I Feel Cheated by NRA

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mad Hatter ...

NRA cheapo hats don't fit me, no way no how. Unfortunately for me, I've been endowed with a large cranium, and most hats simply don't fit no matter the size. A spackle pail will fit but looks ridiculous, according to my wife. The good news is that there's a website catering to "cranially endowed" folk like myself: Bigheadcaps.com, and I'd recommend them with confidence to my NRA and THR bretheren.

I give my "free" NRA hats to my grandchildren, who aren't allowed to wear them to school because they'll be expelled or suspended. Ditto for my Ruger LCP hat. Such is life in 2013. So my daughter politely accepts the NRA hats from me ... and throws them in the trash.

But I didn't join the NRA for a "free" hat, I joined because, well, they're the only act in town.

And by the way, folks with large heads aren't neccessarily more intelligent than their "coconut head" counterparts, as evident by this post.
 
Ironically the hat, which has a US flag on one side, is made in China.
Click to expand...

Even more ironic is the last I looked at said "Hecho in China"

(I don't remember which store it was)

It has now become the running joke in my house.

Since then, ve noticed "Hecho in China" on a number of products.
 
OK, I expected at least this.

Now that we've all been clever and implied that I'm venal or an "anti", could we move on to the thought that the health of the organization you venerate might just depend on your active input for continuing relevancy and "mandate"?

That perhaps a lazy, to question is treason mentality is not how this works? Or that in the end "you get the government you deserve" is not a call to "tell me how best to think, then think like me or you are the enemy", now I've done my duty.

I cannot escape that the continuing effectiveness of the NRA means allowing dissent, hearing independent thought and the resistance to monolithic political juggernaut.

Maybe I think too much, maybe you don't agree but damn sure isn't at it's root about free hats.
 
Since I am a veteran I'll accept your thanks.

BTW, the door is right over there.
Click to expand...
I am a Veteran also and no thanks I'll stay put!;)

Been hearing Complaints about the NRA for over 40 years and thought I heard them all, but the Hat TRIVIA just about takes the Cake!:rolleyes:
 
Not dead yet...

I've had two - 2 - TWO "lifetime" memberships paid in full - checks cashed - and both seem to have misted away.

I haven't died lately but my enthusiasm for further memberships has.
 
rswartsell said:
OK, I expected at least this.

Now that we've all been clever and implied that I'm venal or an "anti", could we move on to the thought that the health of the organization you venerate might just depend on your active input for continuing relevancy and "mandate"?

That perhaps a lazy, to question is treason mentality is not how this works? Or that in the end "you get the government you deserve" is not a call to "tell me how best to think, then think like me or you are the enemy", now I've done my duty.

I cannot escape that the continuing effectiveness of the NRA means allowing dissent, hearing independent thought and the resistance to monolithic political juggernaut.

Maybe I think too much, maybe you don't agree but damn sure isn't at it's root about free hats.
Click to expand...
Lighten-up Francis, I already gave you the best option:

NRA-ILA > NRA

NRA > Free Hat
 
Well I sure didn't start my membership with NRA over 4 decades ago for the hats and magazines. As far as I'm concerned, I would rather that promo money be put into the 2A fight.

I personally think anyone who is concerned about hats and other promo material from our NRA needs to take a step back and reevaluate what's most important. I would also ask if they do the round up when making purchases from gun shops that do it.

GS
 
<insult removed>

OK have it your way, you insist on making it about free hats, so be it.

You IMHO will indeed get the government you deserve, and if all you really have is the NRA and IF they sink into crass unethical commercialism in the name of the "hallowed cause" and you will tolerate no questioning, some future NRA executive will be living in Rio on your dime and your simplistic uninvolved "cleverness" might still seem clever. You will still (along with me I'm afraid) be screwed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't belong to the NRA for the magazine, or the swag, or any of that stuff.

I belong for two reasons.

The lessor - I actually shoot in NRA sanctioned matches. I didn't always, but the fundamental reason the NRA was formed was to increase the riflery skills of the average American citizen. There is absolutely no disputing the fact that the NRA's efforts increased the rifle skills of the American Citizen. The Marine Corps rifle training is a direct result of the work the NRA did to help increase the riflery skills in the military. Any Former Marine who has shot an NRA rifle match will see the influence the NRA has had on the Marine Corps rifle program.

The more important reason - the mainstream press paints the NRA as THE political action group for gun rights. Simply belonging pisses them off. And any chance I get to do that, I will. It's a worthwhile investment if only for that reason.

I care less about the swag, or the quality of it.

If I want a decent piece of clothing, I'll go buy it. I don't expect quality apparel from a political organization. If I want quality apparel, I'll actually go buy it from some clothing manufacturer.
 
Ken,

Can you get past that and see that it is wielding great power, that power corrupts, that it is getting further away from it's grassroots, that the prevailing mindset resists anything like grassroots input? I'm really disappointed that you made this about "free hats". What do you know about it's efforts to "poll the populace" vs. single minded focus on big money?

How does the membership "form the platform"?

BTW "Supernaught"- (Comical in itself) anyone that thinks by referring to your perceived opponent (I'm not convinced that I am) by "Francis" gives you some advantage (by implying feminine gender?) is living in a world I don't understand and is far more likely to be seen as someone who disregards common respect to his peers and is likely to get none in return.
 
Last edited:
Heck, I am in the highest level of life members....life, endowment, donor, benefactor....I forget the order, and I am still waiting for stuff from the second level. I still donate two or three times a year because they are fighting FOR me and my rights. It is more than stuff.
 
The hat isn't worth wearing and the magazine isn't worth reading. Can't say I would feel cheated if I didn't get them.
 
Did I say free hats anywhere in my contribution?

Which year did you attend a national NRA-run match at Camp Perry?

OK, forget the Nationals. What was the last match you participated in any NRA match of any kind where you live? Or taken an NRA basic firearm class?

You have to understand there is a much bigger NRA organization than the one you thought it was when you bought your promo NRA swag from.

I'm sorry you're disappointed in your NRA swag.

I've been terribly disappointed in my local NRA Rep here in Pennsylvania and his political underhandedness and bumblings more than you'll ever know. I wish my local NRA Rep was fired and replaced.


Yet, I'm still an NRA member.

Over the many years I have simply adjusted my expectations.

The absolute last thing I would measure my membership on would be the junk swag they promote.

But there is no denying the fact that this spring the NRA was vital to defeating the gun control efforts waged against us. I remember 1994 and how they compromised and sold us out. I give credit where credit is due. They held the line this time.

Where else are you going to give your money? The Second Amendment Foundation - which touted itself as a no compromise organization - who sold us out by bringing life to a bill that was dead through my state's Senator Pat Toomey?


Tell me, what's your solution?
 
rswartsell said:
BTW "Supernaught"- (Comical in itself) anyone that thinks by referring to your perceived opponent (I'm not convinced that I am) by "Francis" gives you some advantage (by implying feminine gender?) is living in a world I don't understand and is far more likely to be seen as someone who disregards common respect to his peers and is likely to get none in return.
Click to expand...
Opponent? Hardly.

"Lighten up Francis" is a funny quote from the movie Stripes that has been used, without malice, in internet discourse for years. SuperNaut is a Black Sabbath song, and your observation about "living in a world I don't understand" is now demonstrably accurate.
 
Ken,

Before you get all chest thumping on me. I have been to Camp Perry (as an observer, I at the time lived in Ohio) have participated in numerous local matches, bought CMP rifles, taught Scouts with the aid of NRA classes and view that as the "old NRA" that I miss.

Before any NRA loyalties I put my love and commitment to the political experiment that is the USA. Institutions that exhibit the tragic current trend away from democratic principles in favor of power by money do not get a pass, and the second amendment as dear as it is, is NOT greater than the entire bill of rights that can (and IMHO is) be endangered by the lure of big money.

The institution is changing, I have my bona-fides and you are not correct in suppressing dissent as a knee-jerk, nor are you automatically correct is assuming you have superior standing.

The thought that my motivations lay within a disappointment in material things might indicate that you are not reading the subtleties. I ask for a more penetrating understanding.
 
Hey Dood,

You started this thread complaining about the quality of your NRA swag, books, hats, whatever.

Swag.


So, is your discontent with the quality of the swag the reason why you're complaining about the NRA? Or are you now complaining about how it handles the political fight? Because if the latter is the case, you used a pretty trivial reason to complain about a really important one.
 
If there is a solution it lies in finding a way for the NRA's "conscience" and governance to depend more on numbers and the rule of the majority than sheer dollars. Otherwise it is a losing game for proponents of democracy, big dollars will eventually trump the numbers no matter what. Since the beginning of measured time a select few have wielded great wealth for power over the masses. I do not wish to see the NRA fall to this but I think at least in National politics they are ripe for just that.

If we could just think deeply enough to stop shouting down questions and perhaps new ideas, then the new members might be doing more that engaging in a cynical war of money, and the NRA might take its place as a contributor (not decider) of effective public policy that actually preserves the experiment of 1776.

My opinion is that we must adapt or take eventually our place among the dinosaurs. If the NRA is captured as a tool of the money elite, then the fine principals are lost. Many are the occasions that the "don't really like it but the best game in town" feelings are heard nowadays. The other major segment is the mindless "love it or leave it" mentality that is usually followed by "mine is bigger than yours", or who cares what someone else thinks as long as I keep mine. These are in the end game losing strategies.
 
OK Randy.

My full real name is in my sig line. If I'd have seen yours somewhere I'd have addressed you by it.


You began this discussion expressing discontent with the NRA swag.


Now you want to shift the discussion to discontent over how the NRA is run?
 
Well, no not really.

My observation is that you will be far more content with keeping it there (addressing a discontent with merchandise). Read my original post again. I am expressing a perception that it (the NRA) is changing and not for the good.

Your alternative when not knowing my first name is using my screen-name as is common practice. Not "Francis" and not "Dood". I think that is really beneath you.
 
I never called you Francis, and you lost any respect when you changed your argument from a trivial one - complaining about the quality of NRA swag - and redirected the pushback onto discontent over how the NRA wages its political fights.

If you wanted to complain about how the NRA doesn't represent you and your views, then come out and say that up front.


You chose open a thread to complain about the quality of the NRA merchandise you bought, then later changed the argument to something else - the way the NRA is run.


So . . . really . . . what's your real beef with the NRA Randy? The quality of the swag you bought and how the NRA merchandise department is run? Or how the NRA and the entirety of it's programs and political action effort is run?

Because when I read your opening post, I know what impression I got. And it wasn't one of discontent over how the total NRA.org is run.
 
You know what, on second thought I'm closing this thread.

I checked your post history and you've played this dance with THR once before. I'm just not inclined to hear you complain about how we're not keeping step because we can't hear the music as it changes beat in your head.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
The NRA's Target
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
Robert Hairless
R
hps1
  • Locked
NRA cutting staff and salaries amid coronavirus pandemic
Replies
0
Views
283
hps1
hps1
J
  • Locked
9/4 Washington Post: NRA Finds A Welcome Audience at State Level
Replies
0
Views
327
JohnBT
J
M
  • Locked
The Two Faces of The NRA
Replies
2
Views
567
Ledbetter
L
Riomouse911
  • Locked
Keep an eye on your gun shipments!
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
BigBore44
BigBore44
Back
Top