Would you join a gun club that required NRA membership?

[yukfoo]

Disclaimer: I'm a current NRA member with a five year membership. This thread is NOT about the NRA and it's strengths and weaknesses. Please don't turn this into a "for or against the NRA debate", because it's not meant to be that.

Okay here's the scenario. I'm a longtime member of a gun club that requires that applicants undergo a background check and complete an orientation session. No one has to vouch for you. As a result of this arrangement, the membership is comprised of shooters from all walks of life and varying degrees of firearms experience. Some folks shoot several times a week, others maybe twice a year. There is a lot of comraderie amongst members and everyone is helpful. The range is run in a way that emphasizes safety and fun, in that order. I truly enjoy being a member.

Recently, the decision was made to require that all gun club members hold NRA memberships beginning next January. The club's rationale for taking this direction is so it will be more competitive for NRA grants. There may be other underlying motives but that is the official rationale. Provisions have been made so that folks can join the NRA through the club and the club gets a small kickback.

Existing members will not be grandfathered. Roughly half of the current members hold NRA memberships as of now. Membership in other pro-2nd amendment organizations will not be sufficient to join or remain a member of the club. Now here are my questions:

1. If you were an existing club member who's not in the NRA (for whatever reason), would you join the NRA in order to remain a member of the gun club?

2. If you were a non club member and non-NRA member who wanted to join the club, would you join the NRA to gain club membership?

Looking forward to your responses.

Foo

 

[jeepnik]

Hmm, I think my answer would be, I'd join the NRA whether a gun club required it or not. So if it's required it really wouldn't make a difference.

But, being a Life memeber it's not an issue.

 

[Sam1911]

I've been a member of several clubs -- all required NRA membership. It is a practice that is good for the club, and also a good "service" the club can provide to do a little bit to increase membership in the NRA.

Like the horse you can lead to water but whom may or may not drink, you can't make folks be politically aware and active. But this is one way that you can get more folks seeing the printed material, seeing the message (even if only on the way to the trash can ) and at least provide a present and easy route for them to become more active if the light eventually sputters to life.

If nothing else, it swells the numbers of the NRA and makes the organization "officially" represent just that many more people, which is an important factor on Capitol Hill.

 

[guyfromohio]

I'd join that club.

 

[btg3]

Roughly half of the current members hold NRA memberships as of now.

Why does it matter what anyone else would do? Please let us know how this plays out at your club.

Ok, FWIW... #1 Yes, most likely. The cost is perhaps a box or two of ammo. I'm not going to leave a good club for that, but it may not sit too well with some folks.

#2 been there and did that -- to join the club I'm now in.

Bottom line: Get ready for a bunch of whining that changes nothing

 

[chevyman097]

I am not currently an NRA member. So No, I would not join a gun club that required NRA membership because I am not going to join the NRA just to join a gun club.

Although I respect the right of any private organization to make their own rules and enforce them. I just dont see the need to require people to be a member of additional clubs just to join another. I would see it being more productive letting people into the club then maybe encouraging NRA membership. I would think to some new shooters that dont fully understand the NRA may be turned off.

I do plan on one day being an NRA(I have donated to Pro 2nd organizations in the past, just not currently) member and a member of a gun club of some kind(havnt found one yet close enough to justify according to how much I shoot).

 

[Bentley4700]

Not a chance on either count. Never.

 

[oneounceload]

Clubs that do that typically get certain monetary gains from the NRA in return for being 100% NRA, whether it is liability insurance, range improvement money, etc.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Disclaimer: I am the NRA!
Yes, seems reasonable for a gun club. Most "Clubs" of any kind gun or not are targeting an audience smaller than the general public, and the NRA seems like a reasonable filter for a gun club. Now if I have to be a Vegan, join PETA, watch The Cooking Channel, subscribe to Sirius XM, or join Netflix, those would all seem unreasonable base on the premise of a gun club.

Join the NRA? Sounds like a Win, Win, Win for me, the club and the NRA.

 

[Tinpig]

My rifle range/association requires NRA membership, membership in Mass. GOAL, and that you be a registered voter. I have no problems with any of that. Apathy is our worst enemy.
I believe NRA membership is required by our range liability insurance policy.

Tinpig

 

[Bentley4700]

Not being a member of the NRA has nothing to do with apathy...

 

[JustinJ]

1. If you were an existing club member who's not in the NRA (for whatever reason), would you join the NRA in order to remain a member of the gun club?

Absolutely not. I strongly disagree with NRA positions and actions regarding certain aspects of hunting. I would not have a problem joining an advocacy group about gun rights only though.

2. If you were a non club member and non-NRA member who wanted to join the club, would you join the NRA to gain club membership?

See question 1.

 

[hso]

Clubs are going to grandfather existing members regardless of their membership in other organizations so I don't think that needs to be a concern.

 

[Sam1911]

Not being a member of the NRA has nothing to do with apathy...

For a small percentage -- a VERY small percentage -- of shooters that may be so. There are a few folks out there with various heartfelt reasons for not wishing to support the NRA but who actively work for RKBA in other ways. Sounds like maybe that's you. Great.

For the VAST majority though, it's just apathy.

 

[Pietro Beretta]

No I would not; what if I like to support SAF/CCRKBA instead of the NRA?

Then again, their range their rules.

 

[Sam1911]

what if I like to support SAF more than the NRA?

So since I don't have an NRA membership I cant join, I don't like that idea.

I don't think his club was requiring you to swear allegiance to ONLY ONE RKBA organization.

I'm sure they'd be just fine with you sending twice, three times, or even TEN times more to SAF than you do to NRA.

 

[Zeke/PA]

My Club requires N.R.A. membership.The club CERTAINLY does not lack an active membership.

 

[Jeb21]

My club requires an NRA membership.

 

[glove]

Yes, even if I wasn't a life member.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It would have to be a really nice gun club.

 

[Slamfire]

My Gun Club requires that you belong to the NRA to join.

We don't have any problems getting members.

In fact, we have too many. Weekends are crazy. National holidays are crazy.

I am proud I became a NRA life member this Jan.

We need to be organized to fight anti gun legislation, apathy is not going to win this fight.

 

[exavid]

The club I belong to doesn't require NRA memberships. It promotes the NRA and you can join the NRA for ten bucks off if you do it through the club. I do belong to the NRA but wouldn't have dropped my membership if I didn't over the requirement. Our club makes decisions that affect members at its monthly business meeting. All members are welcome to attend but of the 570 members we have only about 12-14 routinely show up. That means decisions are made by a small group of us. That's the way it is with most clubs, only a few show up for voting on decisions or doing any volunteer work keeping the club building in shape or other such. Those that don't show up and vote get what they deserve, decisions that don't take their feelings into consideration. We could put proposals on our website and let people vote on line but we chose not to. If you don't care enough to show up in a club where most everyone lives near by, things you don't like may be decided upon. Personally I think it's a better way to run a club than the State of Oregon does with mail in voter ballots. Participate or take what comes without griping.

 

[Harrod]

There are two gun clubs in my area that require NRA membership, I just joined the closer one to myself. I have been wanting to join the NRA for a while and needing it to punch holes in paper was a just the push i needed. So, yes to both.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I'm on the 10 year Life plan, and yes I started the habit because my Range required it of members.

The ownership has changed, and they've relaxed the requirement, but I'll still follow through with my Full-price Easy-Pay plan. $1000 is a small price to pay in such small increments to support the biggest dog (and their/Our lawyers) in the fight.

 

[22-rimfire]

1. If you were an existing club member who's not in the NRA (for whatever reason), would you join the NRA in order to remain a member of the gun club?

Yes, but I would hesitate to be forced to become a life member of the NRA if I were not already one.

2. If you were a non club member and non-NRA member who wanted to join the club, would you join the NRA to gain club membership?

Hell, Yes. Life membership requirement I would question.... (same as #1)

My club asks if you are an NRA member and asked if you have a HCP/CCW permit. They have lots of people who want to be members and my suspicion is that they would not grant a new person membership without an NRA membership unless they are family with other members. But for a total stranger like me when I first joined.... I doubt I would be a member today without the membership.