I've been told by some that if I care about my Gun Rights (which as an aspiring collector, I do very much) I should join the NRA. Others tell me that the NRA will basically do nothing but send me junk mail asking for money all the time. What do you think I should do? What are the Pros and Cons of joining the NRA?
2007-05-15 06:28:22 · 17 answers · asked by Brian V 5 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
Join. The "junk mail" you receive is Email alerts and offers relating to the organization, which you can opt out of receiving.
The pro is that the NRA is considered the most powerful lobbying group on the hill, and your funds help continue their efforts. Too many liberals who are gun owners as well are led astray by their pinko buddies into believing that as a liberal gun owner, you would disagree with their politics (not saying you're a liberal, I'm just trying to explain something). The truth of the matter is that the only plank in the NRA platform is fighting for Second Ammendment Rights. This does sometimes carry over into lobbying to help wildlife conservation bills, but is that really a bad thing?
You also get your choice of 3 montly publications; American Rifleman, American Hunter, and America's 1st Freedom. As a collector, AR is the way to go for you.
If your gun rights are as important as you say you are, it is impractical not to join so that you have the most powerful lobbying group fighting for your constitutional rights.
The only way I can see you not wanting to join is if you can't afford dues, or if you own firearms but could care less if they were taken away.
To Grape Ape:
Do you think NRA members look forward to using firearms to protect their wives (and husbands, and children, and grandchildren, and anyone else should necessity call for it)? The difference between you and me is I'm not a hypocrite, and I'm not full of self-loathing.
2007-05-15 06:40:27 · answer #1 · answered by Jimi L 3 · 9⤊ 1⤋
What you will get is a choice between two fine magazines, American Hunter and American Rifleman. Both are chock full of articles on guns, gear, hunts, history, and the politics of the Second Amendment. you will also get some insurance on your life and your firearms. The most important thing you will get is intangible. you will be carrying your share of the load in the defense of our Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Sure there are plenty of groups who are lobbying in support of our gun rights, but none are as big as the NRA. Without the efforts of the NRA and other groups we'd have lost our right to own guns long ago. I will admit that often the NRA seems to be too eager to compromise, but they are fighting the good fight. And they accomplish more than the rest of the gun lobby combined. So quit being a cheapskate! NRA dues cost no more than a carton of cigarettes, a bottle of good booze, and less than a meal in a fine dining restaurant Doc Hudson, NRA life member
2016-03-19 05:32:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone I know once told me "When the NRA got all political and stuff I stopped my membership cuzz I don't care about all that BULL". Well who do you think is trying to take guns away from law abiding citizens!?!? POLITICIANS!! Now not all of them are trying to take away our guns but some (Bloomberg) are. Our only real defence is putting Pro-gun politicians in office like our Senators and Congressmen/women and paying your dues to the NRA. Yeah you get stuff in the mail, but you can opt out of that when you join also contact the NRA if you opt out but still get stuff some of it is a scam and the folks at the NRA can help you report the problem to the right people.
2007-05-15 17:18:17 · answer #3 · answered by jojo21 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No one in Washington (or in any state capitol) has a stonger voice to protect your rights than the NRA. No one.
While I do not agree with the NRA on every issue and topic, I agree with their mission and I'm a member.
This is too important an issue for me to quibble over what kind of gun rights we seek or how aggressive we feel. Join the NRA, then join someone else if you want.
I also belong to GOA and the Texas State Rifle Association. For people in Texas, no one keeps an eye on the Fascist Left factions in Austin more than TSRA. Their report cards on our state officials with an easy to understand A-F grade system can be eye-opening.
Junk mail asking for money? Sure, you'll get it. Toss it when it comes in, no big deal.
BTW......they do get you some nice discounts on motels, rentals cars, gun insurance, etc.
NRA members as a whole are responsible, working, home-owning middle class people with very high credit scores, so smart business wants them as customers.
The Right to defend oneself, one's family and property are not GIVEN by the Constitution.....they are given by our Creator. The constitution only acknowledges and protects those rights as sacred.
2007-05-15 11:04:50 · answer #4 · answered by DJ 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I have been a member since '91 and a life-member since '97. Any dumbass who calls the NRA "nazis" (the new president is a jew, by the way) and then claims to own a handgun is not someone that I would like to live next door to. They probably have no idea about gun safety or common sense. Kind of scary. Maybe those idiots are the ones who should be "controlled".
2007-05-15 16:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by david m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Standing up for your gun rights does not require membership in the NRA. If you learn of potential legislation or court action that you feel will infringe on your rights, you can right your congress person or senator without the NRA's help. However, it would be easier to become a member and let their lobby groups do the leg work for you. You would only need to pay dues once a year and could toss the other junk mail in the garbage pail.
2007-05-15 06:33:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
You get the satisifaction of knowing you're giving a big FU to the gun control crowd, that the NRA will have one more member on the books that can be shown to politicians (politicians care about numbers), and you do get a decent magazine out of the deal...and a hat (good for range use).
Some shooting clubs require NRA membership anyway.
Yeah, you get tons of junk mail...just live with it.
2007-05-15 08:26:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
The NRA does solicit money from its members but that is to keep the political pressure on the politicians. You cannot influence the government without some financial backing.
The NRA influences my voting decisions more than any other source with their in-depth coverage of the candidates and what their viewpoint is. The NRA is an excellent organization and I would recommend it to any gun enthusiast.
2007-05-15 06:33:10 · answer #8 · answered by Soldier 4 · 14⤊ 1⤋
they will ask for money and they will send you junk mail but they do help keep peoples gun rights and lots of other things like training ,a place to hunt and you get a magazine every mouth i suggest "America's 1st freedom "it tells what the NRA dose to help our gun rights like after hurricane Katrina they stopped the gun confiscation
2007-05-15 07:23:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Join. Better to be a member, than not. Yeah, you get the mail...big deal. All you gotta do is pay the yearly dues. No other obligations.
2007-05-15 09:32:12 · answer #10 · answered by diazon2002 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋