Why no NRA?

rellascout

Quote:
"The way I see it as soon as I give them my $$$, they get to add 1 to the ranks on every publication, every email, every brochure and lobbying effort, then they are presenting me."
And that, my friend, is exactly what helps the NRA in their battles. The anti-gun folks do not want to see the NRA become more powerful. If, magically, NRA membership (and coffers) were to double overnight, our anti-gun enemies would think twice before taking them on in another effort to strip our (and your) 2nd Amendment rights.

Imagine the 800-lb. gorilla becoming the 1600-lb. gorilla. That would cause Feinstein and Schumer many sleepless nights.
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So what you are saying is that I should actively allow someone who I do not agree with represent me. I should give them my money so they can count me in for an agenda that I do not agree with? I should empower and make stronger a group that has compromised my rights as much as it has established them with my hard earned $$$$. Listen to what you are saying. Why would I want to add to the power base of someone I disagree with.

That simply makes no sense to me.
 
rellascout:
What you call compromise, they would call tactics and strategy. I know for a fact that I have NEVER won a chess game with all 16 of my pieces still on the board. That doesn't make me a bad chess player. It just means that all my pawns may not approve of my strategy. ;)

Thankfully, they still participate in... and contribute to... the game as a whole. ;)

I sense the force is strong in you. When you surrender to the dard side, you will be stronger than any Jedi. :D
 
So Robc,

I see the establishment of the 1968 Gun control act and the ban of Class III to the public as pretty high level pieces. They are not mere pawns.

The NRA allowed CA to become the anti-gun state that it is. Don't tell me that they are a national organization. We all know the saying that as CA goes so goes the country. The NRA knows that yet it did not help those poor souls out enough IMHO.

I again will sight DC. Right in the backyard of the NRA head quarters where the NRA lobbyist go everyday to talk with our national elected officials to lobby for our rights. NO guns there. I went to High School in DC and saw first hand how effective gun bans were.

They still allow Heston to run his mouth about his cold dead hands. This is what the middle hears. They don't hear the logic behind concealed carry, home defense using firearms, the joy of recreational shooting, hunting etc... They hear rhetoric and the NRA feeds that. There is not real rational rhetoric free debate with the middle who we need to understand the importance of gun rights using logic reason and without gun grabbing scare tactics too often employed.

The chess analogy is a good one. To me the NRA is a king and a queen who has sacrificed to many of its pieces and are now simply moving around the board hoping for a stalemate.
 
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rellascout:

Oh, you're good!!

I'm not gonna argue with you anymore. You may be right. I don't know enough about the history. Heck, I was a Reagan-bashing socialist until the very late 1980s (Dad says I was corrupted, I say I grew up). Anyway, we all gotta do what we think is best. I see good things come out of the NRA. They seem to have handled the confiscations in New Orleans pretty well. I love their outreach programs (Women on Target, youth programs, etc.). Those are the only things that can really save us. I'm doing two orientations for new members this weekend at the gun club I belong to. Folks have to be NRA members to join. That's how I became an NRA member in the first place. Now, I've brought several new people on board (to the club AND to the NRA). This, it seems to me, is how we win. Grow... Grow... Grow!
 
I have not claimed that everything that the NRA does is wrong. I have stated many times and continue to state that I respect other peoples decision to support the NRA. I cannot fault a man or women for doing what they think is right.

I commend your efforts in growing the ranks of shooters. I hope that you are successful in your efforts. I personally have introduced many people to the sport of shooting and agree that it is the best way to help our cause.

Thanks for the dicusssion. I enjoyed it.
 
"The NRA allowed CA to become the anti-gun state that it is."

Allowed? Allowed? Do you mean the state legislators said 'mother may I' before they passed the laws or that they even asked the NRA's opinion first? You've got to be kidding. Allowed indeed.

Same for the D.C. government over the years. I went to school in Rockville and the D.C. government has never paid any attention to the NRA (or most Republicans for that matter.) Now maybe if the NRA hired Marion Barry to lobby for them they'd get somewhere in D.C. :D

John
 
"The NRA allowed CA to become the anti-gun state that it is. The NRA knows that yet it did not help those poor souls out enough IMHO."

I have lived in California for all of my many years, and I am here to tell you that the NRA did not "allow" anything to happen in the state. The NRA, mostly through its California state organization, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, fought (and fights!) anti-gun legislation tooth and nail. You simply don't know what you're talking about.

http://www.crpa.org/



Tim
 
I think that you've all made some very good points in this thread. You've helped me to consolidate my feelings on the matter.

I am very much in rellascout's camp on this one. I am sure that won't surprise many of you.

Two of the latest comments really hit home with me. The question of whether the NRA "allowed" California to become such an antigun stronghold. I tend to agree with the posters who stated that the NRA allowed no such thing.

However, the implications are no less frightening. To mean it says that the NRA couldn't stop gun control in a single state, much less a whole nation. If this is the case, then I must ask the question, which is worse..the slow destruction of our rights or the sudden and abrupt implementation of totalitarian gun control measures.

Many seem to be of the feeling that this slow painful death which we are experiencing (and which the NRA is unable to stop) is the lesser of the two evils..but I am not sure if I agree with that.

Stop and think a moment about the poor frog..heat the water slowly and he sits there complacently until he boils to death...but heat the water abruptly and it will spur him to action.

I think that we Americans have grown extremely complacent because the destruction of our rights has been so incremental. I think that perhaps the "slow death" is the worse of the two scenarios. Perhaps if the anti freedom zealots are allowed to do their thing it will be the impetus that we NEED to all rise up against them.

Just my two cents. But it's an idea..the current situation is just not working.
 
Perhaps if the anti freedom zealots are allowed to do their thing it will be the impetus that we NEED to all rise up against them.
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Right.

That will work.

Armed rebellion in the streets.

Mayor Nagin, watch your butt. Danzig is coming after you.
 
"To mean it says that the NRA couldn't stop gun control in a single state, much less a whole nation."

It means no such thing to me. The NRA doesn't have a vote in the CA statehouse or in the general elections. It lobbies the elected and educates the voters, it doesn't pass laws and dictate policy. If the voters of a particular state want their representatives to pass certain laws, well, that's what happens no matter what the 800-pound gorilla does.

John
Member www.vcdl.org
NRA member, too.
 
johnbt

You hit the nail right on the head! Those who vote in the state of California have gotten exactly what they asked for with regard to guns and guns laws.
 
We shall see. I don't believe there is anything short of revolution that can happen to turn the tide of statism in our country. That being said, I don't HOPE that is happens.

As you can see from my signature line, I spent time in Bosnia. It was an eye opener. In six months I didn't see a single building that was untouched by small arms fire or worse. I would rather this country never experienced that.

But I think I'm something of a realist. I don't believe we can ever stop the anti-freedom movement which has taken hold of our nation. At best we can only hope to slow the tide. Groups like the NRA can only hope to slow the tide. I don't believe that they can stop it.

Based on that, and that only, I can't help but wonder if sooner wouldn't be better than later. Maybe 50 more years of slowly being bled until the citizenry revolt..and all of the pain incurred during that period of time. Or worse..a long slow decline into socialism or fascism that locks our country in a deathgrip for a much longer period of time.

Or a quick and brutal crackdown by the government which MAY spawn a more violent, but shorter, revolution. Neither scenario is pretty. I would hope to avoid either. But the beast will never allow us to meekly replace the leash that should keep it in check.
 
Contoversy...

1) For the record, I am pro gun and pro private gun ownership to the bone.
I figure if you want an RPG, a machine gun or an assault rifle, that is your right/responsibility.

2) That being said, since the assault rifle ban "sunsetted", and I might add, to my delight. Not so much becase I want an AK (OK, I secretely do!) :D
I also don't like that it dictated how many rounds my magazine can hold in my
semi-auto handgun.

The reality where I live, in South Florida, is that the number of criminal incidents, murders, wild shootings etc, has increased dramatically since the assault rifle ban sunsetted.

The gangter, thug community has adopted and used them in ever increasing numbers. During the ban, assault rifle incidents were the exception, now they are becoming increasingly common.

Now, in my mind, honest citizens owning assault weapons should be
left alone, but criminals randomly shooting up neighborhoods over
drug turf disputes, etc should be held responsible for their wanton violence.

Your thoughts?
 
Mokumbear

"The reality where I live, in South Florida, is that the number of criminal incidents, murders, wild shootings etc, has increased dramatically since the assault rifle ban sunsetted."
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"The gangter, thug community has adopted and used them in ever increasing numbers. During the ban, assault rifle incidents were the exception, now they are becoming increasingly common."
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If you think there was some kind of "ban" on buying assault rifles, then you are mistaken. There was a "ban" on manufacturing new ones which had the terrible dastardly features which Ms. Feinstein objected to, but all of the existing ones were grandfathered. You could buy an assault rifle at almost any gun store, and at any gun show, during the "ban", for sure. Same with the dreaded hi-cap mags. Did you not know this ??
 
I have seen this subject come up from time to time on several different forums and they mostly turn out the same. The life member/long-time member group usually has their hands full with the group that complains about what they get for their anual dues. They gripe about the mail they get and the quality of the magazine.

As far as I am concerened if it were not for the N.R A. we would be in the same shape as the Australians, Brits and Canadians. Thay means everyone here at RFC would be a criminal in the eyes of the U.S government.

Considering I, and probably everyone else here has lost ancestors in WW 1 and WW 2 fighting for our freedoms that rubs me the wrong way big time.

The fact is the N.R.A. is our best fight against those that prefer us to be sheep. Getting back to our ancestors, that is NOT why they came to America. They were sick of being sheep.

As long as the N. R. A. can keep up the good fight they will continue to get my dues no matter how much junk mail I get or no matter what my opinion of their magazine is.

I now challenge everyone here who does not believe in the N. R. A. to type into their favorite search engine "Jeff Snyders, A nation of cowards" and read it.
( http://www.vcdl.org/new/cowards.htm )

It is not an article promoting the National Rifle Association, but to me is is about the mentality of the people who bad mouth it.
 
Nra

I think it's kind of disturbing that a firearm website has a discussion post which includes gun owners that are not in the NRA. See the below info taken from my brother Marc's website savetheguns.com. There is a phone number for those who wish to limit the amount of mailings. I did this a while ago and have not received anything in 6 months. Come on people, 80,000,000 gun owners and only about 4,000,000 NRA members. Imagine the fear 80,000,000 would strike into politicians. How many have written pro gun letters to the editor, I'm up to 19 published in Boston newspapers in about half a year. I'm not tooting my own horn, my brother Marc who lives in Maine puts my work to shame, and frankly we are both tired of the lazy gun owners who do nothing to support their rights.

If a member wishes to reduce the amount of mail they receive, they can call the Membership Hotline at 1 (800) 672-3888 or 1 (877) 672-2000 and speak to a membership specialist and request to be removed from the mailing list or other mail limit options.
Please also keep in mind that there are about 80,000,000 firearm owners in the United States and only about 4,000,000 are members of the NRA. NRA members are burdened with supporting and defending the rights of about 95% of America's gun owners and the NRA appreciates any time you can contribute or help support the Second Amendment.
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NRA in Illinois

Where? I once joined the NRA. Sent in my money,( $10 then). Got back this neat little patch and a window sticker. There are no real benefit here. Cheaper motel rates, NOT. Shooting ranges, NOT. Protection of my rights, NOT. Who benefits? Each year stories of NRA aiding more anti-gun politics and compromises. More hands out to snag that dollar. Where did the money go? Maybe to give to another politician with big pockets. We could have wasted those bucks on an attorney and gotten more results. The final out come now may never see a judge. Somebody's been making a good living off the NRA with minimal effort returns.
 
Where did the money go?
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Well, here are two recent battles which the NRA fought, and won.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) and law-abiding gun owners won another major victory today when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass HR 5013, the NRA-backed "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act". HR 5013 passed with a broad bi-partisan margin of 322-99.

"Law-abiding gun owners scored a significant victory in the House of Representatives today," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina confirmed a fear long-held by American gun owners: the day government bureaucrats declare our Second Amendment null and void, leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless in the midst of chaos and lawlessness."

This is the second NRA win on this issue in less than two weeks. On July 13, 2006, Senator David Vitter's (R-LA) amendment to prohibit the use of funds appropriated under the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441) for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster passed the United States Senate with a final vote margin of 84-16.

H.R. 5013 amends federal emergency statute laws to prohibit federal, state and local authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during times of national emergencies, as witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year when police and military confiscated firearms from law-abiding citizens.
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Exactly what is it that you expect for your membership dues? I imagine the gun-owning residents of San Francisco think they got pretty good representation when the NRA went to bat for them.

The NRA has certified over 38,000 instructors nationwide. Chances are pretty darn good that the law enforcement agency serving your area has been trained, at least in part, by these instructors.
 
NRA Trained Lawmen

Sorry Sasquatch, but the CEO here gave up. Four months without any Sheriff deputies, no funds from county. New CEO now in but no help. Illinois State Police running main roads, no one out here in the country. We're on our own as usual. S.N.A.F.U.(Situation Normal All Fouled Up)
 
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