Should I join the NRA?

Should I join the NRA

  • Yes.

    Votes: 64 83.1%

  • No.

    Votes: 13 16.9%
  • Total voters
    77
V

V4Vendetta

New member
I've read a lot of stuff about the NRA. Some gun-owners view them as Judas's & some gun owners view them as the best defense against the Fienstien's & UN's goons.

My question to you is simple. Should I join them? I recently recieved something from them in the mail where I can join for 3 years for $70, get a nice duffell bag & magazine subscription.

State your thoughts politely. I realize that some can get really heated up on these topics so I ask that you think twice, post once.

Thank you all for your imput.

EDIT: The letter I got in the mail has my last name spelled wrong. If I decide to join, Should I just write my actual name? I looked online & at the official NRA website they have no place to click on if you have this letter for the discount price. They also mailed the letter to my store instead of my house. If I join, do I just submit the form as it arrived or just give them the home address later?
 
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Joining the NRA is the single simplest and most effective thing that every gun owner across the country can do to preserve gun rights.

No organization is perfect but the alternative is untenable.
 
Is it the duffel bag that is pushing you over the top or the values and ideals of the organization with which you will be sending money to be associated?
 
The bag looks nice but it's not nice enough that I'd like to spend $70 for it. I just mentioned it because it was in the letter.

Mainly, I want to know if the NRA is deserving of my cash or if I should put the money toward an AK. To figure that out, I'd like your experiences.:)
 
Travismaine said:
The NRA is not the perfect organization. That said they do good work. Your money is well spent joining the NRA.
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Agreed. Join the NRA, its our best chance at keeping our rights.
Get a membership for your wife and/or son, daughter while you are at it.

Don't forget that you also get firearm insurance with your NRA membership.
It's $1000 coverage and you have the option to increase it.
My father used it when a revolver was stolen from his car.
He had a handmade holster that they gave him a fair amount for.
He seemed pleased with how they handled his claim.
 
Joining the NRA is the single simplest and most effective thing that every gun owner across the country can do to preserve gun rights.

No organization is perfect but the alternative is untenable.
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I agree with Hobie and promote joining at every opportunity. However, the comment about no organization being perfect is a giant understatement regarding the NRA and changes could and should be made. with some 80 million or so gun owners in USA, we should have more than some 4 million members.

I would have preferred to have sent this privately to Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President of the NRA but searching the Rifleman magazine and NRA web site doesn't give me a clue of an address to him directly and just sending it to him at the NRA address probably would never be seen by him.

Invitations to join or upgrade include such trinkets as the bag or something as added inducement. Checks (& credit card charges) to the NRA get deposited instantly but delivery of the other items is slower and sometimes not at all.

I've been a member most of my life (I'm 81 years old) and, in 1993, I upgraded to Life Membership. After waiting several months for my certificate, I requested it and, a copy with name typed in and an irate answer arrived in several weeks. The one with the fancy print arrived a month after my wife framed the plain typed one.

In mid March this year, I upgraded to Endowment membership and was promised decals and a jacket with the Endowment Emblem on it. Credit card records show the charge recorded 3/27. A couple of weeks later, I got the membership card, one inside and one outside decal (most of us have more than one car) but no jacket. Still later, with another issue, I sent the following email.


Subject: Endowment membership

Membership services,
Last month I upgraded my Life Membership to Endowment Membership and did get my certificate and a window sticker. I understood I would get the jacket with endowment emblem and specified XL size but haven't received it yet. I would also like to buy a few more inside the window type stickers for my new cars and motorcycle.
This is not really any big deal but, when I got my Life Membership certificate in 1993, it noted I was Otis J King, Jr, MD and when I updated my membership info, I changed Mr to Dr Otis J King ,Jr, and that hasn't been given any attention that I can see. In prior years my rifleman and all correspondence was addressed to me as Dr but, in recent years, somehow that got changed to Mr for reasons not clear to me
With all the anti-gun medical organizations, I think we should recognize we have a large number of doctors as member and mostly dedicated members - many of the friends I have are at least Life Members.
--
OJ KING ,MD
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
SEMPER FI

I got this reply:

Thank you for contacting us.
If you would be so kind as to reply to this email with your full name and
complete mailing address, we would be happy to look into this matter for you.
Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Morgan
NRA Member Communications
P.S. Please make sure you include this and any previous correspondence.
Some Internet Providers, such as AOL for example, automatically cut out
previous messages when you reply to a message.
This will help insure a quick answer to your inquiry. Thanks again!

This is just arrogance - "Morgan" was just making making sure I know my place. The average third grader could have identified me with the information I provided. I provided the info demanded last month but have not received any reply yet so I guess I'm again being put in my place.

When I worked for a living, those who produced income and paid others for their work were "employers" (the boss) and those getting income from employers were "employees". I know the NRA has other income sources (advertising in magazines) but, without members paying dues, none of that would happen.

We need all the members we can get - imagine how far gun grabbers would get if we had only 40 million members - and I feel if the tail would quit wagging the dog, we might get more members. The full time staff needs to treat members and potential members with more consideration and that might go a long way to more members joining.

:( :mad:
 
I'm pretty sure it was on GunTalk that someone from the NRA said the number they would like to have is 18 million. It was also noted that many people think they are members, but they are not. If you do not currently get your monthly magazine you are not a member and need to renew. We really do need all the members we can get.
 
Don't take it personally...

OJ said:

This is just arrogance - "Morgan" was just making making sure I know my place. The average third grader could have identified me with the information I provided. I provided the info demanded last month but have not received any reply yet so I guess I'm again being put in my place.
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OJ. I work in the computer field and can tell you with 100 percent certainty that what you got was either a canned or partially canned response. The 'call center' that took your message gets the basic gist of it and then sends you a canned reply. They mean no offense by it. Heck, it might have come from India for all we know (I doubt it, but...). Anyway, that's more just an unfortunate result of how our current society communicates.

To the OP. I am also seriously thinking of joining again after a long absence. I want the numbers to be counted. I'm sure the organization could be drastically improved. Maybe I'll get involved and try to do so. I say join!:D
 
I am planning on getting everyone in my family memberships. Just doing the 10.00 one year, no benefits, no magazine.

I have been getting the magazine for the last two years from my uncle and I see no need to waste resources with more magazines, I know what a magazine costs to print and send, the 10.00 plan gives them basically the same money.
 
I feel if you own a gun, or believe in anyone's right to own a gun, you're foolish if you AREN'T an NRA member.
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I'm not a fan of that argument... here's why:
Replace "own a gun" with "exercise free speech" and "NRA" with "ACLU"


If you want to join an organization, simply determine if their goals match yours, if their tactics match yours, and their use of your money is agreeable.
 
Yeah, you should. Don't join it for a free cap, or bag, or whatever. Join the NRA to help us help you keep your guns. And give $20 (or more, if you can afford it) to the ILA.
 
GROUNDHOG said:
OJ. I work in the computer field and can tell you with 100 percent certainty that what you got was either a canned or partially canned response. The 'call center' that took your message gets the basic gist of it and then sends you a canned reply. They mean no offense by it. Heck, it might have come from India for all we know (I doubt it, but...). Anyway, that's more just an unfortunate result of how our current society communicates.
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I have no doubt you are correct.

I just happen to believe an 81 year old member who has been a member most of his life and a Life Member since 1993 who upgraded to Endowment a couple of months ago should not be treated as many businesses treat faceless new customers.

It is a lame excuse and I'm not buying it as being appropriate. Look up at the original post and see the errors documented. Treating potential members - much long time devoted members in that fashion isn't likely to get us the new members we need.

Changes need to be made!!!

:rolleyes:
 
If you want the Dems and liberals to make the US as gun restrictive as my state, than do not join the NRA. If you want to protect your RKBA than join and encourage others to do so.

It's goin to take a lot to prevent more restrictive gun control legislation from becoming laws that effect you. And if they go through, it's an even tougher job to reverse them. We can't do it alone as individuals. The NRA needs all the support it can get.

Why do you think the liberals and major media demonizes the NRA every chance it gets? That's what motivated me to join and get involved -
I am an NRA Endowment member.

I suggest you opt to get their First Freedom magazine - it will keep you informed and updated - it's the most thorough RKBA magazine available. You'll never want to miss an issue or let your membership lapse.
 
I don't agree with every thing that the NRA does and didn't join because of it. Recently, I've been checking on the Brady Campaign and have read a lot of the absurd propaganda they've been putting out. The dangers of "semi-sniper rifle" article, READ THAT YOUR SCOPED HUNTING RIFLE, by Sarah Brady was the turning point for me. While her article was totally flawed and full of outright lies, it really made me think that the Oprah and Rosie crowds would take it as straight fact. After that article I figured that while I don't always agree with the NRA's practices, I sure as hell didn't agree with any of Sarah Brady's. I joined and I plan on being a life long member as long as the anti gunners are trying blur/distort/and/or create the facts while trying to make owning or buying firearms illegal.
 
I have been a gun enthusiast all my life

and I have never joined the NRA. I will not join. They are a destructive force in that they support only candidates that agree with them 100% on gun rights. This means they support candidates like our President that are idiots because they say they support gun rights. I am sorry, I do not care if Idiot supports gun rights...if he also supports illiegal immigration to help corporate America, if he also lies about links to Al Quida and Iraq to support an unnecessary war that kills thousands of Americans, if he is doing everything he can to hurt working Americans and everything he can to make the richest 2% of the country richer I can not support him....the NRA can...they can kiss my @$$.
 
Yes, you should join the NRA. It's a great organization. Your three year offer; bag and monthly magazine of your choice is an excellent deal. It's like receiving one year FREE.

In my view the NRA is rock solid concerning the Second Amendment. But it is not a right-wing, nut-job organization. Most moderate Americans can easily understand its view-points and it has the passion necessary to preserve our gun ownership rights.

Also significant is the NRA's commitment to gun safety. Its instructors train more lay people and LEO's than ANY organization. Its Eddie Eagle program for kids helps children stay safe.

But your money alone is probably not enough. You should ask every friend you have to join the NRA. If you have time, get involved as an advocate, Golden Eagle or instructor.

This will help all of us retain our gun rights!

Once you join, you will be assigned a membership number. You can visit the NRA site on the Internet, log in and amend any incorrect information.
 
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