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AndyC wrote:With all due respect to Charles Cotton, I view those Fudds at the NRA the same way I do the Wounded Warrior Project; their higher-ups rake in enormous salaries and, in the NRA's case, will happily throw EBR owners under the bus to save their own shiny blued hunting rifles.

But I joined because right now numbers are more important than the bad taste in my mouth at doing so - and no, I won't be responding to questions as to why I believe what I do; I neither want nor need to convince anybody else.

Better the devil you know....

I understand where you're coming from. I am a member, but am kind of wary of the heirarchy. I know, however, they have a crack team of lawyers that know their 2nd amendment and are the best bet for keeping our rights in tact.

AndyC wrote:With all due respect to Charles Cotton personally, I view the Fudds at the NRA the same way I do the Wounded Warrior Project; their higher-ups rake in enormous salaries under the guise of doing good deeds - and, in the NRA's case, will happily throw EBR owners under the bus to save their own shiny blued hunting rifles.

But I joined because right now numbers are more important than the bad taste in my mouth at doing so - and no, I won't be responding to questions as to why I believe what I do; I neither want nor need to convince anybody else.

I'm with you. It took me over a year to join and I did for almost the same reason, shear numbers. After a brief period of time interning for a state senator in DC back when I was a junior in high school, I developed a bad taste and distrust for all lobbyists. It has not changed over the years.

While I understand some of the viewpoints, I can't understand why more Americans haven't joined the NRA.

I was a member BEFORE I moved to this country. Ya'll don't know how good you have it until you live in
a country with more restrictions and no real equivalent of the NRA to fight for your rights.

Similarly, I find it interesting how the Post office often gets a bad rap, but compared to what I grew up with, the
US Postal system is a model of efficiency run by happy, friendly people. Really.

You're right, I can't change your mind but the NRA has never supported an assault weapons ban, not ever! In fact, the NRA kept the 1994 (Clinton) Assault Weapons Ban from being reinstated when it sunset in 2004.

The "NRA Fudds" have saved the Second Amendment for Americans numerous times. The fact that you would make such a categorically false statement at the worst possible time for American gun owners is mind-boggling.

Chas.

ghostrider wrote:While I understand some of the viewpoints, I can't understand why more Americans haven't joined the NRA.

This Fox news article says NRA membership is growing at 8000
new members per day.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12 ... -shooting/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If the NRA is not your choice of flavor, AndyC, what organization would you rather support?

At first I only joined the NRA because it's a requirement of membership at PSC. But since joining I've found it to be informative, interesting, and well worth the $35 per year. They certainly are the go-to when the 2A discussions get going. I'm sure that I'll eventually do the life-member deal, but I keep coming up with other uses for a few hundred dollars at a time.

IMO the biggest reason for being an NRA member is to support our biggest voice in Washington. Lobbying is a VERY important piece to keeping our legislators (both federal and state) informed of how the gun owners want to be represented. In as much as the Brady bunch would like to discredit the NRA, they have a very good standing and reputation with the government officials as being a level and reasonable organization when it comes to doing the right thing in supporting the 2A. Our support of that is critical. We need to stand behind them any way we can when they take our charge and go to the ones who cast the votes that can keep the government and the anti-gun legislators and anti-gun organizations from making knee jerk decisions and changes that are detrimental to our rights as gun owners.

I signed Mrs. Anygunanywhere up for a gift Life Membership.

Numbers count.

Anygunanywhere

Keith B wrote:IMO the biggest reason for being an NRA member is to support our biggest voice in Washington. Lobbying is a VERY important piece to keeping our legislators (both federal and state) informed of how the gun owners want to be represented. In as much as the Brady bunch would like to discredit the NRA, they have a very good standing and reputation with the government officials as being a level and reasonable organization when it comes to doing the right thing in supporting the 2A. Our support of that is critical. We need to stand behind them any way we can when they take our charge and go to the ones who cast the votes that can keep the government and the anti-gun legislators and anti-gun organizations from making knee jerk decisions and changes that are detrimental to our rights as gun owners.

I watched a TV interview with a Brady bunch member and the owner of the Eagle Gun Range in Lewisville last night. The NRA is our only organized voice to counter the Brady talking points minions and we need to continue to confront them every time they step into the public limelight. Like the politicians, the Brady group will seize the opportunity to try to control the National dialogue to our determent without strong opposition. There is no opposition that is strong enough without the NRA.

As a young kid I used to read my Dad's "American Rifleman" magazines and even then, the early 1950s, the NRA was fighting to keep our gun rights. This gun banning isn't a new phenomena the first wholesale U. S. gun ban was the one instituted in the '30's that took full automatic and SBR and SBS away from law abiding citizens. Fast forward to 1968 more restrictions, then the Clinton era ban. At each step the NRA was manning the barricades and preventing a total ban. Can you say the same about the Johnny-come-lately pro gun organizations? Where do you think we would be without the efforts of the NRA? Does Great Britain, Australia, Mexico, and most of Europe ring a bell?

I joined because they gave me $10 off, an American Rifleman subscription, and were supposed to send me a range/duffle bag. No bag yet and its been over a month... I am enjoying my American Rifleman magazine though.

I'd made up my mind to join, but think I'll wait the see what they say Friday.

I don't dislike the NRA specifically. I realize the NRA has been the only voice in DC and the media for gun ownership rights. My distrust is for lobbyists in general. Yes its a blanket statement but I had more than enough personal experience with them to arrive at my conclusion. I will continue to pay my NRA membership annually to support the good work our own Mr. Cotton has done in support of gun owners and the second amendment. The shear numbers of supporters that have faith in them is another reason why I give them money. As the saying goes, there's strength in numbers. In time maybe they will change my opinion about lobbyists.