Goodbye NRA...Hello GOA!

mattfra

New member
Just a few minutes ago I joined the Gun Owners of America. My NRA membership ran out March 1, 00. I've been a member since 1994 and it just seems lately that gun locks and BB guns is all they want to discuss in their magazines. I do believe that they have a strong voice in D.C. but I really believe it's been compromised as of late. Anyone out there concur?

[This message has been edited by mattfra (edited March 05, 2000).]
 
My wife suggested I join JPFO next month also. I may do that. I'm not totally badmouthing the NRA. They have some good people and excellent ideas. But it just seems to have lost some punch.
 
When I hear Clinton crying that the NRA has set aside 20,000,000 to defeat anti gun politicians it makes me proud I am a life member
 
Join all progun groups and especially the NRA they are our last best hope of keeping whats left of our rights...7th Fleet

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
Gale hit the nail right on the head-- the best reason to join the NRA, too, is that it's the very organization that the national gun control polititions are most afraid of! This does NOT preclude you from joining GOA nor your state organization. (I can't say enough good things about Texas State Rifle Assoc.)

Piss off a liberal; join the NRA.

There's nothing that speaks to Congress more than Special Interest Groups with big (BIG!) membership numbers.


When you're a member of the NRA, you get a voice in the NRA, as well.

[This message has been edited by Long Path (edited March 05, 2000).]
 
I agree with everyone else - join them all! The NRA may not be everything you want it to be, but it still has the most clout.
 
I have kept my NRA membership eventhough I am less than happy wish them. I have signed on with GOA, JPFO and WAGC too. We can not have enough voices carrying or cause to the ears of our alledged employees, congress.
 
You know that I fuss about the NRA from time to time but I still send them money. My wife even joined this year and she is not much of a joiner.
Hank, NRA & SAF Life Member
 
Although the NRA is dangerously compromising its basic principles, it is still the most effective organization for protecting our rights. However, I think that GOA's day is comming. I see it, as our rights become more secure, replacing the NRA.

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"I don't believe in individualism, Peter. I don't believe that any one man is any one thing which everybody else can't be. I believe that we are all equal and interchangeable."--Ellsworth Toohey
 
mattfra...

I understand, but I second Allen Raiford...brown bag, eat a week of beans and hamhocks...join them all.

I re-joined NRA early last year...I quit for the same reasons and I have my reservations...but, they are more or less on our side and they are the Liberals demon...if they fall then the rest will follow.

The very best thing about the "Evil NRA" is that they aren't some Corp...they are us, regular folk and the anti-gunners best learn that...their neighbor may be NRA. Philosophically, GOA/GOC, JPFO and SAF are more how I feel...but, I give to all. Less than $300/yr.

I can give you recipes for great and cheap meals!

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
 
D.C. I agree. I feel that more people should get involved internally with Our NRA, not just support the Organization. None of the people who run the NRA are any better than its members, and all members should throw constructive criticism where necessary. That is how we make it better. It seems that most members are afraid to call a Director, or even Mr. Heston. If something needs to be changed, all members should call, e-mail or write. Push!!!!!

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From my cold dead hands.
 
Let me reiterate...I admit I have some problems with NRA...my problems are that they are too liberal and compromising and that its a high paying job for a select few.
However...the Libs and Demos call it a "Special interest group" and evil; they classify it like the military/industrial complex. NRA is no different than AARP, Sierra Club or any other citizen-oriented association.... they all don't make stuff.....
NRA doesn't burn crosses on people's lawns, NRA doesn't give weapons to gangs. NRA is no better or no worse (in a moral sense) than AARP and the Sierra Club. I'm not a joiner...but philosphically, the best thing NRA ever came up with was the tagline "I am the NRA".

I'm a good, moral, fair, law-abiding citizen...and I am an NRA member. The democrats and Liberals hate me and want to destroy me...why? I'm the cute next door neighbor.

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
 
All you NRA members who feel with some justification that the NRA is to wishy-washy on the gun control issue, the best way to improve the situation is to vote FOR those that are listed in the "do not vote for" listing in the current issue of the magazine. There are 13 names and one you will have to write in.
 
Regardless of which pro-gun organization you belong to, regardless of what their respective positions are on the multitude of gun laws, the most important thing that you do as an individual is stand on your principles. It certainly doesn't hurt our cause joining just one or even all of the various pro-gun groups.

But without the conviction of "WE THE PEOPLE" (you and me) clearly understanding that ALL gun laws are ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL, we can never regain our freedom. Practice civil disobedience daily. Avoid purchasing firearms through FFLs, therefore by-passing the NICs/4473 paper trail registration system, and do not submit to the tyranny backed plan of obtaining a CHL/CCW by means of licensing a RIGHT.

"SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED", means nothing if you submit to the illegal gun laws. By submitting to them , you show your acceptance to the erosion of all of your rights.
 
I'm going to see what happens with the vote.I voted for all the "don'ts". If we who are dissatisfied with the NRA would go to GAO or another of the better RKBA organizations, then that organization would have the numbers clout the NRA does now. As long as you stay with the NRA and accept their compromise you are just riding a horse that is compromising away our rights while collecting fat salaries. If this vote retains the same officers with the same compromising attitudes I am going to get off this horse. The only thing that will get their attention is the loss of members. By encouraging everyone to join NRA you are just encouraging compromise. To each his own. Jerry
 
I am a member of the NRA, and I'll (probably) remain so in the future. But I'm also a member of the national organizations the GOA, and JPFO (you don't have to be Jewish to join, I'm not--and the organization makes complete sense when viewed against the backdrop of history), along with other state and local gun-rights advocacy groups.

My point? Any extra funds I have will be funneled away from the NRA and to the aforementioned other groups. I'll pay my basic NRA membership dues, but that's all they're getting from me, regardless of how many pleas for funds they inundate me with. I believe I get more bang for my buck with the GOA and JPFO, et. al.
DAL

P.S. ellsworthtoohey, it's nice to see another Rand-ite here.

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Reading "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," by Ayn Rand, should be required of every politician and in every high school.
GOA, JPFO, PPFC, CSSA, LP, NRA
 
Every membership counts. Who do you think carries more weight with politicians - an Association with 100,000 members, or one with >2,000,000 voting members? Not to say that you shouldn't join other associations, just don't leave out the NRA.

Remember, politicians are still scared of the NRA. Many elections have been won and lost based on the support or lack of support by the NRA. I think Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Metzenbaum, etc. would be ecstatic with the number of legal gun owners who are not members of the NRA.

Just imagine the bargaining power they would have if half the gun owners joined. We're talking 10% of the US population, and an even higher percentage of voters. Supporting gun control would end your political career, and quickly.

As it stands now, the NRA consists of about 1% of the population (although they represent more) and they're still pretty effective. But they're operating from weakness, not strength. They loose a few hardcore RKBA types when they compromise, but think how many of your "average" gunowners won't join or renew their memberships because they believe that trigger locks should be required, large capacity magazines should be banned, nobody needs an assault rifle or select fire weapon, etc....

It's a lose-lose situation for the NRA - compromise, and some of your biggest supporters bail on you; don't compromise and a larger group of more "mainstream" members will bail on you. The gun control fanatics have been steadily weakening the NRA by pushing the idea that "The NRA doesn't represent YOU - they're too [pick one - radical/compromising]. You're not a(n) [extremist/liberal] are you?"
 
Dave: I'm not sure there's any evidence that the NRA actually DOES lose members when it takes a hardline stance; I see claims in the media to that effect every once in a while, but not backed up by hard numbers. So far as I know, the most successful recruiting letter they've come up with was that "jack booted thug" thing.

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Sic semper tyrannis!
 
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