GOA or other group

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andrewdl007

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I've been looking around and haven't seen a recent post on this. I've seen a lot of people recently are upset with the NRA which I have been a member of since I was 18. I have been looking for another group to support along with or instead of the NRA and wanted to see if any you all felt strongly about any group. Is Gun Owners of America a good group to support? Any other thoughts?

Thanks
 
I am in the same boat. I will say that the Virginia Citizen's Defense League will be the FIRST place this year's donations go. After that, I am trying to decide between NRA and GoA, or possibly both. Looking forward to any other insight here, as well.
 
I've been an NRA member for 18 years now. I joined GOA about 5 years ago and while they aren't as big, I like their message a lot better. They are more hardlined for the 2nd Amendment, and manage to get their message out without all the rhetoric and sometimes hatred that the NRA uses. This is the first year I've debated renewing my NRA membership, and while I went ahead and renewed who knows what I'll do 3 years from now.

2nd Amendment Foundation seems to be another good one, but I haven't joined them. Also, keep in mind there's probably some good options at the state level for you as well.
 
I am a life member of the NRA but I must admit disappointment with their messaging and actions following 10.01.17 in Las Vegas surrounding bump stocks. I've never owned a bump stock and don't want one, but I am firmly in the "NOT ONE MORE INCH" mindset of "compromising" with the antis.

I have recently joined the Nevada Firearms Coalition (affiliated with the NRA, for better or worse) and will work diligently at the state level because Nevada now has a complete Democrat controlled government and they and our new governor have made no secret of their anti 2A ambitions. We are in grave danger of becoming California 2.0.

I do like GOA's consistent position and their aggressiveness in fighting for 2A rights. They will probably get my next discretionary funds.
 
I don't like everything the NRA does but without it we will be divided and conquered. Nothing wrong with supporting any of the other pro gun groups also.
 
I don’t like the NRA’s practices. I think there have been multiple missed opportunities, and a lack of direction in the NRA. However they are the largest defense we have currently. I would like to see the GOA grow to replace the NRA as the leader. But until that happens the NRA needs to exist.
 
I would recommend joining your state firearms rights organization. In my experience, effective state organizations can make more real differences in practical/day-to-day gun rights than national organizations.

Then if you're unhappy with the NRA, I would look around for a national gun rights organization that focuses on practical gun rights issues, that has a track record of effectiveness and that doesn't spend member dollars publicizing problems with other gun rights organizations or attempting to prove how superior it is to other gun rights organizations.
 
Leaving the issue of the NRA aside, the single most effective organization in protecting and expanding the rights of law abiding gun owners is the Second Amendment Foundation. Alan Gottlieb alone has done more to secure and expand the rights of American gun-owners than anyone since the Second Amendment was written. If you want to make a difference, join SAF or just send them as much money as you can.
 
I too have been an NRA member but haven't been happy with their responses lately. Watching this thread with interest.

One request for input: does anyone have anything negative to say about GOA or 2AF other than 'they're not the NRA'? Such as legislation they should have taken a position on but didn't, or took a bad position on, or evidence that they have misused their funding in some way, etc.? While I prefer to focus on the positive I'm inherently suspicious of lobbying groups (even ones for causes I strongly support) and want to make sure my dollars are being used well.

Thanks
 
I’ll just throw this out there without commentary, other than to say it’s worth the read.

It was written by Duane Liptak Jr., is the the Executive Vice President of Magpul and a current NRA Board of directors.


https://www.breachbangclear.com/sick-of-the-nra-then-read-this/?mc_cid=e5ceeeac63&mc_eid=876a0af885


FWIW: I’m a NRA life member, a GOA member, a member of Second Amendment Foundation, a member of the firearms policy collation, and our state folks Bama carry.

Of all of them GOA is my least favorite for multiple reasons.
 
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I’ll just throw this out there without commentary, other than to say it’s worth the read.

It was written by Duane Liptak Jr., is the the Executive Vice President of Magpul and a current NRA Board of directors.


https://www.breachbangclear.com/sick-of-the-nra-then-read-this/?mc_cid=e5ceeeac63&mc_eid=876a0af885


FWIW: I’m a NRA life member, a GOA member, a member of Second Amendment Foundation, a member of the firearms policy collation, and our state folks Bama carry.

Of all of them GOA is my least favorite for multiple reasons.

Thanks for posting that link. Spent some time in DC myself, so I know he's not too far off track... but I'd still like to contribute to more than just the NRA.

I'd also be interested in hearing your issues with GOA.
 
Thanks for posting that link. Spent some time in DC myself, so I know he's not too far off track... but I'd still like to contribute to more than just the NRA.

The link provided and the explanation by the gentleman from Magpul address my reference above to leaving aside issues with the NRA. The NRA-ILA is the lobbying arm of the NRA and it has to work in the legislative environment that exists, not the one that we wish existed. Given that environment, NRA-ILA is remarkably effective. I have little critique of their effectiveness. Wayne LaPierre has however made a monstrous political error by going "all-in" with President Trump and the GOP. Firstly, President Trump will, at some point, no longer be President, and his Democratic successors will be doubly savage to the NRA and American gun owners. We don't need doubly savage. Secondly, "all-in" with the GOP, including support for policies that are not RKBA related, gives Democratic legislators cover to be anti-gun. They are almost all anti-Civil Rights anyway, but, by aligning the NRA entirely with the GOP instead of maintaining the illusion of an independent organization representing the interests of of law abiding American gun owners, LaPierre has alienated otherwise decent, intelligent gun owners who, through some flaw or failing of intellect, support the Democratic Party, and allows Democratic legislators to use general political opposition as cover for their anti-Civil Rights, pro-discrimination beliefs.

So, I despise LaPierre and think he is a malign influence at the NRA. However, the NRA-ILA is a genuinely effective group in protecting the rights of American gun owners and deserves the support of anyone concerned about those rights. It's a case of grin, bear and write the check.

SAF on the other hand is unencumbered by many of the issues that face the NRA and law-abiding gun owners have gained more in the Courts, and have more to lose (in part because of the effectiveness of the NRA-ILA at the federal level) in the Courts. I have no experience of or opinion on GOA.
 
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What are some of those reasons?

I'd also be interested in hearing your issues with GOA.

Well, since I’ve been asked.
First is that I have heard them bash the NRA on multiple occasions. Although I haven’t heard it as much, if at all, in the last 2-3 years or so. And I’ll say its perfectly fine to have those options, and I’m not even going to say they’re wrong, I just don’t like the public infighting between gun rights groups.

Second, is that I have seen them simply make false claims, and take credit for things where their participation is questionable. Most recently I remember getting the email that said bumpstocks were saved by them, neeedless to say I didn’t buy it then and it is now clear they were at least stretching the truth.

Third is some just general isolating crudeness that I don’t care for. The first thing that comes to mind it the absolutely hilarious “if guns kill people, spoons made Rosie O’Donnell fat” T-shirt. Now I get the point, and I’ll admit it’s hilarious but I’d rather have a more respectful and professional image of second amendment activist.

Now these are fairly minor things, which is why I’m an active member. These thing aren’t a huge deal, and I can see where some people wouldn’t care at all about them but I do. At least a little

I’ll also admit the NRA is guilty of committing some of the same things, though I can’t remember them ever bashing another gun rights group, the other two things I’ve certainly seen them (NRA) do. But it seems to be less severe and less frequent, still I wish they would be more professional and less fear mongering themselves.

The SAF and FPC are my two favorite, but let’s just be honest they don’t have the same clout as the NRA. Which is why I give to all. I’ll also say I’m fairly new to the FPC, the others I’ve been with for several years.
 
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My thoughts on the NRA. I was a life member for a few years. I left about the same time President Bush (41) left the NRA. I stayed away until about 2 years ago and rejoined. I didn't renew this past year. I joined GOA and SAF. I'm pretty much done with their fondness to compromise.

NRA doesn't represent gun owners; they represent gun manufacturers.

However, that being said, NRA is the group Pelosi mentions by name. Politicians don't fear the GOA; they fear the NRA.

Someone posted the idea of the GOA supplanting the NRA. That can't happen as long as NRA is the biggest gun lobby in America. The only way any group can replace NRA is if NRA members leave in droves, and, at the same time, join GOA or SAF or whatever.
 
Might as well throw in my opinion. I am a Life Member of all the national pro-gun organizations except GOA. I am a Life Member of all the state organizations in my state and a life member in a couple of other states as well. I give regular money to ILA. No organization is perfect and I don't always agree with all of their positions, let alone some of the compensation at the national organizations, but, in my opinion, we need them so I continue to give them money.

It is important to state that many of the state organizations do decent work considering their budgets, and equally important to state most of the state organizations are very underfunded, and some are in danger of dissolving. One of the really important issues is a lack of involvement in both funding and grass roots effort by gun owners.
 
I have been a NRA member for over a half century. I have researched the GOA site and I agree they are a great site for firearm owners but I don't see anything that that they are doing that sticks out above and beyond what the NRA is presently doing.

If the NRA were to go away and all that was left to defend our second amendment rights was the GOA I think that would not be a good thing.
 
Seems like GOA is the one trying to preserve our rights at the moment.

The point is that GOA hasn't actually done anything. A lot of smoke, but no fire.

Of the three, SAF is the only one that's both kept to the cause while actually accomplishing anything.
 
The point is that GOA hasn't actually done anything. A lot of smoke, but no fire.

Of the three, SAF is the only one that's both kept to the cause while actually accomplishing anything.

I like SAF, but they are just not large enough to have the clout or the resources of the NRA. I am a Life Member of both which I consider the obvious solution. I give money to both, and I work on grass roots for both. SAF also lacks the contacts in most state governments as well. For those of us who can afford it, we should be supportive of both organizations.

I don't like compromise on 2nd Amendment issues, but as an experienced political consultant and lobbyist, I know sometimes it has to happen if we don't want to end up with something worse. In the last election for Governor in the state of Illinois, far too many people refused to compromise and voted for a third party candidate that left us with a vehemently anti gun Governor who calls the NRA and the ISRA evil entities that he intends to destroy. We currently have 8 anti gun bills introduced and more coming which he has vowed to sign. If Illinois gun owners had compromised we would have had a Governor who would veto these bills.

All of those who refuse to support the NRA or the SAF because they understand that compromise is sometime a necessity to save even part of what we want are deluding themselves about reality. Sometimes we have to do some things we don't want to do just to survive.
 
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