NRA thoughts

[flintknapper]

I think that every person who values his/her gun rights....should make it a point to tactfully "turn up the heat" on other gun owners to pitch in and help. If this were to happen, the NRA and other organizations wouldn't need to have their "hand" out....constantly asking for much needed funds.

The NRA is not, primarily, a political activist organization.

My objection to the NRA is the way they represent the organization and raise funds. The majority of their fundraising strategies revolve around the "defense of the Second Amendment" yet the majority of the collected funds are spent on other projects.

From the NRA website:


"Because of these clearly defined parameters, and because only a small fraction of ILA’s operating budget comes from regular NRA membership dues, both ILA and NRA-PVF must continuously raise the funds needed to sustain NRA’s legislative and political activities. The resources expended in these arenas come from the generous contributions of NRA members—above and beyond their regular dues."

The vast majority of the millions and millions of membership dollars collected each year DO NOT go toward defense of "gun rights."

?????


Are you suggesting that an increase in membership (and money) would not benefit the NRA?

I know the organization has changed quite a bit in the 40 years I've been a member/supporter....but I think I still understand where the money and efforts are being spent.

Thank you for your thoughts however.

Flint.

[Mike1951]

I've been a life member of the NRA for over 30 years and last year made that same committment to the TSRA.

I have belonged to the GOA for several years as an annual member.

If nothing else, I felt the GOA's "never give an inch" viewpoint would make the NRA appear 'reasonable' and benefit their positions.

I am incensed over GOA's recent attacks on the NRA regarding what GOA calls the 'Veterans Disarmament Act' and am finding it very hard to continue supporting the GOA.

I think the NRA usually makes wise choices on what to push and when. I will continue my support for the NRA while pushing TSRA membership every chance I get. Every NRA member in Texas should also belong to the TSRA.

[SkipB]

Very nicely said Charles. I really do have a little extra money so after reading your message I think I will send a nominal check to tht NRA.

[KBCraig]

One thing about GOA and other groups is that we need them. Any political movement needs the shrill and radical.

Thanks, I was going to make this same point. Gandhi and MLK succeeded in their peaceful, non-violent methods, precisely because there were some decidedly non-peaceful people making noises on the side. The powers that be decided to deal with the calm, reasoned alternative represented by MKG and MLK.

Please note I'm not saying GOA/JPFO/SAF/etc. are violent; I'm just pointing out that they need to be loud and shrill and pound on the podium, and the NRA needs them to do this, too.

[Stupid]

Chas, very very touching article you wrote. You now got me thinking to become a life member.

Besides donation, is there any other way that I can work for NRA?

[shootthesheet]

I always cringe when "we" have discussions about our greatest friends in a time when our foes are maneuvering to strip us of our rights. It is necessary to question. It is also necessary to remember who our friends are and who we are fighting. Just a thought.

[seamusTX]

"We must all hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately"

- Benjamin Franklin

[Venus Pax]

What if the choice is between Hillary and Rudy? *faint.

A choice between Stalin and Hitler may be easier.

[ea40ss]

Charles, THANK YOU for all that you do for us.

I honestly don't know how you find enough hours in a day to do everything that you do.
Eric

[jimlongley]

As a Life Member of the TSRA, the ISRA, the NYSR&PA, and an Endowment member of the NRA, I have been deeply committed to "encouraging" those organizations to join in and continue to fight for our rights. When I first joined NYSR&PA a lot of years ago, there were many in the membership who saw it as primarily as a "sporting" oranization and that all of the political stuff should be left to the NRA.

I have seen similar attitudes in other places, "Fish and Game clubs that I belonged to, and even including within the membership of the NRA, hearing from fellow members - "Why are we involved in this, we should be protecting hunting and fishing rights."

The problem as I see it, is that those who ignore some issues in order to concentrate on their own endanger themselves and all of us by not lending their power to the greater good. The old tale "When they came for the Jews I did nothing because I wasn't Jewish . . . and now they have come for me and there is no one left to help." applies very well.

With that in mind I have tried to change the organizations I disagreed with the best way I know how, from the inside.

The NRA is a very large organization, and suffers from inertia to some extent, but it is also trying to cover many bases including hunting, rnage closings, and myriads of other things, so what may appear as inactivity or slow reaction time, may just be a lack of proper perspective.

If you want to change the NRA, join up, elect directors, vote, and make the changes yourself, quitting just gives your part of the power to someone else.

[Photoman]

The vast majority of the millions and millions of membership dollars collected each year DO NOT go toward defense of "gun rights."

How much do we raise for NRA programs and how much do we raise for ILA's political activities?

Chas.

I have no idea how much in donation dollars are collected. I suspect the ILA raises quite a bit based on the amount of inflammatory junk mail I recieved each week when I was a member.

A "small fraction" of the collected "membership dues" goes to the ILA. That is straight from the NRA website.

I just want members and potential members to understand that very little of their $35 each year actually goes to the ILA.

I am not an NRA basher. As a matter of fact, this discussion has convinced me to renew for three years. With that being done, I will be going directly to the nearest office supply store to buy an industrial strength shredder in preparation for the onlslaught of junk mail!

[Photoman]

I know the organization has changed quite a bit in the 40 years I've been a member/supporter....but I think I still understand where the money and efforts are being spent.

Thank you for your thoughts however.

Flint.

I'm glad to hear you understand where your membership dollars are going. I suspect most members or potential members ~don't~ understand that a small fraction of their membership dollars go toward funding the ILA.

And you're welcome.

[Photoman]

If you want to change the NRA, join up, elect directors, vote, and make the changes yourself, quitting just gives your part of the power to someone else.

Is life membership still required for voting privileges in the NRA?

[DMG]

Photoman:

I do not know that it ever was, at least in my memory! You do, however, have to be at least an annual member for some period of time (3 years comes to mind) before you are a voting member. I would, however, encourage all to become life members, and the NRA makes it easy with quarterly installment payments.

DMG

[Photoman]

It was my impression that one has to be a life member to vote in BOD elections. Is this not correct?