How powerful is the NRA and where is it headed

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Iteotwawki...

AND, that's why political lobbying groups are a necessary part of our system of government...

But just because the NRA is necessary to establish a system of checks and balances for the fringe groups on the OTHER side of the fence DOESN'T mean that the NRA reflects my personal views on gun control. I'm one of the middle-ground people, and I don't think the NRA properly represents my views.

And, if you have to know (not that it's on-topic or anything), I think that an instantaneous background check is a good idea for purchasing firearms OR ammo. The fact is, I don't want any felons ANYWHERE to be able to buy guns, OR THE BULLETS THAT GO IN THEM. The problem is in implementation... The federal government simply WILL NOT devote enough time and money into compiling a national felon list that is instantaneously accessible through internet connection. Their compromise instead is to do a slow and painstaking background check that can potentially take several hours depending on the functionality of the system. This slower process is an unacceptable restriction on firearms sales (in my opinion).

Satisfied? Ok, now let's get back on target.
 
Samurai, it may well be that the NRA's position does not align with yours on some issues, but you should at least be aware (probably you are already) that anti-gun politicians and the press *intentionally* paint the NRA as a lunatic fringe group that would deliver rocket launchers to 5-year-olds if given the chance. They specifically do this to influence shooters such as yourself, and try to keep you from joining. I'm sorry to see that the strategy has worked in this case, but I hope you will reconsider.

Tim
 
While the NRA has done an incredible amount of work to support gun owners across the country, I am discouraged at the negative publicity that seems to surround the NRA. Particularly, it seems to me that the great silent majority in this country view the NRA as a fanatic organization. The NRA has developed a connotation toward being populated with blood thirsty war mongers and merchants of destruction, and I am disinclined to become affiliated with that kind of negativity.
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That means that they are effective at what they do in my book.
 
No one is better or does more IMHO.
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Here, here. Say what you will, but the NRA is the most effective defender of the 2nd Amendment we have.

I am discouraged at the negative publicity that seems to surround the NRA.
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I wouldn't blame the NRA for this. Any image issue the group has is more likely a media creation than anything the NRA is doing.
 
Reading this thread I do believe the " anti gun/main stream media" is doing a great job to where even some gun owners are sadly misinformed.
 
I am discouraged at the negative publicity that seems to surround the NRA.
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I wonder how pro-gun a pro-gun group would be if it got good press from the anti-gun forces? Would I want to belong to an organization that Sarah Brady thought well of?
 
I can't believe all this silly crap people come up with to not join the NRA. It's like listening to a Cancer patient come up with reasons to not go to the doctor. And just about as convincing! :barf: Bill T.
 
Gee, Bill, thanks for respecting my opinions. I'm glad to know that everyone who doesn't think the way you do is automatically stupid or full of "crap". :mad: :mad: Your openness and willingness to engage in meaningful conversation really makes me want to open up and consider your perspective.:rolleyes:

Concerning the "effectiveness of the anti-'s" at smearing the NRA, bear in mind that I am a rational and well reasoned human being. I wouldn't dissociate from the NRA if it were only the anti-'s that believe the NRA is a fanatic organization. It seems to me that most normal, non-politically charged people seem to think that the NRA is a "fringe" organization. It's not the severe, ultra-liberal PAC's that have convinced me. It's the ordinary, run-of-the-mill folks who believe that the NRA takes the 2nd Amendment issues over the line in the opposite direction from Sarah Brady.

Believe me, guys, I know when I am being subjected to "spin". And, I believe there is negativity associated with the NRA beyond the mere "spin" issued by the gun-control (read: restriction) advocates. I think there is a negativity associated in the minds of the general public at large.

My opinion stands.
 
"It seems to me that most normal, non-politically charged people seem to think that the NRA is a "fringe" organization."

Most people who fit that description are not shooters, or at least not serious shooters like the people here. For the most part, they don't think about guns very much, and believe what they read in the paper. Since they are constantly bombarded by "news" stories and politicians blasting the NRA, naturally they eventually follow along. People like that are the very reason the gun-grabbers never, ever stop poking at the NRA.

Tim
 
Good post, Samurai. I don't agree with all of your opinions, but your responses are presented in a logical fashion and don't insult anyone.

Thanks! :)

-Dave
 
It seems to me that most normal, non-politically charged people seem to think that the NRA is a "fringe" organization. It's not the severe, ultra-liberal PAC's that have convinced me. It's the ordinary, run-of-the-mill folks who believe that the NRA takes the 2nd Amendment issues over the line in the opposite direction from Sarah Brady.
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The only "normal" people I know that have disassociated from the NRA are those misled by the media (such as Bush I's pulling out of the NRA based on jack booted thug comments that were quotes of John Dangle's comments about the ATF's tactics during Congressional hearings; or those who believe the NRA wants to arm gangs).

Most "normal, non-politically charged people" believe my AR is a machine gun whose mere possession makes me likely to shoot up schools. Why? Because the media told them so.

The NRA is about as much of a fringe organization as the Boy Scouts of America. And if it goes in the opposite direction from the Brady Bunch, that's a bad thing how, seeing as the Brady Bunch is going 180 degrees away from the Constitution? The only areas the NRA gets "fringe" on are concepts like enforcing existing laws rather than passing new ones, and trying to get gov'ts from illegally and unconstitutionally stealing firearms from law-abiding citizens.
 
"The NRA is about as much of a fringe organization as the Boy Scouts of America."

Buzz, Good post, and I couldn't agree more. The NRA has done more by mistake in a day to protect our gun rights then any of these political geniuses here could do in a lifetime. The mere fact the Secular Progressive Liberals hate and slander the NRA should be reason enough for anyone who owns a gun to join. Remember these same people hate Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, and Fox News. Ask yourselves why? The Left Wing press has been bashing the NRA since the dawn of time. For me to sit here and read this same kind of cheap, foolish, regurgitated slop from gun owners is appalling! Bill T.
 
Again, Bill, I am enchanted by your air-tight rhetoric and charming people skills! Are you here to argue some specific point, or do you just get off on coming online and calling people names?:mad: :barf: :mad:

"The NRA has done more by mistake in a day to protect our gun rights then any of these political geniuses here could do in a lifetime." Would you care to articulate HOW? And, are these instances of conduct sufficient reason for me to belong to the NRA notwithstanding the negative connotations? Please, if you feel that my doubt of the merit of the NRA is misplaced, then explain why you feel that way. But, and I'm trying to keep this civil here, let's try to keep the neandertholic poo flinging to a minimum.

If what I write is "appalling," then take some Pepto Bismol and regroup your arguments. Then, explain your position in a clear and concise, well reasoned paragraph or two.
 
"And, are these instances of conduct sufficient reason for me to belong to the NRA notwithstanding the negative connotations?"

If you want to join, join. If not, well, we tried. Geoff summed everything up nicely in post number 10:

'As to the original question, just whom do you think the antis are referring to when they whine about the "Gun Lobby"?'

If the NRA is utterly hated by Sarah Brady, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Charles Schumer, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry, that's good enough for me.

Tim
 
If what I write is "appalling," then take some Pepto Bismol and regroup your arguments. Then, explain your position in a clear and concise, well reasoned paragraph or two.
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Perhaps you could explain why you consider the NRA as a fringe group and that it takes the 2nd Amendment over the line. Or are you stating that you don't personally believe this, but you don't want to associate with a group that has such a negative stereotype?
 
The second one... I don't want to be associated with the negative stereotype.

(In fact, I like a lot of what the NRA does. I just don't like to be linked with all the negative P.R.)

So, the question I am trying to get going is, why is the NRA good, and/or how is the "real" NRA different from the bad stereotype? Why should a guy like me, who doesn't like the negative light of the NRA, join anyway??? What redeeming value does being an NRA member have?

I can tell you all right now that my kids are GOING to grow up watching Eddie Eagle. That much of the NRA is good. But, what else does the NRA do that is worthwhile? C'mon, people! This is a discussion board! Articulate!
 
"Would you care to articulate HOW?"

I can't even believe I have to explain this to you. The NRA is all about political muscle. It is the main reason anti gun liberals fear them and hate them. Without the NRA you would have lost your gun rights years ago. Who would have stopped Handgun Control along with their agenda and the ton of other anti gun and anti hunting organizations out there? These groups exist for the sole purpose of stripping you of your Second Ammendment rights, PERIOD. Who is going to fight them with enough political muscle and lobbying clout if the NRA can't. Spare me how you would rather join the "Tuscaloosa Gun Owners" or some other organization that hasn't the power to do crap. The NRA is it. The more they are hated by the left, the more I like it, and the more money I'll send to them. They can't stop every single piece of legislation, but they have stopped PLENTY. And if people like yourself would stop with the anti NRA nonsense and wise up and see that and JOIN, we would be home free, pure and simple! Bill T.
 
The second one... I don't want to be associated with the negative stereotype.
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So what do you do to counter this negative stereotype? You've already defeated the most effective argument you can make, namely the ability to say to those who know you "I'm a member of this group and you know me. Do you think that I would be a member of a radical group? Here's the truth" and then lay it out for them. Having given up the ability to do that, do you tell them where they are wrong, but follow it up by saying "but I'm not a member myself because of the BS I've just explained to you." Or do you remain silent on the issue or, and I hope this isn't the case, join in the negative stereotyping?

So, the question I am trying to get going is, why is the NRA good, and/or how is the "real" NRA different from the bad stereotype? Why should a guy like me, who doesn't like the negative light of the NRA, join anyway??? What redeeming value does being an NRA member have?
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I implicitly answered this above. But here is the plain English language. According to your statement, the negative stereotype is what is causing you to distance yourself from the NRA. By doing so, you propagate the stereotype. You are telling the world that no respectable gunowner would join the NRA. We know this is is your statement because it essentially is what you are telling us. You don't want to be associated with it, and implicitly, we shouldn't be either. If you are willing to tell that to a bunch of NRA gun nuts, what are you telling the rest of the public? How powerfully are you reinforcing the stereotype every day?

The best way of destroying a stereotype is by demonstrating how false it is on a one to one basis. By showing the people who know you that you, a reasonable person, belong to the NRA, you are clearly demonstrating that the impression they have of it is false. That's the biggest reason for you personally to join: the ability to say "how could the NRA be as insane as you claim? I AM the NRA."

I can tell you all right now that my kids are GOING to grow up watching Eddie Eagle. That much of the NRA is good. But, what else does the NRA do that is worthwhile? C'mon, people! This is a discussion board! Articulate!
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Developing plans like Project Exile, that insures criminals who use firearms get prison time. Helping cops get vests. Helping train military, police and the general public in tactics and safe handling of firearms. Stopping outright ammunition bans as they did in the early '80s and 2004. Keeping the focus on criminals and not firearms. Helping to get fair concealed carry laws passed in dozens of states. Helping to defeat the duty to retreat in states that previously required one to turn their back and run from a criminal, even in one's own home. Working to insure that firearms aren't banned from importation. Working to get firearms preemption laws at the state level so local communities can't do bans over their own.
 
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