Pro 2A but Anti-NRA?

[earthquake]

I'm am seeing a growing trend in a lot of anti-NRA sentiment from both sides of the gun debate. Maybe I'm late to the party, but I've been a member for many years, and I'm starting to have my doubts after reading more of their reasons in-depth....they bring up a lot of good points about NRA being complicit in a lot of gun control decisions and laws.

I bring this up because with all we are facing these days, is the division (whether it's real or not) good for us gun owners and 2A supporters? Is the NRA the real vangaurd of our freedoms, or are they now part of the "swamp"?

An example from some pages on IG that are very pro-2A but also very anti-NRA that I follow are,

@9mmSMG
@gunpolicy
@beardedgunbunny2.0

And there are others. Here are some specific posts -



All good points, but what say you? Has the NRA abandoned us, and become too weak? Do they still serve a purpose by being the punching bag for the antis? GoA seems like a no compromise group, but I don't know much about them.

Heck, even in my own state, there is friction/fighting between Ohio Gun Owners and the Buckeye Firearms Association. None of this serves to unite us and division weakens our cause I believe, but how do we succeed if we're fighting ourselves?

Sorry for the long-time rant...

 

[TXBO]

The NRA is the 1000 pound gorilla for gun rights. It is the oldest and largest civil rights group in America. The best way to make certain that their voice reflects your voice is to participate intelligently in the board of directors elections.

 

[BoilerUP]

Absolutists are, in my opinion, a small but vocal reactionary fringe of the "gun rights" segment of the population with fundamentalism-like zeal. You aren't going to change their minds, and if you don't agree with them 100% in lock-step you are the "enemy"...even if you're with them on 95 or even 99% of topics.

The simple yet basic reality that their desire of "no firearm restrictions" is a pipe dream fantasy akin to uber-progressives' "minimum guaranteed income" escapes them.

Its kinda like if I said "The Hughes Amendment should be repealed, but the NFA tax for a machine gun should become $5,000". The pragmatic among us would see that and recognize the cost savings, while the absolutists would say "That's horseshit, repeal the NFA!!!1!" as if that's even a fucking option.

There's room in the conversation for those more hawkish/staunch on the topic, it helps keep others honest on thoughts of "common sense compromise" and prevents the dialogue from becoming echo chamber-y...but that doesn't necessarily mean those people are "right" all the time, either.

JMHO...worth exactly what everybody paid for it...

 

[Howland]

I used to be a member and contributed to the NRA-ILA, but no longer.

When the NRA told the swamp that they were OK with prior restraint was the last straw.

In NH, Constitutional Carry was on the verge of passing both houses of the legislature by veto proof majorities and the NRA - which had done absolutely nothing in the effort - jumped in at the last minute and threw a monkey wrench into the works, ruining a lot of hard work by a lot of people.

NH had to wait years for a GOP Governor to finally accomplish this.

Up to their eyeballs in the Swamp.

 

[...]

the NRA is far from perfect......

however, i dont hear Feinstein yammering about how she is going to "stand up to the GOA".....i dont see liberals protesting GOA conventions.....ect.

not to say GOA is a bad organization......its just that they pale in comparison to the NRA........and any organization that gets the libs all riled up like that deserves to be supported.

now i would like to see some changes within the NRA.......and thats why i stay an NRA member.....because cutting up my membership doesnt do me a fuck lot of good.......but being able to vote in NRA elections does.

now im not saying you HAVE to support the NRA.........but if you are actively ANTI-NRA (cough IV8888 cough MilitaryArmsChannel cough)......then you are no better than the Brady campaign and can go right straight to hell as far as im concerned.



other than their political activism, there are other reasons to support the NRA......

the common misconception is that the NRA was founded to preserve the 2A.......it wasnt......it was founded as an organization to enhance marksmanship and training, and thats really what they excel at.

especially with their youth programs, which is the prime reason to support them.

they do a lot to teach youth marksmanship and youth firearms safety......if we teach children how to safely shoot and handle firearms, they are less inclined to believe the bullshit the media tells them about how all guns are dangerous killing death machines.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I'd suggest that the NRA while not the ultimate be all end all, is very important to the fight for the 2nd Amendment.
We also need other groups to keep them honest & keep them on their toes.

The NRA has the membership numbers to make congress critters pay attention, and have more money to spend on getting out the message than most. When the freedom haters (all democrats for the most part) start the attacks as they always do like clockwork, the NRA has the numbers, funds and political muscle to quickly muster the first line of defense of our rights. In addition, politicians counting on conservative voters know good and well what happens to their career if the NRA widely publicizes their betrayal of our rights, this helps keep many evil bills from making the first hurdles in the legislature.

The NRA also provides a lot of the "Sport" aspect of gun ownership & are very involved in shooting matches, getting new shooters involved in the sport, making sure there are ranges, hosting events that bring people together. All of this is very important to our freedoms, as the more people that enjoy our freedoms the more will be willing to vote in favor of those that respect our freedoms.
While for some of us the "Freedom & Liberty" part of the second amendment is hugely important, a much larger population enjoy it for the sport, fun, competition, cool, social & collection aspects & it is important to have as many of those backing us as possible.

The inescapable truth for humanity is that once any group, government, organization, religion or other such thing gets established the first and primary mission of said organization becomes perpetuating itself & enlarging itself.

So while the NRA is very useful & important, I think it's just as important to be involved with several other groups such as your local state gun rights association and also ones like the GOA and other similar more aggressive organizations. The other organizations will also help keep the NRA honest by competing for funding with the NRA so they know if they don't keep up the fight, somebody else will start to eat their lunch.

My suggestion would be that as many gun owners as possible should belong to the NRA as well as to at least 1 or 2 other second amendment rights organizations. Then use your contributions as a stick and carrot (clearly letting them know & also voting when directorships etc come up for renewal), to reward / punish them when they do or don't do what you want. Strong stance = millions coming in. Compromise = no money while the other groups get it all.... = They learn very quick which way they should go.

 

[diverdon]

The NRA might not be perfect but the shills against the NRA are not for the Second, they are a fifth column attack. With out the NRA we would have lost thirty or fifty years ago. Thank god for the NRA. If you don't think they are doing enough join someone who is doing something more. I'm a Life member of the NRA and the NYSRPA and an annual member of the GOA.

 

[earthquake]

I appreciate the well thought out replies, gentlemen. I will keep paying attention and working to help however I can.

Along the lines of what @W54/XM-388 spoke about above, I heard a great quote by a guy at the range a few weeks ago, when he offered to let my buddy's nephew shoot his rifle....ammo was expensive and he was there to train for a match, but he said,

"No problem at all. The more people/kids that want to shoot them, the less people there are who want to take them."

 

[Alex126]

After Las Vegas, I sent the NRA an email pledging to buy a lifetime membership contingent on their opposition of any proposed anti-gun legislation.

That email went unanswered.

The sad truth is that the NRA LOVES mass shootings probably more than the left. They get to put out the call to arms (or in this case, checkbooks) and watch donations flood in. Same goes for any new law proposed on the federal level. They eat that shit up like the fat kid in Willy Wonka.

You know what they don't do? Try to get rights back. They pretty much ignored the HPA. They have no interest in repealing anything that's been passed over the last 80 years. Freedom doesn't suit their agenda. It's nothing more than another swamp propaganda machine.

 

[atomic41]

The NRA is not perfect and you will never have an organization that is. Like them or not, they are the only thing keeping us from tyranny. Without the NRA, none of us would own a single firearm legally.

I would argue that they actually do a damn good job considering that most of us think they need to be more aggressive, and a lot of fuds think they are too aggressive...seems they balance pretty well in the middle.

 

[flyer]

The NRA very nearly screwed up McDonald v Chicago.

The NRA absolutely screwed up carry rights in California.

They might be a 1,000lb gorilla but they have some weird political motivations outside of gun rights and they get behind some very bad lawsuits.

The NRA has issues because they aren't single issue.

 

[Maser]

The NRA is an organization of crooks and liars. Their biggest lie that they like to push on their naive supporters is that if it wasn't for the NRA, the Second Amendment would no longer exist. What type of pretentious cocksuckers do they think they are? The Second Amendment is set in stone and isn't going anywhere in our lifetimes, our kid's lifetimes, and even grandkid's lifetimes. All that's ever gonna happen is more laws, restrictions, and taxes will show up making buying a gun legally more annoying.

So yeah, I'm very pro-gun, but very anti-NRA. If you really wanna do your part in supporting and keeping the Second Amendment alive, do what I do. Get out and hunt and shoot as often as you can and most importantly, get your kids and/or new shooters involved in the sport. And if at all possible, try and convert an anti into a pro.

 

[jrassy]

Blah fucking blah, if you ain't an NRA member you ain't shit. Piss off cupcake.

 

[flyer]

Our second amendment rights need protection or they will disappear.

I just wish the NRA was better at doing that because it was SAF that saved our ass.

 

[DavidK]

"The Second Amendment is set in stone and isn't going anywhere in our lifetimes"

Please call me about the bridge that I have for sale.

 

[DuneBoer]

NRA lost me in 86. Then the NRA gave money to Harry Reid in 2010. I'm a life member of GOA until they break my heart.

 

[ArmyJerry]

I hate the fucktards too but I recently rejoined, every little bit helps.

 

[madppcs]

I think lobbying should be illegal to begin with. And as far the NRA, I dont like what they have become. They have transformed themselves into a well oiled money making machine, that thrives on picking low hanging fruit and never challenging the big stuff.

Every gun law in existence is unconstitutional. And until they use that type of motto, then they will never see another penny from me. They believe in compromise and appeasement. And until all the members recognize that, and quit the (Well they are the biggest tool we have) mentality, the NRA will continue this mission. Americans need to get over this (Well its the lesser of evils) or (Its the best we have) way of thinking.

In short, I believe in the 2nd amendment IN ITS ENTIRETY. And without limitations. I do not believe in giving money to a proven compromising lobby group that has sold its members time after time.

 

[craigos]

Life member of NRA, and 2 other orgs ... keep infighting, it just makes the liberal win.

 

[madppcs]

They have always been winning. We just get happy and parade around all victorious and shit when some simple stupid law gets overturned lolol

 

[supercorndogs]

I think the big problem we have is that stupid people on both sides of the isle believe too much of the propaganda they hear and read, and they have little concept of how party politics work. To get a couple million people under one tent you need compromise. There is no problem with lobbying. A bunch of people putting money together to send someone eloquent to represent them to their representatives. The problem comes with crooked politicians. I.E if you wont take bribe, who can bribe you? What we need is a 100% tax for these people. Every cent that wasn't part of your salary must be surrendered.

 

[Mike_Honcho]

The NRA is controlled opposition.

Step back and think this through, if the NRA didn't exist and the Lefties said "we're banning guns" - how would that go?

Instead, the NRA uses the Left to separate gun owning members from their money and then negotiates away the rights of ALL gun owners.

The NRA lost me in 1994 when I saw it for what it was - a money maker.

Fuck.Those.Guys.

 

[Nik H]

I am a Life member although I can't really say I agree with more than 50% of their stand. I feel that at a State level, GOAL does more for me than the NRA and more support from me has been going in that direction as of late.

At any rate, they (the NRA) are the largest grass roots organization in the US, I think, and they do a lot for us. We can always look down and say that it isn't enough but during these times, I am glad I am a member

 

[ArmyJerry]

You have a point

The NRA is controlled opposition.

Step back and think this through, if the NRA didn't exist and the Lefties said "we're banning guns" - how would that go?

Instead, the NRA uses the Left to separate gun owning members from their money and then negotiates away the rights of ALL gun owners.

The NRA lost me in 1994 when I saw it for what it was - a money maker.

Fuck.Those.Guys.

 

[diverdon]

The NRA is controlled opposition.

Step back and think this through, if the NRA didn't exist and the Lefties said "we're banning guns" - how would that go?

Instead, the NRA uses the Left to separate gun owning members from their money and then negotiates away the rights of ALL gun owners.

The NRA lost me in 1994 when I saw it for what it was - a money maker.

Fuck.Those.Guys.

If you can not side with the guys who are 90% right you (by default) are siding with those who are zero % right.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Imagine if only 25% of the NRA's members were to become politically motivated to write their own Letters, Emails and call members of congress and senators what we could accomplish.

I'm a life member, membership is a requirement for the range I belong to...

 

[Fig]

ANYONE who can cause that level of weeping and gnashing of teeth amongst Progressives deserves your $25 no matter what!

I have no love of Republicans either! I would reject 90% of them in a moment if that's all there was to choose from. As it is I can choose people I don't really care for, or I can choose actual Socialist/Communists who cannot honestly take the oath of office required to serve.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Think about that for a moment when you read these blatantly unconstitutional laws they pass, and they violate the 10th Amendment like a religiously inspired gang rape!

 

[Mike_Honcho]

Keep sending that money....

Lest anyone forgot - Ollie was at the center of importing drugs (death and misery) to America, and exporting guns (death and misery) at the behest of his globalist masters.

He has always been a bag man.....

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