Well, this was all pre-2005, so I have no idea how gun owners in Cali now view things.
One guy actually didn't think the NRA was extreme but the exact opposite. He blamed the NRA for not sponsoring more shooting schools and, based on that one observation, decided the NRA was in bed with the anti-gunners to keep things chugging along so as to get more money from membership fees. I tried to point out the progress being made at that time regarding CCW in other states and Florida's Castle Doctrine, but he wouldn't budge and felt that Clinton's AWB was proof that the NRA was basically powerless.
As for the others, they simply believed the media's portrayal of the NRA as a home for gun nuts. They considered themselves to be respectable gun owners, but anyone who got politically involved about guns was someone on the edge of extremism. Political activism was somehow unnecessary. "Things aren't as bad as all that" and "It will never happen" were pretty common statements. Frankly, I started out that way until I decided to investigate a little more.
I "crossed a line" when I joined the NRA and CRPA. The CRPA takes a lot of flak sometimes, but I think they do the best they can with what they have.
One guy actually didn't think the NRA was extreme but the exact opposite. He blamed the NRA for not sponsoring more shooting schools and, based on that one observation, decided the NRA was in bed with the anti-gunners to keep things chugging along so as to get more money from membership fees. I tried to point out the progress being made at that time regarding CCW in other states and Florida's Castle Doctrine, but he wouldn't budge and felt that Clinton's AWB was proof that the NRA was basically powerless.
As for the others, they simply believed the media's portrayal of the NRA as a home for gun nuts. They considered themselves to be respectable gun owners, but anyone who got politically involved about guns was someone on the edge of extremism. Political activism was somehow unnecessary. "Things aren't as bad as all that" and "It will never happen" were pretty common statements. Frankly, I started out that way until I decided to investigate a little more.
I "crossed a line" when I joined the NRA and CRPA. The CRPA takes a lot of flak sometimes, but I think they do the best they can with what they have.