're cheap.

Ever wonder if, in making those "compromises," maybe those compromises wouldn't have been necessary if MORE people were members and contributed? Maybe if instead of 1 million members at the time they had 200 million members, then some of those "compromises" would not have been so...

The NRA is a monster lobby in DC. The mere fact that anti-gun groups hate the NRA should be proof enough. Not good enough, I have two words:

Heller. McDonald.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

If you're concerned about finances, become an "associate" member of the NRA - it's very inexpensive.
Their effectiveness might be debatable, but you can't deny that they're the largest, and adding to the membership rolls can only help.
No one says that you can only belong to one pro-RKBA organization - GOA, SAF, JPFO are all good ones, too.

 

[kinkinhood]

I've always had very mixed feelings in regards to the NRA. On one hand I am very much for their efforts to protect gun ownership rights and to prevent unnecessary regulation because people believe that somehow in some way it'll prevent felons from getting the firearms. On the other hand some of their political tactics feel questionable and they will run off rumors and exaggerations.

In the end though as long as they don't go too far into the deep end of running off rumors, half truths, and exaggerations I'll keep my support for them as their benefits still outweigh their shortfalls.

 

[DAP90]

I’d rather have an imperfect NRA than simply trust our elected officials to look out for our constitutional rights. Cynical as it may be I’ve started to suspect politicians don’t care about my rights at all.

I’m sure there are other fine pro-2A organizations out there but I don’t know of any that wield the same clout as the NRA. Having the perfect agenda doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the clout to get it accomplished.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Supposedly the NRA is the second most powerful lobbying group after the AARP. The more members they have the more clout. Just think how things would be different if all gun owners in the USA joined the NRA? No, they are not perfect at and times I get annoyed with them but I am and will always be a member.

 

[Rob G]

I've never actually joined the NRA because, well I'm not sure really, but I just haven't. I think I will now though. Thanks for the kick in the pants. I'm going to go see what it costs.

 

[jcwit]

An imperfect comprise is much better than loosing the whole issue, I understand thats VERY hard for some to understand or comprehend, but it is the fact.

Ant remember the NRA is the BIG DOG on the porch and the rest are only chihuahua's nipping at the heals.

To think otherwise is total foolishness.

 

[saltydog452]

Just guessing, but I imagine the reason that you aren't a member is that you prefer a free ride. Again just a guess, but ethically, politically, and moraly, you seem likely to move in whatever direction the winds blow.

Nothing personal, but there are millions of folks who fit that general description. So you aren't alone. Intentionally or not, you have joined the herd.

Right now it seems that we are headed for a world class Buffalo Jump.

salty

 

[jcwit]

Another thread was being hijacked and I was asked to "backup" a negative statement that I made about the NRA. Here you go. All the info you need to understand what the NRA has really "accomplished" for gun rights.

Just what do you do to support the 2nd Amendment, both in monies and personal time?

As stated, the rest of use will attempt to carry you on our backs, may you pray we do in fact win the battles and the war, even without the help.

 

[Water-Man]

I support the Second Amendment Foundation. You should consider doing so as well.

 

[MtnSpur]

While the NRA certainly isn't perfect it's a HUGE GORILLA in D.C. that fights for YOUR right to own a firearm(s). Without their diligence in ferreting out all the anti-gun legislation we would be buying slingshots to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

The anti-gun groups are funded by billionaires that want more control in Washington over YOU and YOUR Constitutional rights. Yep, complacency breeds slavery and I for one will be fighting tooth and nail to keep what rights I have left by any means available to me, The NRA being one. This is my condensed version.

 

[leadcounsel]

It's no coincidence that:

-The AWB sunset without being resigned.
-CCW laws have become common in most states in the last 10 years
-Heller was a narrow victory
-McDonald, again a victory
-Heller and McDonald were the most important cases in the history of the 2A, and arguably among the most important cases in US history. The secured the INDIVIDUAL right to keep and bear arms.
-Gun laws are easing in many states. Suppressors, for instance.
-Bad gun laws get killed in Congress

Yes, the NRA is the 1000 lb Gorilla in DC.

Good point to consider, what do YOU do to fight for the 2A?

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I am a 20+ year member of the NRA but I am letting my membership expire this year due to their support of leftist politicians who have YET to vote against a gun issue (in my case because none had come before the House in her 1 term) but voted to keep Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker. At the time my District was CO-04 and the challenger was from the Colorado legislature and a nearly perfect voting record according to the NRA. He won despite the money and mailers the NRA sent out supporting the liberal Democrat. I contacted the NRA and had several discussions with a number of folks but I felt their reasoning was very poor. You cannot separate and divide the Constitution piecemeal and expect it to work as intended, the Second Amendment falls if many of the other amendments supporting legal and individual rights fall. That is my beef with the NRA. I am joining GOA as they tend to be less RINOish...... :banghead:

 

[oneounceload]

Seems the Op hasn't been back, must be a drive-by thread

 

[TarDevil]

I was a NRA member but didn't renew this year as a personal protest. When I joined last year I was promised a promo give-away. After I joined I got another card saying send us more $$ and fill out more cards and we'll send you your freebee. More cards, more promises. Never got the give-away item, in spite of a torrent of letters.

Most likely will join in the very near future, but still have issues with them keeping their word to individual members.

 

[krupparms]

To those who say they are carrying the rest of us who willnot join the NRA. I see it as us carrying you! Keep your heads in the sand, but when you come up for air we will be the one's that have done the work! To the lawyer, some of us who have paid for your right don't have money to throw away as we live on disability! That is the cost of freedom! If you have money to waste, pay for disabled vets to get membership! I have to save up to buy a box of ammo!

 

[Ford Prefect]

"The National Rifle Association has been in support of workable, enforceable gun control legislation since its very inception in 1871."

—NRA Executive Vice President Franklin L. Orth
NRA's American Rifleman Magazine, March 1968, P. 22

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=3247

:banghead:

 

[Ford Prefect]

"The NRA supported The Federal Firearms Act of 1938, which regulates interstate and foreign commerce in firearms and pistol or revolver ammunition..."
—American Rifleman
March 1968,

:banghead:

 

[jcwit]

Keep your heads in the sand, but when you come up for air we will be the one's that have done the work!

So just what is it that you have done?

 

[Ford Prefect]

'We believe that the machine gun, submachine gun, sawed-off shotgun, and dangerous and deadly weapons could all be included in any kind of a bill, and no matter how drastic, we will support it." ..."the association I represent is absolutely favorable to reasonable legislation.' NRA Executive Vice President Milton Reckord - House Ways and Means Committee, House Hearings on National Firearms Act, (April/ May 1934)

:banghead:

 

[jcwit]

People who criticize others for not joining the NRA are ignorant AND arrogant.

All I can say is that statement is quite an opinion from someone who doesn't know an awful lot of folks who help support his 2nd Amendment rights.