Anyone here a member of the NRA? Past or present?

[Kaleva]

I was for a time many years ago. While the political arm is (often) less then desirable, some of the bills supported by the NRA during the time I was a member I thought to be good and reasonable. Mainly though, I think the gun safety program of the NRA is quite exceptional and worth supporting.

[Scuba]

1. I was years ago before insanity took over their leadership.

[Kaleva]

2. That's the problem I have with it now.

The leadership went radical right.

[johnnytoobad]

33. you preach the truth--in the michel moore film "bowling for Columbine"

-- Charleston Heston looked like an old fool---he should have admitted that weapons have "seamy underground" much like the film industry and most other industries--
I was an nra member. when called apon to renew I told the lady that NRA did not do enough for class 3 weapons (full auto) she had no idea what .I was talking about.
SCREW the NRA,the different factions--bird hunters,rifle shooters,etc.al look out for their interests---the hell with the rest

[SGMRTDARMY]

3. Not since they went off the reservation

They still have some good programs like Eddie Eagle.

[ileus]

4. was a member for a year in the 90's.

Last edited Wed Jun 27, 2012, 09:16 PM - Edit history (1)

They called or sent something in the mail every day. I figured if they had that much money to waste they didn't need mine...

[Callisto32]

9. ^^ THIS.

Not, like, the 90's but....

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Before they merged with the GOP?

They were pretty good once upon a time.

Now they suck.

[gejohnston]

6. That we agree

at least certainly some of the people on the board.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. I was a member for a year two... but then it expired.

I wouldn't mind getting another membership @ a funshow for $10 or whatever.

[sharp_stick]

8. I gave it up around 1994

simply because of their political arm, I see that as the main reason for their current existence. I won't fund it no matter how good their safety program is.

[Glaug-Eldare]

10. I was a member until earlier this year

I took up shooting last year, and I joined all the relevant organizations as a matter of course. Ever since I learned how committed some of them are to unrelated partisan issues, the only two I remain with now are Maryland Shall Issue and the Second Amendment Foundation.

[TexasProgresive]

11. I'm not proud of it-but I'm a life member

But the NRA doesn't know where I am or if I am alive. The radicalization of the NRA has ruined any good qualities it ever had.

[GreenStormCloud]

12. Yes.

They are the most effective gun-rights organization that there is. So far this year they have had 26+ NRA backed bills signed into law in various states.

[Glaug-Eldare]

13. They do jack shit for us.

The state NRA-affiliate is UTTERLY uninvolved in gun politics -- all they do is administer shooting competitions. When actual advocacy organizations reached out to NRA, we were informed that "NRA does not work with grass-roots organizations."

So, they can take their Fudd friends and go jerk off in the woods together while the real grassroots go to work.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. And

as thanks they stuffed it straight up your ass by backing GOP candidates at every turn.

Enjoy.

.

[TheCowsCameHome]

28. Whooopee-Do

26 bills.

And tons of $$$ to support GOP candidates.

Enjoy the screwing you're getting.

[G26]

14. Yes - Endowment Member

NRA's politics are unfortunate, but they are the most important firearms organization in terms of education, and are generally effective supporters of the 2nd Amendment. Lately, the much-less-partisan 2nd Amendment Foundation has taken the lead in big, effective 2A litigation.

[sarisataka]

15. Yes and yes

i am now a certified instructor in several disciplines. I believe on change from within and teach the young generation right.
Hopefully Obama wins and continues to do as he has so far regarding gun rights, essentially nothing. The will, hopefully, deflate the panic rhetoric we hear on a routine basis.

I do not support the NRA-ILA. That is a totally different animal.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

36. A key point that many are not aware of is the the NRA is the primary certification for instructors

If you instruct or compete, you pretty much have to be an NRA member.

You are quite right when you say that the NRA-ILA is a different animal

[L0oniX]

17. I got a merit badge in Boy Scouts for riflery

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[Meiko]

18. When I was younger I

belonged to the NRA but I got tired of the constant solicitation for money via mail and phone. That and some of the legislation they backed was just not right.

[Kaleva]

19. Yes. It was like the fate of the world depended on my donation of $15...$20...$25 or more.

[aikoaiko]

20. After several years of waffling I joined 4 years ago and I'm currently a member

As a Democrat some of the political rhetorical is deeply troubling to me, but I realized that I benefit from and agree with many of their positions on actual gun legislation and, of course, their gun safety programs.

My choice was to join to support the good parts, but also to achieve voting privileges to change the BoD to include more sane voices.

Democratic voters who are gun owners and those who support the RKBA have effectively changed the rhetoric and many positions of Democratic politicians.

I think we can do the same in the NRA. I think the NRA may be at the same point now that the Democratic party was at in 1994 -- taking positions that are not sustainable and undermine the organization.

[Logical]

21. You will never change the NRA. Their membership is 82% GOP supporters. They would lose many....

members if they started being non-partisan.

[aikoaiko]

22. Certainly not by myself

After the new much stricter gun control laws of the late 1960s and 1970s and some in our party embraced extreme gun control, the NRA changed. Now the democratic Party is changing again and the NRA rhetoric doesn't make sense.

I see an opportunity and when more members speak up the NRA will change again.

The NRA is an example of an org that has changed over time,

[BiggJawn]

23. I tell myself my money goes towards education.

Not Wayne LaPierre's scotch-and-hooker fund.

I wouldn't even belong if it wasn't a requirement for membership in my local club.

Oh, alright, I love the way the member decal and Obama sticker on the truck screws with people's minds on both sides of the house.

[OriginalGeek]

24. I had a 1 year membership

when they gave them away for free a few years back but I never re-upped. Still have the stickers and the membership card.

The emails from Wayne pleading for a few dollars are kinda funny sometimes. He's either the single most paranoid man in the world (DEY TUK R GUNNNNNNNNS!) or he knows exactly what it takes get bucks from his base. I suspect the latter but still maybe a little of the former.

[Starboard Tack]

25. The very thought is too odious to contemplate.

They teach "Gun Safety". What an oxymoron. Hopefully they teach how to safely use a gun, including never pointing one at another human being. But it doesn't take such a vile organization to teach that.

[Glaug-Eldare]

26. What's oxymoronic about the term "gun safety?"

It's completely possible to have safe and unsafe behaviors with and around firearms. For all my gripes with NRA, they're the only organization I know of that creates effective standards and curricula for safety education and training. PDs aren't doing it, gun control groups aren't doing it with any degree of success at all, very few (if any) states have gun safety curricula, etc. I've gotta concede this to 'em.

[needledriver]

27. I'm not a member myself,

but my historical re-creation club gets its insurance via the NRA. As President of the club, the NRA magazine comes to my house. This months cover is specifically dedicated to defeating Obama; claiming threats to gun rights in a second term.

The NRA is at the same time the mainstream and lunatic fringe of RKBA.

[Eric308]

29. Just let my NRA membership lapse

First time poster here. All I can comment upon is personal experience. I grew up in a rural area with a loving father who took me hunting and had a healthy respect for firearms. I still own firearms, hunt, and believe in the individual right to bear arms within a concept of ordered liberty.

The gun industry, the NRA, and far too many gun enthusiasts have strayed too far from the rational and healthy interest in recreational shooting or legitimate self defense.

Go to any gun show or shop today and witness the tactical-gear clad, boorish types who have an unhealthy, fetishistic desire for more and more firearms, using them to live out their societal collapse or government tyranny resistance fantasies. That such events would be a catastrophe for the nation, themselves and their families are lost on them. They are sadly truly disconnected from the wonderful, pluralistic nature of our modern society and this disconnect will only grow as they lack the necessary skill and mindset to thrive in our information based, ethnically and culturally diverse economy. This will in turn only feed their anomie. President's Obama's "bitter clingers" speech may have been politically unwise, but it was spot on.

As a gun owner, I fervently wish the shooting sports and industry would return to its more traditional, legitimate roots and leave the Mad Max lunacy behind.

Constant fomenting of a Timothy McVeigh mindset is the main reason why I let my membership lapse

[maddezmom]

30. welcome to DU!

[Eric308]

31. Thanks!

Thanks! I'm rural America born and raised, and very troubled by the blame the victim mentality displayed by some rural folks; misplaced blame on the sources of our country's ills is rampant! I believe this phenomena was explored in the book "What's the matter with Kansas."

[Kaleva]

32. A percentage of gun owners are survivalists.

The gun(s) they may have are just a part of their inventory they deem needed to survive a disaster (political, man-made or natural).

[permatex]

34. Used to

until they went hard right. Let my subscription lapse.