What Do You Actually Know about GOA?

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ChanceMcCall

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Many posters in various forums have been pushing GOA membership. My problem is, I contacted them with several questions about their BoD composition, their bylaws, and their financials. While they have responded, they did not respond to my questions and mostly regurgitated their website material of how great they are.

If you are a GOA booster, do you have answers to questions like this you could share?

I am a Patron Life Member of the NRA and I'm not about to abandon supporting them. That the organization needs fixed is obvious and I'm working very hard to be a part of the effort to do that by shaming the BoD into doing their job.

However I am also a Life Member of SAF because they did answer my questions years ago and I continue to support them as well. They are not a substitute for the NRA but they do a very good job at what they do.

I might feel the same way about GOA, if I could get any real information about them.

Any help out there?
 
I joined GOA. I can't say much about their financials, etc. I know they're more uncompromising than the NRA and they never engage in any 'bargaining' where they offer to sacrifice one thing in hopes of getting something in return. That's the good. On the downside they employ the same FUD tactics and the NRA; the sky is always falling, each new threat is The Worst Thing That's Ever Happened, and any missed chance to send them money is to face utter doom. They also back regressive conservative policies that don't relate to gun rights and their big kahuna has made some truly repugnant, racist statements when you didn't realize anyone would see them (during a mockumentary that he didn't really understand yet chose to sit to be interviewed for).

I dunno honestly. They do some good work and are real pit bulls for the 2nd Amendment but you'll have to determine if they deserve your support due the other stuff they track all over the carpet.
 
If it's a progun organization I will contribute.

I do try to weed out the "wolves in sheep clothing;" those acting purportedly pro 2A but actually supporting antigun activities, or are just too loony-toon.
 
I like to toot my horn about the VCDL but if every state had an equivalent there would be no need for the NRA, or other "national" organizations.

The VCDL is the only org I'm a member of.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
I like to toot my horn about the VCDL but if every state had an equivalent there would be no need for the NRA, or other "national" organizations.

The VCDL is the only org I'm a member of.
Click to expand...
And what does the VCDL do nationally?
Nothing. Just like GOA.

There is absolutely a need for a national organization to fight for Second Amendment rights. The NRA is far from perfect, but is the ONLY gun rights organization that carries clout in Congress.
 
VCDL?

I don't like the way the NRA is always on the short end of the bargaining stick ...
... However, to refuse to compromise is a good way to end up with nothing.
 
dogtown tom said:
And what does the VCDL do nationally?
Nothing. Just like GOA.

There is absolutely a need for a national organization to fight for Second Amendment rights. The NRA is far from perfect, but is the ONLY gun rights organization that carries clout in Congress.
Click to expand...



You missed the point. The VCDL does more for one state than the NRA does for the entire country.

If every state had a VCDL there would be no need for the NRA, or a national organization.

Its obviously a unobtainable hypothetical but still, the point remains.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
You missed the point. The VCDL does more for one state than the NRA does for the entire country.

If every state had a VCDL there would be no need for the NRA, or a national organization.

Its obviously a unobtainable hypothetical but still, the point remains.
Click to expand...
Yet Virginia ranks
30th in gun rights by Guns&Ammo: https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/best-states-for-gun-owners-2018/327233
And Giffords Center puts VA at #22 https://lawcenter.giffords.org/scorecard/#VA …….and that's nothing to be proud of.


Thanks, but you can keep your VDCL. Virginia isn't my idea of an effective state gun rights organization.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
You missed the point. The VCDL does more for one state than the NRA does for the entire country.

If every state had a VCDL there would be no need for the NRA, or a national organization.

Its obviously a unobtainable hypothetical but still, the point remains.
Click to expand...

You are right about it not being obtainable so lets get back to reality which is it is not a either / or choice on what organization to join.

We need organizations like KSRA and VCDL to fight for our gun rights on the State level. The old saying is "all politics are local." So keeping our local, State Representatives and Governors in line is needed.

But reality is some States are mostly lost. Since State level organizations failed to work in them we need a big dog in Washington to fight for our 2A rights. The only organization big enough is the NRA. National polls prove that most people consider Congress to be hopelessly corrupt and controlled by big money and lobbyists. The only way we are going to keep our 2A rights is by rolling in the mud with them.

So protecting gun rights in Virginia is meaningless if the Democrats win the Presidency. Harris is pledging executive action to ban guns. Shotgun Joe at the moment is the leading candidate and is more extreme. (All you need to do is step outside and fire a couple of warning shots in the air with a double barrel shotgun). With the Republicans holding by Senate by only 3 seats it is easy for me to see enough RINOs voting to pass gun control laws.
 
I'm an NRA Endowment member, SAF life member and paying installments towards GOA Life Member, My Dad's also an NRA Life Member.

Note that NONE of this is from the GOA or affiliated web sites.


NRA vs. GOA:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/nra-vs-goa.293047/

https://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/nra-vs-goa.51901/


VCDL Joins GOA in Lawsuit to Stop BATFE’s Bump-Stock Ban
https://www.ammoland.com/2018/12/vcdl-joins-goa-in-lawsuit-to-stop-batfes-bump-stock-ban/


GOA Helped kill Obama's Universal Background Check bill.

GOA gets that Universal Background checks will lead to Registration...:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ound-checks-will-lead-to-registration.697431/


They also participate in the news:

Gun Owners of America: ‘No Guns Allowed’ Signs Less Effective than Teachers that Shoot Back:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...less-effective-than-teachers-that-shoot-back/


Various Descriptions of GOA:

Established in 1975, Gun Owners of America believes that even the far-right National Rifle Association is too moderate and open to compromise on the issue of gun rights. GOA has emerged as a vocal opponent of gun violence prevention measures thanks to its close alliances with Republican lawmakers and its tendency—unlike the NRA—not to go into hiding after mass shootings.

GOA is currently under the leadership of Erich Pratt, but it was led for decades by his father, Larry Pratt, now the Virginia-based group’s executive director emeritus. Under Larry Pratt’s leadership, GOA became a bridge between conservative lawmakers and the radical anti-government militia movement, linking guns to issues such as Christian nationalism and opposition to immigration reform. Much like the NRA, GOA promotes bizarre conspiracy theories and racial rhetoric in order to stir up panic about crime waves and imminent
Click to expand...

Gun Owners of America:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/organizations/gun-owners-of-america/


Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a gun rights organization in the United States with over 2 million members.[4] It makes efforts to differentiate itself from the larger National Rifle Association (NRA) and has publicly criticized the NRA on multiple occasions for what they consider to be compromising on gun rights.

The GOA has often opposed the NRA in its endorsements and ratings of politicians and candidates. For instance, the GOA was outspoken in opposing John McCain's 2008 presidential bid, describing his gun-rights voting record as "abysmal, wretched, and pathetic"[5] and giving him an F- grade on Second Amendment issues since 2004, while the NRA (through its PAC, the NRA-PVF) gave him a C+.[6] The GOA took issue with the NRA over the 2007 NICS Improvement Act.[citation needed]

The GOA has been described by Congressman Ron Paul as "The only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington." This quote from Paul has long been displayed prominently on the home page of the Gun Owners of America website, and Paul was the only 2008 presidential candidate to receive an A+ grade from Gun Owners of America.[7]
Click to expand...

Wikipedia on Gun Owners of America:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Owners_of_America


And Larry Pratt's books:

upload_2019-5-19_10-53-35.png
 
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kimberkid said:
VCDL?

I don't like the way the NRA is always on the short end of the bargaining stick ...
... However, to refuse to compromise is a good way to end up with nothing.
Click to expand...


The problem with “compromise” it is always giving up something and never getting anything in return.

When was the last time that liberals gave us something we want in the compromise rather than just taking less than they initially proposed? Knowing they will get that later anyway.
 
sherrick13 said:
The problem with “compromise” it is always giving up something and never getting anything in return.

When was the last time that liberals gave us something we want in the compromise rather than just taking less than they initially proposed? Knowing they will get that later anyway.
Click to expand...

Concealed carry licenses good in national parks?
 
SharpDog said:
I'm an NRA Endowment member, SAF life member and paying installments towards GOA Life Member, My Dad's also an NRA Life Member.

Note that NONE of this is from the GOA or affiliated web sites.


NRA vs. GOA:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/nra-vs-goa.293047/

https://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/nra-vs-goa.51901/


VCDL Joins GOA in Lawsuit to Stop BATFE’s Bump-Stock Ban
https://www.ammoland.com/2018/12/vcdl-joins-goa-in-lawsuit-to-stop-batfes-bump-stock-ban/


GOA Helped kill Obama's Universal Background Check bill.

GOA gets that Universal Background checks will lead to Registration...:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ound-checks-will-lead-to-registration.697431/


They also participate in the news:

Gun Owners of America: ‘No Guns Allowed’ Signs Less Effective than Teachers that Shoot Back:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...less-effective-than-teachers-that-shoot-back/


Various Descriptions of GOA:



Gun Owners of America:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/organizations/gun-owners-of-america/




Wikipedia on Gun Owners of America:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Owners_of_America


And Larry Pratt's books:

View attachment 842172
Click to expand...
Piggybacking on lawsuits funded by other organizations (it's free, lets add our name)
Virtually ZERO credibility in Congress (no one knows who GOA is)
Virtually ZERO fear from Democrats anywhere
Virtually ZERO dollars spent to elect pro gun candidates

GOA should change their motto from "No compromise" to "Invisible, Ineffective, Incompetent....but donate anyway".
 
dogtown tom said:
Piggybacking on lawsuits funded by other organizations (it's free, lets add our name)
Virtually ZERO credibility in Congress (no one knows who GOA is)
Virtually ZERO fear from Democrats anywhere
Virtually ZERO dollars spent to elect pro gun candidates

GOA should change their motto from "No compromise" to "Invisible, Ineffective, Incompetent....but donate anyway".
Click to expand...

I guess "Piggybacking on lawsuits funded by other organizations" is not helping then ?

I just enumerated several ways in which the GOA helps our cause. There was a recent similar thread knocking th NRA. Likely another knocking the SAF next week.

Yeah so SOME folks around here don't like the NRA, Don't Like the GOA, Don't like National Organizations.

We're fighting ourselves just like the opposition wants.

Personally I will help ANY organization that's trying to help our RKBA.

You should try it.
 
Like the op I have looked for information and not found it, I have found people claiming things with no source. I would love to find more information, unfortunately they aren’t very transparent in that area as best as I can tell, and that does impact my donations.

One of the few things I do remember (from memory, so numbers aren’t exact) finding was that they had in the neighborhood of 1.5 million members and gave about 1.5 million in lobbying.
At the same time the NRA had about 5 million members and gave a little more than 5 million in lobbying.

The reasons I remember this was 1.5 million members was more than I thought the GOA had and 1 dollar per member was close to the number for both organizations lobbying efforts, I thought that was interesting.

I personally can’t think of a reason not to throw some membership numbers and at least some donations to several different pro gun organizations.

I’m Member of
NRA
GOA
SAF
FPC
And a state group. I donate to all at least occasionally, though I do withhold donations (for a time) if someone does something I don’t like.

Their are no perfect people, therefore no perfect organization can exist, when they put ideas you like call them, make a donation and tell them why. Likewise, when they do something you don’t like call them and tell them you’ll be giving to someone on the right side of the issue.

Will it matter? Probably not, but it makes me feel better.


To the OP, if you do find much information please post it here or let us know where we can find it. I myself have come up with a whole lot of nothing in my past searches and I can’t help but think that’s by design, which is troubling to me.
 
The VCDL does more for one state than the NRA does for the entire country.
Click to expand...
Maybe a bit of an exaggeration, however I do agree, and I agree strongly, that people need to get involved in their state gun rights organizations.

TSRA has done a lot for TX and continues to work hard for the gun rights of Texans.
 
dogtown tom said:
Yet Virginia ranks
30th in gun rights by Guns&Ammo: https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/best-states-for-gun-owners-2018/327233
And Giffords Center puts VA at #22 https://lawcenter.giffords.org/scorecard/#VA …….and that's nothing to be proud of.


Thanks, but you can keep your VDCL. Virginia isn't my idea of an effective state gun rights organization.
Click to expand...



I could care less what G&A or the GC "ranks" states as. Means nothing.

While a not completely "free state" there isn't much one cant do gun related in VA. OC is legal, its extremely easy to get a CHP, no mag limits, no purchase restrictions, no wait period, no ammo restrictions, no "assault weapons " ban. And that's mostly thanks to the VCDL because if specifically Northern VA had their way we'd be like NYC.

You obviously know nothing of VA gun law or what the VCDL has done for this state other than what you read online so you can keep your opinions and I'll keep my VCDL, thanks.
 
BSA1 said:
So protecting gun rights in Virginia is meaningless if the Democrats win the Presidency. Harris is pledging executive action to ban guns. Shotgun Joe at the moment is the leading candidate and is more extreme. (All you need to do is step outside and fire a couple of warning shots in the air with a double barrel shotgun). With the Republicans holding by Senate by only 3 seats it is easy for me to see enough RINOs voting to pass gun control laws
Click to expand...




That's exactly the reason state orgs are so important. We've seen the constitution and federal opinion ignored for a while now on different fronts at a state level and while I'm for states doing their own thing, I believe issues regarding the constitution should go only one way.

So, if the fed govt that happens to be in power is pro 2A and your state is anti 2A, you need a local org.

If the fed in power is anti 2A you need a local state org even more, regardless of how your state tends to swing.

I understand fighting it at the fed level but I have yet to see an organization that seems to be effective as many local state orgs. I think the NRA has been dying for a while and I know nothing of these other orgs and have no reason to think they're any different.
 
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DeepSouth said:
Like the op I have looked for information and not found it, I have found people claiming things with no source. I would love to find more information, unfortunately they aren’t very transparent in that area as best as I can tell, and that does impact my donations.

One of the few things I do remember (from memory, so numbers aren’t exact) finding was that they had in the neighborhood of 1.5 million members and gave about 1.5 million in lobbying.
At the same time the NRA had about 5 million members and gave a little more than 5 million in lobbying.

The reasons I remember this was 1.5 million members was more than I thought the GOA had and 1 dollar per member was close to the number for both organizations lobbying efforts, I thought that was interesting.

I personally can’t think of a reason not to throw some membership numbers and at least some donations to several different pro gun organizations.

I’m Member of
NRA
GOA
SAF
FPC
And a state group. I donate to all at least occasionally, though I do withhold donations (for a time) if someone does something I don’t like.

Their are no perfect people, therefore no perfect organization can exist, when they put ideas you like call them, make a donation and tell them why. Likewise, when they do something you don’t like call them and tell them you’ll be giving to someone on the right side of the issue.

Will it matter? Probably not, but it makes me feel better.


To the OP, if you do find much information please post it here or let us know where we can find it. I myself have come up with a whole lot of nothing in my past searches and I can’t help but think that’s by design, which is troubling to me.
Click to expand...

It troubles me as well. All of us that contribute at all to pro gun organizations have limits on what we are able and/or willing to contribute to the cause. For some, it is a struggle to contribute a one year's membership and for others it may be a whole lot more, but, none of us want to waste the money we contribute.

Now I have been on a number of Boards of Directors, both for profit, and not for profit, over the years. I absolutely know that when bylaws and a contact list for the Board of Directors is denied to the membership/stockholders, something is going on that is being kept away from the membership/stockholders. In fact, in most states, not for profits are required by law to make those two things available to their memberships.

The NRA tries hard to make it difficult to access these items, but, they are available to someone willing willing to work at it. When GOA ignores email and letters asking about the availability of these items, it sets off too many red flags for me. That is why I asked here, thinking someone who is a member might have these things they would share. I'm holding off on GOA until I do get such answers.

I also believe in the power of state associations but I also know that the job of state associations is much harder in some states than in others. There are also several organizations aimed at minority group gun owners that I support even though I am not yet a minority. (Old Protestant White Guy)

Thanks for all the responses, even if I still don't have the answers.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
That's exactly the reason state orgs are so important. We've seen the constitution and federal opinion ignored for a while now on different fronts at a state level and while I'm for states doing their own thing, I believe issues regarding the constitution should go only one way.

So, if the fed govt that happens to be in power is pro 2A and your state is anti A2, you need a local org.

If the fed in power is anti 2A you need a local state org even more, regardless of how your state tends to swing.

I understand fighting it at the fed level but I have yet to see an organization that seems to be effective as many local state orgs. I think the NRA has been dying for a while and I know nothing of these other orgs and have no reason to think they're any different.
Click to expand...

I can understand the anger at the NRA as it currently stands. To me, I am the NRA. It is my house. I want to fix it and not tear it down. The SAF actually does considerable good work. If you attended one of their National Conventions as compared to the NRA National Conventions I think you would understand and agree.
 
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