NRA says it’s broke and on the verge of collapse

[Flechette]

"...state agency told insurers to cut ties with the association and slapped a $7 million fine on NRA insurance broker Lockton Cos."

How can NYC fine an insurance broker in Kansas?

Wouldn't that be under Federal jurisdiction?

 

[GEM]

Not that I know anything about these laws but if you were selling product illegally in the state, it would seem they could come after you for the actions in that state. Frank should know!

 

[Slamfire]

If the NRA can sue anti Gun New Yorkers, and collect a lot of money from the bums, I am all for it. Plead poverty, come to the court in their thrift store suits, holes in their shoes, showing off their starving children.

 

[AlexanderA]

Plead poverty, come to the court in their thrift store suits, holes in their shoes, showing off their starving children.

That's fine, for purposes of this lawsuit. But, you have to look at the larger scope of things. Part of the reason for the NRA's vaunted clout is its reputation for having deep pockets. Political candidates are afraid of what the NRA might spend against them. It seems that throwing away that advantage just to win a lawsuit is not such a good idea. The antis have been saying for years that the NRA is a paper tiger, and this seems to confirm it, out of the organization's own mouth.

(BTW, I don't believe the NRA is anywhere near close to bankruptcy. What we're looking at here is a game of impressions.)

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I thought what anti-gun candidates feared was the ability of the NRA to mobilize letters, phone calls and emails to political candidates on the issues.

Bloomberg has outspendt NRA in several elections where NRA won with shallower pockets.

 

[Slamfire]

That's fine, for purposes of this lawsuit. But, you have to look at the larger scope of things. Part of the reason for the NRA's vaunted clout is its reputation for having deep pockets. Political candidates are afraid of what the NRA might spend against them. It seems that throwing away that advantage just to win a lawsuit is not such a good idea. The antis have been saying for years that the NRA is a paper tiger, and this seems to confirm it, out of the organization's own mouth.

Hypocrisy is not new to the anti's, they have been doing it for decades. You can only have a master/slave with the anti gun types. If you are negotiating, they know you are weak. If you have a big stick, and you don't use your big stick, you will be perceived as weak. Pain is real, nothing will hurt an anti more than a big cash settlement. Money talks, BS walks.

 

[nettlle]

I have been a NRA member for 53 years and they have been begging for money for 53 years. I have come to expect that from them. When the NRA quits begging for money will be the time I become concerned.

 

[Tommygunn]

And there is nothing wrong with that. After all it is a organization that fights for the rights I want preserved. Defending those rights unfortunately cost money. I wonder how much the Tax payers of having to fund the opposition in this law suite?
And of course if you feel you do not want to support the NRA, that is your free right to do so.

I never meant to suggest there was anything wrong with it, only that they seem to do a lot of it.

In fact I sent them a hefty check today myself.

 

[Don Dayacetah]

There's a huge difference between "Broke and on the Verge of Collapse" and financial hardship due to being unable to obtain insurance at the same price as they previously could.

Yeah, I'll believe they're going broke when they start trying to enlist new members, and stop begging the crap out of me. They do have an ANNUAL membership, right?
Because you'd think it was a MONTHLY membership, judging from my mail.


Skgreen, the sad fact is that of 140 million gun owners, less than 5% are willing to pony up the dough for a NRA membership. That's what, the cost of a box or two of bullets?

 

[bbqreloader]

[QUOTE="
Skgreen, the sad fact is that of 140 million gun owners, less than 5% are willing to pony up the dough for a NRA membership. That's what, the cost of a box or two of bullets?[/QUOTE]

1 year is $40. A 500ct bag of RMR 115gr FMJ with THR discount is $45.60...go figure

 

[WestTexShooter]

Thanks for getting back on track. Certainly, politicians have attacked organizations that support social issues they oppose. I find NYS government attitudes towards firearms to be despicable and not grounded in any real factual basis. As an aside, was it a mistake for the NRA to go into the commercial insurance game with Carry Guard? Is that their mission? I would have stayed away from any NY financial institutions or offering the program in gun unfriendly states - but I'm speaking out of my expertise.

As another aside, I have to wonder about the sanity of any firearms manufacturer continuing to operate in a non free state.

 

[Elkins45]

If they need money that badly then I suggest they cut loose all the NRA-TV folks who take to Twitter with rants about socialism and other culture warrior stuff. They have lost focus IMO.

 

[mnrivrat]

No matter what I am sick and tired of all the gun owners who expect us NRA members to keep forking out our money to help protect your rights. I live on a fixed income of less than $15K a year but I make sure I pay my membership dues, as well as chip in extra when I can. 5 million members is ridicules . It should be 25 million or more.

If you can afford a couple boxes of ammo you can afford a NRA membership.
If it wasn't for the NRA we would likely be living under the same rules as England or Australia. If you read this and are not a member I suggest you cheap SOB's start pitching in . And while your at it you can also make sure you get out and support and vote for pro gun candidates . If your not doing something than you are part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.

 

[mcmurry]

Isn't there an old quote that says something like, Any press is good press as long as it keeps your name in the public's eye?
So the NRA membership is around 5 million-is that 5 million and 1, or 5,999,999?
The lawyers for the NRA might be saying that if NY wins and other States follow NY's lead and sues the NRA, then yeah, they could be facing financial hardship.
I'll wait until my next NRA mag comes and see what it has to say before I believe it.

 

[AlexanderA]

No matter what I am sick and tired of all the gun owners who expect us NRA members to keep forking out our money to help protect your rights.

If I wasn't already an NRA life member, I don't think I would join. I frankly don't subscribe to all the far-right rhetoric emanating from the organization, that has nothing to do with guns. It seems that lately, the NRA publications have become a platform for screeds against "socialism," Democrats, etc. It's become purely an arm of the Republican party. I lay this tendency squarely at the feet of Wayne LaPierre. When I joined, the NRA was a bipartisan organization whose focus was entirely on guns.

(BTW, I also blame the Democrats for going whole-hog against guns. This polarization has made it impossible for someone in the political middle, like me, to vote for either side. What am I supposed to do when I want to keep my gun rights, but also want Medicare for All and a way to address the student-loan crisis? Like last time, I'll just have to go to the polls and cast a blank ballot.)

 

[Don Dayacetah]

No matter what I am sick and tired of all the gun owners who expect us NRA members to keep forking out our money to help protect your rights. I live on a fixed income of less than $15K a year but I make sure I pay my membership dues, as well as chip in extra when I can. 5 million members is ridicules . It should be 25 million or more.

If you can afford a couple boxes of ammo you can afford a NRA membership.
If it wasn't for the NRA we would likely be living under the same rules as England or Australia. If you read this and are not a member I suggest you cheap SOB's start pitching in . And while your at it you can also make sure you get out and support and vote for pro gun candidates . If your not doing something than you are part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.

Maybe the NRA membership SHOULD be monthly. It would be easier to afford, and match the organization's prolific mailing paradigm.

 

[paulsj]

[QwUOTE="AlexanderA, post: 10892751, member: 146007"]If I wasn't already an NRA life member, I don't think I would join. I frankly don't subscribe to all the far-right rhetoric emanating from the organization, that has nothing to do with guns. It seems that lately, the NRA publications have become a platform for screeds against "socialism," Democrats, etc. It's become purely an arm of the Republican party. I lay this tendency squarely at the feet of Wayne LaPierre. When I joined, the NRA was a bipartisan organization whose focus was entirely on guns.

(BTW, I also blame the Democrats for going whole-hog against guns. This polarization has made it impossible for someone in the political middle, like me, to vote for either side. What am I supposed to do when I want to keep my gun rights, but also want Medicare for All and a way to address the student-loan crisis? Like last time, I'll just have to go to the polls and cast a blank ballot.)[/QUOTE]

If I wasn't already an NRA life member, I don't think I would join. I frankly don't subscribe to all the far-right rhetoric emanating from the organization, that has nothing to do with guns. It seems that lately, the NRA publications have become a platform for screeds against "socialism," Democrats, etc. It's become purely an arm of the Republican party. I lay this tendency squarely at the feet of Wayne LaPierre. When I joined, the NRA was a bipartisan organization whose focus was entirely on guns.

(BTW, I also blame the Democrats for going whole-hog against guns. This polarization has made it impossible for someone in the political middle, like me, to vote for either side. What am I supposed to do when I want to keep my gun rights, but also want Medicare for All and a way to address the student-loan crisis? Like last time, I'll just have to go to the polls and cast a blank ballot.)

Sadly working class person no longer has political representation in USA. As long as vast majority of Democrats make efforts to take my gun away I will continue to cast votes against them.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

[QUOTE="
AP quote: "If I could have put the NRA out of business, I would have done it 20 years ago." -- Gov Andrew Cuomo

/QUOTE]

Guess what Cuomo, there are a whole lot of people lined up that would love to put you out of business as well.

 

[old lady new shooter]

NRA should be calling out Cuomo for saying the insurance is illegal because you can't insure someone for committing a crime. While I haven't looked closely at the Carry Guard insurance, all the other ones are very clear that you are not covered if for example you are carrying without a permit or otherwise breaking any laws.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Yeah, I'll believe they're going broke when they start trying to enlist new members, and stop begging the crap out of me. They do have an ANNUAL membership, right?
Because you'd think it was a MONTHLY membership, judging from my mail.


Skgreen, the sad fact is that of 140 million gun owners, less than 5% are willing to pony up the dough for a NRA membership. That's what, the cost of a box or two of bullets?

What annoys me a lot is that I took out a five-year membership I think two years ago, but they constantly bug me to renew as if it were expiring tomorrow.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Maybe the NRA membership SHOULD be monthly. It would be easier to afford, and match the organization's prolific mailing paradigm.

When I set up my change of address I told them the only paper mail I want is my magazine and any raffle offers, no solicitations. They can solicit me all they want via email, I can't deal with paper.

 

[JustKen]

If you go to the NRA website or the American Rifleman they never address any of this.

 

[CapnMac]

Sadly working class person no longer has political representation in USA.

Earlier this week a couple of the DC solons were quoted to the effect that an income of $450,000 was merely "middle class."
Which might be true for the the bandits inside the Beltway, but far, far, far less so out in the other 95% of the nation.
Sources differ, but the 2016 average income is between $60k & $70k, with a mean closer to the lower limit.

Over 50% of the congresscritters claim to have assets over one million dollars; I strongly suspect the remainders are less than truthful (there is a rather notorious exemplar who claims have a net worth of specifically negative $970,000).

 

[BSA1]

If I wasn't already an NRA life member, I don't think I would join. I frankly don't subscribe to all the far-right rhetoric emanating from the organization, that has nothing to do with guns. It seems that lately, the NRA publications have become a platform for screeds against "socialism," Democrats, etc. It's become purely an arm of the Republican party. I lay this tendency squarely at the feet of Wayne LaPierre. When I joined, the NRA was a bipartisan organization whose focus was entirely on guns.

(BTW, I also blame the Democrats for going whole-hog against guns. This polarization has made it impossible for someone in the political middle, like me, to vote for either side. What am I supposed to do when I want to keep my gun rights, but also want Medicare for All and a way to address the student-loan crisis? Like last time, I'll just have to go to the polls and cast a blank ballot.)

That attitude is sad.

Voters must choose what issues are most important to them and vote for the candidate / party that supports it the most. By casting a "blank ballot" you are supporting gun control if a anti-gun politician wins.

The reality is to READ what the parties platforms are and not listen to what the candidate says. Hard ball politics is that after you are elected you support THE PARTY platform and do what the leadership says or you pay a price (like not getting funds to rerun for reelection).

What Cuomo is doing is using the deep unlimited pockets of the taxpayers in New York to force the NRA out of business. How much it costs to do that does not matter as it is not their money. In fact the longer the legal battle the better as it forces the NRA is continue to pay for expensive lawyers, court filings, witnesses, legal research, etc and less on lobbying, supporting pro-gun candidates in other States, etc. The fact that New York will probably lose if the case ever goes to Court is meaningless as it is a) not their money to begin with and b) mission is accomplished if they can bankrupt the NRA in doing so.

Meanwhile less than 5% of gun owners carry the 95% that refuse to get involved in saving their gun rights.

 

[GEM]

General political comments are off topic, folks