Is it useful to send the NRA-ILA any more money?

[Three Gun Ken]

As an Endowment member who first joined decades ago, I have sent in money and done related fund raisers for them for years. And then this spring I saw one NRA "A" rated congressmen and senator after another just stabs us in the back. If the NRA DC headquarters is that bad at sussing out who can be trusted with money and political support why should we give them more precious funds? Any other groups that you thing do better?

 

[wow6599]

I'm a Life Member, who has never gotten a lifetime card, I get a little tired of non-stop solicitation.......but I still give what I can when I can.

 

[BBQJOE]

It saddens me that it takes cash to preserve the rights we should have without any doubt, or discussion.

I'm a lifetime member of the NRA.
I don't expect my one time lifetime purchase to be the end all and be all of my part to support the NRA.
I send when I can, but it seems like I'm getting something from them just about every day with a plead at the bottom for more money.

They're gonna wear me out, and get blocked, if it doesn't quit being so spammy. (is that a word yet?)
I have a local firearms support group who actually gets things done here in AZ.
I'm more and more thinking about sending anything extra in my support budget to them.
NRA is kinda losing me, except that they're the best bet we got.

 

[Walkalong]

They can be a PIA, but are the best thing going at a national level. Contributing to the NRA-ILA is always a good idea.

 

[leadchucker]

Those contributions to the NRA/ILA are what helped hand Obomo the bloody nose over that last round of gun control. Keep 'em coming.

 

[SuperNaut]

Being a lifetime member of the NRA is nice but it isn't the same thing as donating to the NRA-ILA. Instead of a Lifetime Membership, your best bang for the buck is to get the 3-year NRA membership and take the leftover money and donate it to the NRA-ILA.

That way you are now on the membership roll, and your money goes to where it is needed instead of funding t-shirts and hats.

 

[Ignition Override]

I've asked whether there is any Other national pro second amendment organization with similar clout.
Nobody has ever responded to my question, and when have spam or requests really impaired anybody?

But the gun laws in MA, CT, NY, NJ, IL, CO, CA etc impair tens of thousands of our citizens and turn what are now law-abiding citizens into criminals. One vet might soon be in prison for transporting a gun. Another who transported his was extremely lucky to have been pardoned (NJ).

Does anybody have the exact quote from Janet Reno in the 90s about gun confiscation as their goal? Even though the chances are pretty remote, I'll never forget that careless, but very frank comment from her mouth.

Their game is very long-term, satisfying their urge for control with many gradual steps. Let's not make it any more difficult for my son's generation, or those which follow.

 

[medalguy]

I've been a lifer since before 1975 but I still send them money, but I don't do it in response to mailings or email solicitations, Just a check in an envelope to ILA. No way around it, NRA and ILA are the 900 pound gorilla in this business. No other organization does what they can do.

 

[19-3Ben]

But the gun laws in MA, CT, NY, NJ, IL, CO, CA etc impair tens of thousands of our citizens and turn what are now law-abiding citizens into criminals.

Correction. They impair millions of citizens. Even those who would choose not to own firearms at all have had their rights hacked up. Even my mother who is a total anti-gunner has 2A rights, and her rights have been affected by this as well.

 

[AirForceShooter]

I am NOT a member of the NRA.
I do support the NRA-ILA.
They get my money.

The NRA itself doesn't get a nickel.

And yes, they are very different things

AFS

 

[larryh1108]

If there was no NRA or NRA-ILA then our rights would have disappeared long ago. They aren't always what we want them to be but they are watching our backs. The way they are hated and villified by the antis shows how effective they really are. I also wish all the money sent to them went to our protection instead of tshirts, hats, travel mugs and other trinkets. I always tell them I don't want the free gift. I send what I can when I can, and am thankful for what they do, not what they don't do.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Rights disappear if they are not exercised and fought for. If you wish to continue enjoying your 2nd Amsndment Rights then you need to put money and your time behind efforts to retain those Rights. Otherwise Bloomberg and his kind will strip you of your Rights. Its all up to you. Stand and fight or give up. That's the choice you must make.

 

[Ryanxia]

They can be a PIA, but are the best thing going at a national level. Contributing to the NRA-ILA is always a good idea.

This. They may be a pain but what would you rather have? Solicitation from your own people or slavery?

I'm a member and I contribute to the ILA fund but I never give them my phone #. So I don't even notice any solicitation.

 

[TarDevil]

I'm a member, but not a happy one. They don't keep their word. I was promised a duffel bag when I first joined years ago. After I sent my membership check, I got another mailing asking for more information and money if I wanted my bag. Cheap, low handed and dishonest.

But as has been said, they are the only game in town and have played a heavy hand in maintaining my 2A rights. I'll remain a member, but I do question their business ethics.

 

[Fremmer]

Well, lets see: assault weapon ban defeated, mag ban defeated, background check/prep for confiscation defeated.

Yup, the NRA-ILA is worth every penny!

 

[alsaqr]

Well, lets see: assault weapon ban defeated, mag ban defeated, background check/prep for confiscation defeated.

Yup, the NRA-ILA is worth every penny!

Bingo!!
i have minor problems with the NRA-ILA but continue to support that organization with my donations.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you can't (or won't) do the political things yourself directly, giving to the NRA ILA is about the best you can do. Few have the funds to fight big government and legal actions take a lot of money. Give. Even $20 is better than nothing since a million citizens giving $20 = $20 million.

 

[bottom shelf]

They're gonna wear me out, and get blocked, if it doesn't quit being so spammy. (is that a word yet?)

Yep, the solicitations are annoying, no doubt about it, but it's worth putting up with. The reason is, it makes them money, and that's what we need them to do. It's easy to say that they'd have more if they'd quit spending out the mailings and other solicitations, but I'm guessing that they carefully continue to study that, and have determined that the solicitations are profitable.

I've heard many people say that they won't respond to solicitations, so they could save money by not sending them since they only get put in the trash, but I don't think this is true. It would probably cost them more to drop the mailings to those that don't want them than to just keep sending to everyone.

For this reason, it's best to just not take it personally when you receive an unwanted solicitation. Just trash it and be glad they know how to raise funds.

They don't keep their word. I was promised a duffel bag when I first joined years ago. After I sent my membership check, I got another mailing asking for more information and money if I wanted my bag. Cheap, low handed and dishonest.

But as has been said, they are the only game in town and have played a heavy hand in maintaining my 2A rights. I'll remain a member, but I do question their business ethics.

That IS bad. Maybe I'm just not paying attention, but I haven't heard of these bad business ethics. Sorry you're having trouble making them live up to their end of the bargain, but I hope it's an isolated case.

"Premiums" as they call them are not something I ever expected from any organization I give to. They need to offer them, because many people won't donate without getting "stuff" for it. PBS probably wouldn't get enough donations to operate if they didn't give stuff away for donations. It's sad, but that's the way it is.

 

[brickeyee]

I'm a member, but not a happy one. They don't keep their word. I was promised a duffel bag when I first joined years ago. After I sent my membership check, I got another mailing asking for more information and money if I wanted my bag. Cheap, low handed and dishonest.

You do understand the NRA is NOT the same as the NRA-ILA?

The NRA is a tax exempt educational organization, with limited ability to lobby (if any at all).

The NRA-ILA IS the lobby arm.
It is NOT a tax exempt organization like the NRA.

I do not recall the NRA-ILA having "membership" or offering anything for donations.
NO NRA membership dues or fees goes to the ILA.

The NRA-ILA must solicit on its own to lobby.

 

[HOWARD J]

You may hate the NRA & the NRA_ILA but without them you would not have a gun today.
Think about it--DO NOT LET THE ANTI-GUNNERS WIN

 

[desidog]

As a CT resident, i am very disappointed.

I got the NRA's American Rifleman in the mail the other day, and opened it eagerly, looking forward to reading what the NRA plans to do about the CT situation... well, apparently, Nothing.
There was one paragraph in the whole magazine that covered CT, and it just implied that CT is a lost cause.

So now, my money is going to go to the NSSF.

 

[larryh1108]

I am also a CT resident and feel like our rights were robbed from us. I believe that the NRA and NRA-ILA are waiting to see what happens in NY with similar laws since they passed theirs first. No use spending millions per state to fight the same battle. If/when it gets to the SCOTUS, the interpretation of these laws will become clear. Between now and then I hope that enough controversy against the erosion of our rights shows that we will not accept any restrictions for the sake of political agendas.

 

[rodinal220]

Yes,or you can donate to big O's reelection fund.

 

[GrOuNd_ZeRo]

I am getting frustrated with the NRA with the constant bombardment of fear mongering letters informing me the next big gun grab is around the corner and I need to donate now and become a member of the 'golden eagles' or whatever for a hefty 200 dollars a year, they even sent me a fake certificate.

I am a member and will send them whatever I can afford but it usually isn't much since i'm only in the military as an E4 and about to medically retire from the service.

 

[hso]

The ILA is different from the NRA. I'm sure the ILA appreciates people supporing the NRA, but it doesn't support the ILA.

For those of you who are complaining about the NRA, who else? SAF got sucked in with Toomey trying to manage the panic to our favor and they got a black eye out of it.
For those of you confusing the NRA with the ILA, please remember they're two different related organizations and the ILA doesn't get a fraction of the money NRA gets.