NRA Membership

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bluehen59

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York, PA
I am a life member of the NRA, I am extremely proud to be so and it enriches my experience exercising my 2nd Amendment right in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Two of my closest friends, who are big gun guys like myself are not NRA members and always shy away and make excuses every time I bring up the subject of becoming a member. One friend is concerned about the price of a basic membership, yet spends the money on AK/SKS supplies every time he has change in his pocket. What can I say to convince them the benefits of NRA membership?
 
I believe its only 10 bucks with out the magazine script. They do protect the 2nd, and have a louder voice and better lawyers. Its a requirement at our gun club just to be a member. I've only been a member 5 years now, and with politics the way they are and all the shootings that have been going on , we need our 2nd protected, Tell them 'its a good investment'.
 
What can I say to convince them the benefits of NRA membership?
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Print out a copy of the brief on Heller. No it's not the greatest thing ever put to paper and probably not the best written of the bunch, but it does show their position.

Then print out a copy of HR1022 or similar legislation.

That AK and SKS will be Verboten under that.

There's only so much you can do. If he's a real good friend buy his first year membership for him then give him so much hell and guilt he pays for the renewal.

That's worked for me once or twice LOL.
 
Those two close friends of yours aren't "big gun guys" like you. They are freeloaders who depend upon everyone else to pay the way for them to own firearms and shoot. I'm sure that their "principles" prevent them from joining the NRA. Freeloading is a principle for many people. I stopped having either sympathy or concern for freeloading gun owners a long time ago.

Friends try to carry their own weight and some of yours too. They don't want their friends to carry them.
 
I myself am conflicted over this subject. On one hand I do believe that the NRA is the best voice we have on fighting gun control. But on the other hand, I feel reserved after having read of their aggressive in getting members to renew/donate (some people have said it is a bit too aggressive), but even beyond that it is the NRA's stance with minorities in the nation, or at least some articles I read. Now let me say up front, these are hear-say things and that is why I am conflicted. I am trying to educate myself as much as possible and trying to avoid the agendas of other people and organizations. I am so happy to find civilized discussion such as this one...

CC
 
My first post.... err ok... 2nd or 3rd... mayber 4th... but... on the subject of the NRA... hmmm

K...put asside the issue of assault weapons..

put asside the issue of guns...

put asside the issue of the right to of the individual to keep and bear arms...

put asside the issue of the right to carry...err ... k... we'll hold that...

The NRA is the single loudest voice for the people who think the 2nd amendment still means anything. Do we have a right to free speach? Do you believe the people have a right to keep legal weapons in your home? Then support the NRA..

Any other argument is playing into the hands of the anti-gun croud...

Now... back to the right to carry... geezz...

When the founding fathers took quill to ink... do you really think they thought we, as the average american citizen, would have to take a gun safety class... submit our mug shot, finger prints and qualifying weapons score for approval, before we were could "carry" a weapon??!!....

Sorry... not an argument for this thread.... but... please feel free to welcome me to the forum!!! :)
 
Thanks... but...

I forgot to mension McCain-Feingold... Our "conservative" presidential nominee... who is the single largest cause of limiting our 2nd amendment rights...

Concerned about the 2nd amendment? Look no further than the current republican front runner?.... seriously concerned about constitutional rights and taxations without reprisentation??? we have no good choices... geezzz.. think I read somethting about that and the boston tea party.. maybe not...but... just for yucks...

The recently passed economic incentive package puts money in the hands of the average american citizen! right?? except that anyone earning more than 150k is not eligigable for this "incentive."... interesting... if you look at the data from the 2006 tax year... 90% of the federal income taxes were paid by the top 40% of wage earners.... why would those who are paying the bulk of the taxes, not to "eligible" for a tax refund??? could that be taxation without representation?? kind of feels that way...

Just curious?? Those who didn't pay taxes are getting a check... those who pay a "lot" of taxes... the .gov's say... sorry.. you are not eligible for a tax refund...

All is lost... we have already reached the tipping point... socialism is our destinany... "Luke.... I am your father..."....

post #4... good start!! :)
 
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shinken:

I myself am conflicted over this subject. On one hand I do believe that the NRA is the best voice we have on fighting gun control. But on the other hand, I feel reserved after having read of their aggressive in getting members to renew/donate (some people have said it is a bit too aggressive), but even beyond that it is the NRA's stance with minorities in the nation, or at least some articles I read. Now let me say up front, these are hear-say things and that is why I am conflicted. I am trying to educate myself as much as possible and trying to avoid the agendas of other people and organizations. I am so happy to find civilized discussion such as this one...
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The NRA does solicit renewal memberships. I don't know any membership organization that doesn't. Do you?

The NRA does also solicit donations to the NRA/ILA. Federal law prohibits use of membership dues for lobbying or other political purposes, so the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (the NRA/ILA) is the affiliated organization that works to support Second Amendment activities. But federal law prohibits any of the membership dues from going to the NRA/ILA, so donations from NRA members are among the ways it must raise money.

I don't know what you've heard about those requests being "too aggressive." The NRA doesn't send armbreakers to your home. It sends mail. Tear it up if you don't want it: surely you get junk mail from other sources and have been able to discard it. Use the very same technique with unwanted mail from the NRA. It works. It's also possible to e-mail, call, or write the NRA to opt out of those solicitations. If any of the NRA or NRA/ILA mail is so aggressive that it tries to take over your home and force you into the streets, shoot it: you're a gun owner, your home is your castle, and you needn't allow yourself to be beaten about by overly aggressive mail.

My wife and I respond to every one of them with a donations. We want to support the only effective national organization that helps us to keep and use our firearms. We also recognize that a great many gun owners prefer to let other people carry them, so we try to compensate at least a little for a few of the freeloaders--or, if you prefer, some of the "highly principled gun owners who have excellent reasons for not sullying their hands or souls with the NRA."

Whatever you've heard about "the NRA's stance with minorities" concerns me greatly. I'm an NRA Life Member and if there was an orientation session in which we were instructed to discriminate against anyone I was not informed. I hate it that I'm always the last person to get the word about such things. I haven't discriminated against anyone in decades, and I hope that no one expects me to catch up on all that missed discrimination at this point. I'm just too old to do that. Did your sources explain what minorities I and other NRA members are supposed to discriminate against or is it some blanket kind of discrimination? Some of my friends who are NRA members include Blacks, Jews, Hispanics, and Muslims, and I wonder which minorities they're supposed to discriminate against at the NRA's behest.

I guess I shouldn't feel too bad about not knowing that the NRA has a disturbing stance on minorities. Roy Innis evidently didn't get the word either: he was elected to the NRA Board of Directors for 2002-2005. As National Director for CORE (the Congress of Racial Equality) he's supposed to know about such things. Sandy Frohmann, a female Jewish lawyer, just finished her three year term as President of the NRA. I'd expect her to be more in touch than I am. Robert Reynolds, in this forum as mrreynolds, obviously is flat out of touch: he's a Harlem resident in New York City, an NRA recruiter, and operates a nice web site that solicits membership to the NRA. He's so good at it that my guess is he'll own the NRA by the time he reaches my age.

The NRA doesn't ask anyone's race, religion, national origin, or other minority indicators or seem to pay attention to such things before or after anyone joins.

I doubt that anyone has asked you whether you belong to some minority group or other, and I doubt even more that anyone cares. The NRA is an organization for gun owners and people interested in firearms and Second Amendment rights.

How about joining the NRA now. You can make an effective statement in support of minorities by joining through Robert Reynolds' web site: http://smallarmz.info/. Strike a blow for minority rights! Just click the menu item labeled "JOIN THE NRA NOW."
 
LOL Robert Hairless, all points well made (and taken). Like I said, whatever I have read regarding negative issues about the NRA I have taken with a grain of salt since I am sure there are many people with different agendas out there. To be honest with you, deep in my heart, I always suspected and felt exactly what you voiced. So here I come NRA... you are getting a new member. :D

CC

PS: Just finished applying. Thanks all.
 
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Alerts

I appreciate just getting the NRA-ILA alerts about legislative activity on both a national and a state level.

I figure being notified about things that will impact my RTKABA is worth my $10 dues in and of itself (I don't get the magazine).
 
Welcome, Shinken, glad to have you with us.

Now doesn't it make you feel all warm inside to know that you've given both Carolyn McCarthy and Sarah Brady heartburn? :)
 
If, like me, you read the monthly magazine in the first day or so, once you read it, why not alternate between your two friends and give them that month's issue? When they can take their time and read what the NRA says, at least every other month, I think you'll have an easier time of it. :D
 
If, like me, you read the monthly magazine in the first day or so, once you read it, why not alternate between your two friends and give them that month's issue? When they can take their time and read what the NRA says, at least every other month, I think you'll have an easier time of it.
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What a good idea!

Years ago I skipped over the articles that didn't interest me, especially in The American Rifleman. Then I began to wonder what I might have been missing, if anything, so I began reading them too just to see what interested other people. After a while that became one of my favorite occupations because I started to learn things I never knew and wouldn't have sought out on my own.
 
Robert Hairless said:
Those two close friends of yours aren't "big gun guys" like you. They are freeloaders who depend upon everyone else to pay the way for them to own firearms and shoot. I'm sure that their "principles" prevent them from joining the NRA. Freeloading is a principle for many people. I stopped having either sympathy or concern for freeloading gun owners a long time ago.

Friends try to carry their own weight and some of yours too. They don't want their friends to carry them.
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:rolleyes:

So much for taking the high road. I have my reasons, which are none of your concern, that I don't join the NRA. Your assertions are reprehensible.

Signed,

Freeloader
 
I have my reasons, which are none of your concern, that I don't join the NRA
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Well maybe the fact that you can't explain your reasons makes people wonder.

Did Wayne LaPierre kick your dog or something?
 
I see you're in Pennsylvania. Well go here http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0760&pn=0881 and print out PA HB0760, which has been succesfully blocked. Then print out some of our other anti gun bills (PA House Bills) that are still hanging out there. That'll wake him up. Tell him even if he won't join NRA for some reason, there is always GOA and JFPO. Tell him it's an investment and it's about the same price as a brick of 22LR shells. Tell him to trade his Outdoor Life subscription for American Hunter if he has to...
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Hairless
Those two close friends of yours aren't "big gun guys" like you. They are freeloaders who depend upon everyone else to pay the way for them to own firearms and shoot. I'm sure that their "principles" prevent them from joining the NRA. Freeloading is a principle for many people. I stopped having either sympathy or concern for freeloading gun owners a long time ago.

Friends try to carry their own weight and some of yours too. They don't want their friends to carry them.
Click to expand...


So much for taking the high road. I have my reasons, which are none of your concern, that I don't join the NRA. Your assertions are reprehensible.

Signed,

Freeloader
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I'm totally in agreement with Robert Hairless on this. Most gunowners I know personally have no interest in joining any organization to protect their rights. They don't want to spend the money to join but are happy to buy the latest and greatest blaster. Or they don't want to be ostracized by their circle of non-gunny friends when the "dark secret" gets out that they are affiliated with the NRA. Whatever your opinion of the NRA is, they are the most effective lobby existent in the never ending battle between those who would like to assign the 2nd Amendment to the trash heap and the rest of us. It's great to join other organizations like GOA & JFPO but the truth is that their reach & impact is a fraction of NRA's. I believe that without the NRA's efforts, we would have long ago totally lost our ability to enjoy the ownership of our firearms and the ability to effectively defend ourselves. I've never joined anything else in my adult life but am happy to be an NRA Life Member and take pride in my organization.

True...other's reasons to not join don't concern me. I really don't care. Hopefully, those who are not members are members elsewhere and/or make the effort to personally contact their representatives in government. However, I know in many or most instances, this is not the case.
 
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I enjoyed joining the NRA so much that I joined the GOA and the SAF, too. With Mr. Hairless around, I knew I had to. :) Were there a "Joe-Bob's House of Gun Lobbying," I'd have to join that one too...

Of the three, the NRA membership card is by far the coolest. GOA doesn't even put your name on it, fer gossakes. ;-)
 
His reasons are his own. He doesn't owe anyone an explanation as to why he doesn't spend his money on something we want him to.
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He's the one that decided to post in a thread on the NRA, he's the one that brought it up.

If he can make a post with no content other than to say "he has his reasons" then I can certainly ask what they are.
 
He's the one that decided to post in a thread on the NRA, he's the one that brought it up.

If he can make a post with no content other than to say "he has his reasons" then I can certainly ask what they are.
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You can ask, but you ignored the rest of it. Let me repeat it for you: they are none of your concern.

What I resent is this characterization that people like me are riding your coattails. Nothing could be further from the truth. I guess by your rationale all Texans that own guns are nutballs, and since I asserted it it simply must be true.

Such accusations are counterproductive and holier-than-thou, and have no place in a reasoned discussion.

For that matter, had Mr. Hairless not made such a condescending statement, I would never have posted anything in this thread. Isn't it enough to say that you think that everybody should join the NRA? That's what I came here for, to be convinced to re-join. Instead, I face the scorn of people who should know better than to scorn anyone who even remotely supports them.

The High Road, indeed.
 
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