Should I join the NRA?

Should I join the NRA

  • Yes.

    Votes: 64 83.1%
  • No.

    Votes: 13 16.9%

  • Total voters
    77
If every gun owner would, we could really wield some political clout. Most anti-gun yahoos would not get elected and the second amendment would not be questioned at every turn. Yes, you should join.
 
Absolutely join the NRA

I posted the following comment here:http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2284155#post2284155 but will save you the time of going there:
You can join the NRA and get ten non-NRA friends to join and they get ten non-NRA friends to join, etc.
You and I, by ourselves, can't be heard in our state capitals or in Washington, D.C. The 900-pound gorilla known as the National Rifle Association is heard very loudly and very clearly in D.C. We join, we send money to the NRA's legislative branch, the ILA, and we educate other gun owners as to the value of our membership. We quit griping about not getting everything we want or think we should have (e.g. "universal CCW for everybody, everywhere!") and concentrate on those bills and legislators who can really hurt us. It takes money to do that and that's why the NRA keeps asking for it! If every gun owner in the USA joined, how many bad bills would get passed? How many good bills would get passed???
Join for a year, join for five, join for life. If you join for life, they won't call you to renew! Will they call for more money. You bet they will because your membership dues don't go to the ILA and they're the only ones who can legally fight the bad guys. It's politics at the worst but we can win, but only if we show a united front. There are people who post on TFL that give aid and comfort to the enemy by bashing the NRA. The other gun organizations are good but they're not that good. Who gets the headlines when gun issues come up? The NRA, not the Second Amendment Foundation.
So, that's what you do to get educated and then fight for our Constitution.
Don
I'm not saying anyone's bashing the NRA in this thread but it does happen elsewhere in TFL. ;)
 
marano, the NRA is a single-issue organization. The "R" does not stand for "Republican", it stands for "Rifle". The NRA supports candidates that support the Second Amendment, period. They will support a pro-gun Democrat over a RINO Republican and have done it. The NRA doesn't ask about the other issues. And, they will support candidate who aren't "100%" if the opposition is a bad guy. The NRA asks candidates a set of questions and grades them on their answers. Not all candidates respond so the NRA will grade them based on their performance vs the Second Amendment. Those with a postive track record will get the support. Pure and simple.
 
Definitely join. They're not perfect. No organization is but they are the strongest, loudest voice out there trying to protect gun rights.
 
Join

Any supporter of the 2nd ammendment should join the NRA.
Through lobbying efforts provided by member fees and political clout provided
by member participation in events, postcards and grassroots organizations at local, state levels we are able to influence policy makers to support firearms issues.
Additionally NRA has valuable programs serving the needs such as:
Eddie Eagle safety education program
ILA for Legislative Action
Range Development Program
Firearms museum
and many more including marksmanship programs
 
No. There are two many reasons to list but for starters: The NRA supports increasing the power of the BATFE, Old news I know..but the NRA supported the Gun Control Act of 1968 (that's why although technically you can own an class 3 firearm..the cost is prohibitive), The NRA didn't support the recent lawsuit in which Washington DC's handgun ban was ruled unconstitutional. That is only three examples.

Hey..The NRA is not using my money to support the BATFE so I really shouldn't complain about it right? But they WILL use yours to support anti gun legislation and organizations if you join.

No organization is perfect as many here have said..but imperfection of the part of a pro gun organization is unacceptable to me. I will not enable them.

The NRA is like a doctor who chooses NOT to treat certain patients or to only partially treat their injuries. I would rather a doctor who always tried his best and fails occasionally than one who simply refuses to fight for his patient when he believes he doesn't have a chance of prevailing.

+1 to Second Am..I'm with you brother.
 
Hey Second Am...

Hey Second Am...the link doesn't work..you have to be logged in to the site to read that thread
 
marano
I am sorry, I do not care if Idiot (Bush) supports gun rights...if he also supports illegal immigration to help corporate America,
You have missed the point, my friend... ;)

A lobbyist represents only his interests... and those of his organization...

The NRA is a Gun Rights Lobby... not a Corruption Investigation Lobby... or a Pharmaceuticals Lobby etc.

Even if they are a politically conservative organization... their first responsibility is to the "Gun Owners" who pay them not to spread themselves too thin, and to concentrate their efforts, and our money, on being a Gun Lobby.

I am an Endowment Member of the NRA. We are not perfect, but we give it our best effort... and with all due respect, marano, the alternative is Miz Clinton...

or the like. :barf:
 
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O.K. Second, I'll take the bait and play. :rolleyes:

The NRA is not a covert, "we really want to take your guns away" organization. They have lobbied friendly members of congress for specific provisions in gun-control legislation when, in the NRA's judgment, gun-control legislation is going to pass, and these provisions are an attempt to make the legislation less restrictive. The NRA does not do a happy dance with glee when gun control legislation is proposed and/or passed. If you don't like them, don't join. Start your own organization (I'm sure that MasterpieceArms has an extremely effective gun lobby organization :rolleyes: ). Let us know what results you obtain; I'm quite certain that your group's "No gun control anywhere anytime" message will be well received and quickly enacted in all 50 states. The NRA has a proven track record of being an extremely effective gun lobby, something which is lacking with the other gun lobby groups.

You don't like the CC legislation being passed? It is much better than the legislation we had 10 years ago, which essentially prohibited lawful CC by civilians. Your proposed "Vermont/Alaska" carry legislation is perfect for....Vermont and Alaska. Here's some news: you can't always get everyting exactly the way you want with legislation. We just got CC legislation passed in Nebraska last year. Your demand for unrestricted CC legislation would never have passed here. Sure, there are restrictions in Nebraska's CC legislation, but it is a lot better than nothing, which is what we used to have, and what we would still have without the hard work by the NRA (not by other gun groups, and certainly not by MasterpieceArms). Welcome to reality.
 
I say join. They've did some things in their past that isnt so great, but they are the number one gun rights lobbyist group in the country.

Join, and if you dont like something they do, write letters and call them to tell them how you feel. If you pay them, they work for you. Tell them how you feel, and enough people make their voices heard, they'll do as you ask. Its the same as dealing with politicians.. you've got to tell them how you feel. You simply cant sit back and hope for the best.
 
Your proposed "Vermont/Alaska" carry legislation is perfect for....Vermont and Alaska.

And probably at least a handful of other states. For instance, I see no reason that similar laws wouldn't work out just fine in Montana. Or Wyoming. Or either of the Dakotas.

A lobbyist represents only his interests... and those of his organization...

The NRA is a Gun Rights Lobby... not a Corruption Investigation Lobby... or a Pharmaceuticals Lobby etc.

Except that in representing their interests they often support candidates that fail to represent my interests beyond my firearms. Almost always, really. And being a multi-issue voter, that creates a big problem for me. I don't want to be counted among their numbers and thus contribute to their power. So I don't.
 
I found Second Am's posts somewhat disturbing. Can anyone find a true-blue "mission statement" for the NRA-ILA/NRA? That is, something that tells us why they aren't pushing for VT/AK carry in states where they could win it?
 
V4, please do join the NRA. If you own guns and want to protect your gun rights, joining the NRA would be a very wise decision. The more members there are in pro-gun organizations, the harder we make it for some ignorant politician to take more of our gun rights away.
 
"Why doesn't the crowd that says "nra isn't perfect but join anyway if you care about the 2nd amendment" ever respond to the items I mentioned in my earlier post (that would be post #26)?"

Well, because you don't appear to have any idea what you're talking about. How's that? I don't like blue underlined words in a huge run-on sentence either.

Just to respond to a couple of your accusations, in 1934 the NRA was a completely different organization, it was a training and education outfit.

In 1968 we - the gunowners of the U.S. of A. - were faced with a gun ban in the aftermath of JFK's murder. We were lucky to get to keep any guns at all and took a lot of work by a lot of people to achieve it. Does the NRA get any thanks from you? Nope, you act like they're the ones who voted on the law. The politicians voted on the law, not the NRA. Blame the politicians.


"Why doesn't the crowd that says "nra isn't perfect but join anyway if you care about the 2nd amendment" ever respond to the items I mentioned in my earlier post "

Because you're pushy and demanding? I don't know, why?

Read the history - the real history - and learn. Don't believe the spin you've reading.

John
 
second am, who is going to carry your anti-gun control water for you in Washington DC or your state capitol? I have said it before: the NRA is the 900 pound gorilla that every politician pays attention to, whether they like them or not. The NRA is the most effective and most feared lobby in DC.
You are holding on to old history. Take a look at what we're facing in Congress and the presidential race. We need someone fighting for us and the NRA is the only organization with that kind of muscle. No, they are not perfect but they are the best thing we, the law abiding gun owners, have fighting for us.
You try going to DC and try meeting with the movers and shakers in Congress. You will be able to meet with those that represent you in your state. The others don't have time or the desire to meet with you as you mean nothing to them. Not so with the NRA. Those Congresscritters know just who the NRA is and they'll listen because they know the NRA can organize voters for them or against them in their next race. The Demoncrats know this all too well and they have admitted so. If you can’t let go of the past then don’t join but don’t look for headlines proclaiming the Second Amendment Foundation or Gun Owners of America as the “most effective and feared lobby in Washington DC.” Only one pro-gun organization can claim that: the National Rifle Association.
 
Yes, join.

Danzig, I read in this months, or last, "American Rifelman" that they filed a friend of the court brief for the woman who sued D.C., and probably for free.
 
second am
Join the NRA?...Absolutely, if you are in favor of the 1934 gun ban, the 1968 gun ban, the 1986 gun ban, the "plastic gun ban," and the Lautenberg gun ban. Oh, and also join if you're in favor of concealed carry bans with exceptions for "approved" citizens who pay the high fees, jump through the hoops and get the "permit" to exercise their rights (as opposed to Vermont/Alaska carry which the nra refuses to push even though it would pass in at least 3 states if they did.)
I misread this the first time... I thought you were giving reasons to join the NRA because the NRA tries to keep these things from happening... :rolleyes:

I have heard that the Vermont/Alaska carry is restrictive and too selective...

My blue/bold (above) indicates the part I know very little about... so I was waiting to see if someone else would clarify it...

I also understand that these "historical moments" are looked on as "failures" or, at least, less-than-successes for the NRA but that it might have been a whole lot worse in their absence.

Why don't YOU tell us what the hell YOU are trying to say? :confused:
 
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