I'm not a big fan of the NRA, but

[jg rider]

I thought this was a good speech.
We'll see what the so called pro gun liberal Dems like Harry Reid and Patrick Leihy and others that the NRA endorsed over pro gun conservatives during election races will do

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/11/wayne-lapierres-speech-to-the-united-nations-on-arms-trade-treaty/

[muggsy]

Not to worry. The four million members of the NRA have the sorry behinds of the other 96 million gun owners covered, but were getting awfully damn tried of carrying them by ourselves.

[OldLincoln]

I wish there were a way to get the bottom line real facts about the NRA. My father became a life member when he was fairly young for less than $100 and hounded me until he finally gave up. Since I read as much against them as for them and I'm simply confused.

Same with AARP. I understand they used to be strong conservative but now they seem to support everything I'm against.

So, I haven't signed up with either. Have to say I have leaned toward the NRA but for all the junk mail they send out. I did join AARP several years ago and they too sent what seemed like 2lbs a week of stuff.

Gee it must be me cause that's the same reason I stopped contributing to church ministry. I sign up for a small amount and they send me twice that in mailings begging for more. So I figure I'm doing my part by not joining and saving them all that postage.

[chrish]

I will never understand how you can own a single firearm and NOT be a member of the NRA. I'm sure folks have their reason, but would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know how on earth they justify it.

[nmkahrshooter]

Not really happy with NRA but joined for the simple reason is I do have guns and feel it goes hand in hand with gun ownership.

[les strat]

Thing is, if anyone is going to throw their weight around and make a difference for gun owners, it is the NRA. You might not agree with everything they do or back, but you better believe the folks in DC fear them.

[dkmatthews]

In case you haven't noticed, the NRA has a policy of endorsing the incumbent candidate over the challenger (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/08/nra-endorses-candidates-on-both-sides-frustrating-gop/) -- EVEN WHEN THE CHALLENGER IS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND THE INCUMBENT IS A DEMOCRAT.

There are other PRO-2A organizations in this country that are less interested in advancing their own lobbying power and are more interested in supporting/protecting/advancing our 2A rights. Gun Owners of America (http://gunowners.org/) and Grass Roots North Carolina (http://www.grnc.org/) are two that immediately come to mind.

[CrabbyAzz]

The NRA is just a huge fund raising organization stoking the flames of fear to ensure more prosperous fund raising. AARP has become just as guilty. Both organizations are only about themselves.

[jg rider]

In case you haven't noticed, the NRA has a policy of endorsing the incumbent candidate over the challenger (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/08/nra-endorses-candidates-on-both-sides-frustrating-gop/) -- EVEN WHEN THE CHALLENGER IS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND THE INCUMBENT IS A DEMOCRAT.


That's my recent issue.
:mad: e.g. The NRA endorses supposedly pro gun, liberal democrat incumbent Harry Ried over pro gun, conservative republican. challenger Sharon Angle. Why? Because he helped open a shooting range in Vegas? That race was close. The NRA didn't need to step in to endorse one pro gunner over the other. It needed to step aside. IMO we have many other issues to address to get this country healthy again. We needed to have Prince Harry dethroned as leader of the senate, so that he's no longer a stumbling block.
We'll see if Harry and his other pro gun dems stick to there guns or vote with their party, along with some anti gun reps. to get the 2/3s vote to pass the UN measure.

I've been a member of the NRA since 1971, yes I belong, strength in numbers :cheer2:. I've seen and read of the NRA's trying to sacrifice one group for the benefit of another.
:mad: e.g. As a bargaining chip the NRA almost threw the handgun and assault type rifle members to the dogs because of pressure from long gun, hunting members. they said "there wasn't any sporting use for them"
Remember this organization is The National Rifle:4: Association.

But attitudes changed when handgun and shortly after assault rifle, action competition became multimillion dollar industries. :86:

And then there's the NRA's half hearted attempt to block the NFA :33:

I was reading my August issue of the American Rifleman, on page 16 there's an article titled "Your dedication pays off" It shows pictures of politicians that are pro gun supporters. All of them are republicans. Where's the pictures of the NRA endorsed democrats like Harry Ried and others?

I certainly hope that the NRA hasn't shot us in the foot with it's democratic endorsements.

Let the flaming begin :behindsofa:

[jg rider]

The NRA is just a huge fund raising organization stoking the flames of fear to ensure more prosperous fund raising. AARP has become just as guilty. Both organizations are only about themselves.

Now that's extreme! The NRA helped to allow us to have some of what we have. Depending on where you live. I may not be fan but I recognize the need for it. It an old established organization with a strong lobby that I don't think can be displaced

[OldLincoln]

I will never understand how you can own a single firearm and NOT be a member of the NRA. I'm sure folks have their reason, but would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know how on earth they justify it.

DAD!!! You're ALIVE!!!!! Chrish, are you 6'4", built like a lumberjack, have a big grin, drink good scotch and love to tell hunting stories? Huh?

[QuercusMax]

I will never understand how you can own a single firearm and NOT be a member of the NRA. I'm sure folks have their reason, but would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know how on earth they justify it.

It's not hard to understand. I can think of many reasons:

1. Fortunately one can own guns in the USA without having to join the gun union, a.k.a. the NRA. We need the NRA to protect that right? That's the same sales pitch used by the union bosses to justify their existence.

2. Once established, the main goal of virtually every human organization - club, church, political party, government, etc - becomes the preservation of its own existence and becoming bigger and more powerful, with paid officials, buildings, etc. I don't want to support their growth habits with my money. It's bad enough that our government gets bigger and bigger every day.

3. I have yet to find any organization that fully reflects my views on any subject, so I certainly don't want to give my money for someone else to use in support of things I don't agree with.

What it boils down to is that I don't want to be "used" by any organization for their own selfish purposes. I prefer to be selfish all by myself! :music:

[MLESa7990]

it's not hard to understand. I can think of many reasons:

1. Fortunately one can own guns in the usa without having to join the gun union, a.k.a. The nra. We need the nra to protect that right? That's the same sales pitch used by the union bosses to justify their existence.

2. Once established, the main goal of virtually every human organization - club, church, political party, government, etc - becomes the preservation of its own existence and becoming bigger and more powerful, with paid officials, buildings, etc. I don't want to support their growth habits with my money. It's bad enough that our government gets bigger and bigger every day.

3. I have yet to find any organization that fully reflects my views on any subject, so i certainly don't want to give my money for someone else to use in support of things i don't agree with.

What it boils down to is that i don't want to be "used" by any organization for their own selfish purposes. I prefer to be selfish all by myself! :music:


+1:33:

[getsome]

I'm still a NRA member because they are a voice for gun owners to protect our 2nd amendment rights and while far from being perfect, having a membership and supporting them is much better than doing nothing...The firearm insurance they provide is well worth the price of admission so that alone is reason enough to join up...

One organization I refuse to take part in is United Way as their main mission seems to be to expand their organization and to pay outrageous salaries to the officers of their so called charity....

I give to and support the Wounded Warriors and The Boy Scouts of America for all both organizations do for Veterans and the community...

[CrabbyAzz]

it's not hard to understand. I can think of many reasons:

1. Fortunately one can own guns in the usa without having to join the gun union, a.k.a. The nra. We need the nra to protect that right? That's the same sales pitch used by the union bosses to justify their existence.

2. Once established, the main goal of virtually every human organization - club, church, political party, government, etc - becomes the preservation of its own existence and becoming bigger and more powerful, with paid officials, buildings, etc. I don't want to support their growth habits with my money. It's bad enough that our government gets bigger and bigger every day.

3. I have yet to find any organization that fully reflects my views on any subject, so i certainly don't want to give my money for someone else to use in support of things i don't agree with.

What it boils down to is that i don't want to be "used" by any organization for their own selfish purposes. I prefer to be selfish all by myself! :music:

+1 +1

[CrabbyAzz]

I'm still a NRA member because they are a voice for gun owners to protect our 2nd amendment rights and while far from being perfect, having a membership and supporting them is much better than doing nothing...The firearm insurance they provide is well worth the price of admission so that alone is reason enough to join up...

One organization I refuse to take part in is United Way as their main mission seems to be to expand their organization and to pay outrageous salaries to the officers of their so called charity....

I give to and support the Wounded Warriors and The Boy Scouts of America for all both organizations do for Veterans and the community...

No sir! Like unions they protect their own existance. Protecting your gun rights is just their narrative.

[Longitude Zero]

Whether you support the NRA or not is really irreleveant. However if the NRA had never existed none of us would posses firearms in the style we do today. That is inarguable FACT.

[JFootin]

it's not hard to understand. I can think of many reasons:

1. Fortunately one can own guns in the usa without having to join the gun union, a.k.a. The nra. We need the nra to protect that right? That's the same sales pitch used by the union bosses to justify their existence.

2. Once established, the main goal of virtually every human organization - club, church, political party, government, etc - becomes the preservation of its own existence and becoming bigger and more powerful, with paid officials, buildings, etc. I don't want to support their growth habits with my money. It's bad enough that our government gets bigger and bigger every day.

3. I have yet to find any organization that fully reflects my views on any subject, so i certainly don't want to give my money for someone else to use in support of things i don't agree with.

What it boils down to is that i don't want to be "used" by any organization for their own selfish purposes. I prefer to be selfish all by myself! :music:

+100!:33:

[cohoskip]

You can bad mouth them all you want, but they (NRA) are still the biggest and strongest pro-gun lobby in D.C...

[Longitude Zero]

3. I have yet to find any organization that fully reflects my views on any subject, so I certainly don't want to give my money for someone else to use in support of things I don't agree with.

This sounds like to me the atitude that if you disagree with only 1% of a person/groups views you will not support it. If you think ANY organization will agree 100% of the time on 100% of your views you have a rude awakening coming.

I hope I am mearly misreading a mis-worded statement. For instance I do not agree 100% with Romney and his past activities. HOWEVER he is preferable to the alternative and I have the age/maturity to accept that NO political candidate will ever be 100% in agreement with me.

[muggsy]

I wish there were a way to get the bottom line real facts about the NRA. My father became a life member when he was fairly young for less than $100 and hounded me until he finally gave up. Since I read as much against them as for them and I'm simply confused.

Same with AARP. I understand they used to be strong conservative but now they seem to support everything I'm against.

So, I haven't signed up with either. Have to say I have leaned toward the NRA but for all the junk mail they send out. I did join AARP several years ago and they too sent what seemed like 2lbs a week of stuff.

Gee it must be me cause that's the same reason I stopped contributing to church ministry. I sign up for a small amount and they send me twice that in mailings begging for more. So I figure I'm doing my part by not joining and saving them all that postage.

There are two conservative alternatives to AARP. The ASA and AMAC. Both organizations are better that the liberal progressive AARP.

http://americanseniors.org/

http://amac.us/

[QuercusMax]

I hope I am mearly misreading a mis-worded statement. For instance I do not agree 100% with Romney and his past activities. HOWEVER he is preferable to the alternative and I have the age/maturity to accept that NO political candidate will ever be 100% in agreement with me.

If you choose to vote for Romney as the lesser evil even though you don't agree with him 100%, that doesn't mean that you must join and contribute to the Republican Party, right?

Although one of our major political parties tends to reflect my views much better than the other, I don't belong to either party or vote completely along party lines because I prefer to do my own thinking, and not let party hacks do it for me. In some countries they have simplified this process by only having one party.

[Longitude Zero]

True. It is not required but I do so anyway.

[AJBert]

I used to be a member of the NRA until they sent me a flyer telling me who I should vote for.

Plain and simple, I don't need anyone telling me who to vote for.

[CJB]

In case you haven't noticed, the NRA has a policy of endorsing the incumbent candidate over the challenger (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/08/nra-endorses-candidates-on-both-sides-frustrating-gop/) -- EVEN WHEN THE CHALLENGER IS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND THE INCUMBENT IS A DEMOCRAT.


That is not entirely true. The NRA has a policy of endorsing clear 2nd Amendment defenders, regardless of their other political standing or beliefs. For instance, if you have (incumbent or not), a very pro 2nd Amendment candidate that is otherwise socially or fiscally liberal, they'll still put him/her forward over an overall (otherwise strong) conservative, whose 2nd Amendment stance is less defined, or clearly shaky.

The NRA is about the 2nd Amendment rights and freedoms. They are apolitical.

Because society and our media and social brainwashing has us join "social/fiscal liberal" with "anti-2nd Amendment", the picture can sometimes be mis-understood.

[CJB]

The NRA is just a huge fund raising organization stoking the flames of fear to ensure more prosperous fund raising. AARP has become just as guilty. Both organizations are only about themselves.

That, Sir, is a mis-statement, based on biased perspective.

When you look at all the good things the NRA has done for shooters, hunters, self defenders, enthusiasts, collectors, reloaders, dealers, sportsman, competitors, mom and pop, and the Constitution, you'll realize that it does take some money to do.

My own organization's lobbiest takes $50,000 yearly, to talk to Florida legislators. One man, fifty grand. The NRA hits 'em heavy, and make no mistake their lobbiests get more than a puny $50k to do their work - with offices and administrative and legal staff behind each lobbiest.

Shooting programs take money. The publications take money. Public range support, takes money. Hunters programs take money. Training programs take money. Competition takes money. And on and on and on. Yes, lots of volunteer effort, but... somebody pays for the materials, the facility use, the time and effort of non-volunteer staff (ie, range officers, security if needed, etc etc... the whole shebang).

Money makes the world go round.

[Longitude Zero]

That, Sir, is a mis-statement, based on biased perspective.

When you look at all the good things the NRA has done for shooters, hunters, self defenders, enthusiasts, collectors, reloaders, dealers, sportsman, competitors, mom and pop, and the Constitution, you'll realize that it does take some money to do.

My own organization's lobbiest takes $50,000 yearly, to talk to Florida legislators. One man, fifty grand. The NRA hits 'em heavy, and make no mistake their lobbiests get more than a puny $50k to do their work - with offices and administrative and legal staff behind each lobbiest.

Shooting programs take money. The publications take money. Public range support, takes money. Hunters programs take money. Training programs take money. Competition takes money. And on and on and on. Yes, lots of volunteer effort, but... somebody pays for the materials, the facility use, the time and effort of non-volunteer staff (ie, range officers, security if needed, etc etc... the whole shebang).

Money makes the world go round.

Amen, you are so very correct in your perspective on the issue and I agree with you here.

[Planedude]

I'll go +2 here.

If ALL the NRA did was lobby for the 2nd amd then the anti NRA-ers might have a point. I have shot in alot of competitions, been to a few trainning classes and helped at some safety sessions for children that were all done thru the NRA.
None of that happened without money. The NRA does alot more for all of us than just lobby.
That said, join or don't, as long as you check your areas politicians and vote for our rights...

[Jeremiah/Az]

I have been an NRA annual member since 1960. No, I do not agree with everything they do. They are certainly the most powerful lobby for gun rights.

I will never join AARP!

[yqtszhj]

unions protect their own existance.

Dang, you finally said something I agree with. :D

Unfortunately a lot of organizations that when started did a lot of good, now make more noise than anything else. I'm not necessarily talking about the NRA. Our government, even though it is the best in the world, can fit that description also. And they would come after our 2nd amendment rights if they could get away with it. :(

[Longitude Zero]

I will never join AARP!

Me either.

[muggsy]

I used to be a member of the NRA until they sent me a flyer telling me who I should vote for.

Plain and simple, I don't need anyone telling me who to vote for.

The NRA didn't tell you who to vote for. They told you who the endorse. You're free to vote for any gun grabber that you wish. The NRA doesn't hold a gun to you head.

[les strat]

The NRA didn't tell you who to vote for. They told you who the endorse. You're free to vote for any gun grabber that you wish. The NRA doesn't hold a gun to you head.

Exactly. They are a pro 2A organization. That means they endorse the best candidate for their stance. Sometimes it's the lesser of two that are not NRA rated "A". This time, it is Romney. We know where BO stands.

I do not see how a proud gun owner can vote for BO knowing his stance on guns, and especially how he voted in IL. He does not want any citizen owning weapons.

[DKD]

Love them or not the NRA is and was the only really effective deterrent and protector of our 2nd Ammendemnt rights. We would not have any guns today for a lack of there strong support and defense of our rights. The ILA even takes on cases to protect individuals from the flagrant letigious a- holes suing people for defending ones rights or self and family.
Not to mention all the excellent training form their Training Couselors and Instructors. What organization helped train our troops during both world wars...thats right the NRA....so folks don't be so hasty and self rightious with your opinions and statements...get the facts first and then thank them for the very rights we hsve today due to there good works. They have done far more good for our cause than most realize and for the skae of a mere $30.00 a year, insurance and a monthly publication is a very small price to pay for what we all receive due to their vigilence and works nationally and state wide.
I for the life of me cannot understand how any freedom loving, responsable gun owner wouldn't be a supporter of the NRA. We all better wake up and smell the damn coffee and quick.....we need to all band together as there is strength in numbers. Last I heard their are 5-6 million NRA members but well over 30 million gun owners...do the math folks, if we band together no way like we did back in late nineies, no way Bullwinkle the dweeb gets back in office.