Join the NRA?

[Bon Sauvage]

I'm a Life Member and if you just ignore the requests for more money they eventually will cease.

 

[Luke2236]

I joined the NRA in order to support the largest organization that is trying to protect my rights. I even add extra to orders from MidwayUSA in order to help them out with money to protect me. I'm really concerned about loosing my rights.

 

[Teufel_Hunden]

Seems to me that if you have to play that game......one would wonder if they're a good organization or not?

I'm a Life Member and if you just ignore the requests for more money they eventually will cease.

T_H

 

[jer fly]

This is why I never joined them - only the GOA. The NRA would "fight" 10 new gun laws, 3 would pass and they'd call it a victory. How coy and incremental of them. With Friends Like The NRA ... by L. Neil Smith [email protected] Americans today are drowning in an ocean of lies. Virtually everything they think they know -- about history, about economics, about the Constitution and the law, about a hundred other things -- is wrong. The shameful truth about the National Rifle Association, for example, is that there seems to be some kind of mutually beneficial -- symbiotic -- relationship between that group, which would like you to believe it was created to protect the Second Amendment right of the people to keep and bear arms, and the agency that enforces federal gun laws, the notorious Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Neither could exist without the other to prop it up. The BATFE needs the NRA to keep resisting its agenda (or at least appearing to do so) so it can whimper to Congress that it needs more money, more manpower, more machinery, and most of all, more leeway with regard to its habitual violations of its victims' Constitutional rights. Similarly, the NRA needs the BATFE to frighten its membership with (not to mention prospective members), using the violent and corrupt federal agency as a bogey-man, and its well-known illegal depredations and terror tactics to extract more money from those who foolishly believe the NRA can protect them -- or even has an interest in doing so. From time to time, both sides go through the motions of holding well-publicized Congressional hearings so that the NRA and its pet politicians can pretend to shock and horror at what BATFE does(something they must actually hear about on a daily basis), when their real purpose is to enhance its evil image as a credible threat to gun owners. In 1968, the NRA "signed off" onThomas Dodd's Nazi-inspired Gun Control Act, a story of deceit and treachery we've told here before - as covered in the book "Gateway to Tyranny".(Dodd requested a translation of Hitler's gun laws from the Library of Congress.) And never forget how the NRA actually helped resurrect the Brady Bill (the whole story is told at <broken link removed> ) -- under which you must now beg for and receive the government's permission to buy a gun -- after it was considered to be as dead as a doornail in Congress. The very existence of the BATFE, and therefore everything it does, violates the Second Amendment, and is therefore illegal. And yet, here you can see for yourself, in the NRA's own words, how and why it defends the existence of this criminal gang. In Suprynowicz, columnist and assistant editorial page editor at the Las Vegas Review Journal simply calls the NRA "the world's oldest and largest gun control organization". While it often calls publicly for BATFE reforms (that turn out to be empty rhetoric because the agency's value as an NRA fund raising device must never be compromised), the NRA has never called for -- and will never call for -- abolition of this unconstitutional agency, repeal of the tangled mass of unconstitutional laws it enforces, or even such badly-needed interim reforms as standardized, published firearms testing procedures, and fully recorded tests, accessible to public review, crucial issues over which perfectly innocent, law- abiding Americans are presently wasting huge chunks of their lives in prison.Read that letter again and see the terrible truth. The NRA doesn't care at all about the Second Amendment, the Constitution, the rights and safety of its members, or even the individuals rotting in jail thanks the NRA indifference and inaction. All the NRA cares about is membership money,tax-free contributions, expensive advertising in its magazines from cowardly, compromising corporations (as opposed to smaller gun makers who truly believe in the Second Amendment), benefits packages and"golden parachutes" for its executives, and its obscene relationship with the BATFE. And now Thomas Jefferson's"long train of abuses and usurpation's" -- it's an express, these days-- has blasted past yet another set of warning signals. The latest in the NRA's seemingly endless catalog of insults and injuries to gun owners and to the Bill of Rights in general occurred when a concerned individual wrote to them about a court case in which an extremely dangerous precedent has recently been set. The concerned individual was Len Savage, gun designer, firearms expert witness, and the proprietor of Historic Arms LLC. What he said was: "Yesterday the government ... redefined what a machine gun is: any firearm that malfunctions and fires more than one round before jamming." [The court case in which this happened is US v. Olofson; trial transcripts are now available at http://www.jpfo.org/pdf02/olofson-trial-tran-2-0f-3.pdf and http://www.jpfo.org/pdf02/olofson-trial-tran-3-0f-3.pdf. You may also want to listen to Len Savage discussing related legal issues on "Talkin' to America"]. "Judge Clevert (I am told) stated that it does not matter what ammunition, or what error rate ATF testing has, or that a malfunction occurred, or even if it required ATF to modify the firearm, just that more than one round be fired per function of the trigger. "Every firearm in possession of your membership is a 'machine gun' under this narrow interpretation.This is scientific fact, not my opinion. For example: * A double barrel shotgun firing both barrels with a single trigger pull; * A Colt single action loaded with thin-primer ammo (the pierced primer will 'fan' the hammer with gas pressure). Look up Georgia machine gun statute, they exempted it by stating a machine gun must fire more than6 shots per function of the trigger; * The ATF Firearms Technology Branch can test a rifle 100 different times; if they can manipulate it just once out of 100, you're indicted. "The NRA's Jason Ouimet has been aware of this situation at ATF since before the congressional hearings on 'the Virginia gun show incident'.I was supposed to testify at the hearings about the ATF testing issues at that time. Much to my frustration, the hearing I was supposed to testify at was canceled. According to Jason, it was [the] NRA who pulled the plug on me. "Now that the whole of the NRA membership is in jeopardy just by owning a firearm, [are]Wayne LaPierre, Chris Cox, and the NRA board going to do something about this during this week's convention? "Please pass this on to them: * Words will not be sufficient. If this gets "unplugged", [if] the NRA refuses to address this issue, I will [have] no choice but to go to the media with documents and e-mails from [the] NRA that were generated during the last round of hearings. I will pull back the rug and show the world where [the] NRA swept this mess under [it] to hide it. "Please forgive my abrupt and obtuse attitude. It is born of frustration [with the] deaf ears of the NRA leadership. I am there if I can to help the NRA, thus to date the NRA have refused to address this. "My question to NRA leadership: "Is this weekend's convention going to be your finest hour, or will this be noted in history as the beginning of the end of the NRA? "Respectfully,"Len Savage "Historic Arms LLC" Len's letter was answered by somebody named Jason Ouimet (be sure to write to him at [email protected] -- for as long as that e-mail address remains good) described as the NRA "federal liaison": "Len,"You sent me an email not long ago titled 'olive branch' where you indicated that you wanted to be able to have an open dialogue with me and keep me posted on relevant firearms, issues, cases, etc. and I agreed. However, in this email you took a nasty, blatantly FALSE swipe at me and the NRA, and sent it to other people I don't even know. So from this point forward consider our relationship terminated. Do notcall or email me again in the future. "Jason" Again, Ouimet's address is [email protected] -- until he changes it. Len wrote back: "Jason, "Swipe? "By the way those 'unknown people' are on the NRA legislative action committee. As a Federal liaison you don't know them? "Cut the crap, Jason, when is the last time you took my calls or answered a voice mail to call me back? "Len Savage Clearly, this desk-warming,

 

[jer fly]

chair-polishing flunky needs to be reminded of his proper place in the scheme of things. Every gun owner -- thismeans you -- is in grave danger as a result of this ruling, which makes it extremely risky even to get caught taking a broken gun to a gunsmith for repair. He is not permitted to treat the individuals who write to him -- especially those who are attempting to help him -- like unruly peasants being disrespectful to their feudal Lord and Master. At least not yet. I disagree with Len Savage about "the beginning of the end of the NRA". Their future looks pretty darned sunshiny to me. High on the list of Things I Know But Cannot Prove is that this court ruling -- which we'd otherwise be inclined to dismiss as insane or corrupt -- is deliberately intended to achieve a larger purpose. If any gun can suddenly and mysteriously become a machine gun, then new regulations will be required to force gun owners to bring their guns in for an annual inspection to make sure they haven't been up to no good. And when these annual inspections, to make sure your single action six gun hasn't mutated into a machine gun, exhaust the resources of the BATFE, you can bet the inspection will wind up being done by bright-eyed and bushy-tailed volunteers from the NRA. Just as when our guns all have to be stowed in lockers at the local gun club we're required to become members of, they'll be NRA lockers at an NRA-sanctioned club. What can be done? At this stage, plenty. CNN's Lou Dobbs has been covering this mess. Catch up with the latest by Google him and Olofson. Then write thanking him for his principled stance on this issue. Learn who your representative on the NRA board of directors is and write to him or her demanding the same kind of principled behavior -- and, of course, that Jason Ouimet be fired. Copy the entire NRA leadership. Make everything you send to the man open letter and, together with whatever reply you get, spam it out as far and wide as possible. Perhaps you'd even like to take these issues up with the NRA's leadership in person, at their 137th Annual "Meetings and Exhibits" in Louisville, Kentucky, but you'll have to hurry -- the event begins May16th. See NRA 2011 Annual Meetings & Exhibits - Home Stop feeding the fraud. If you're an annual NRA member, or your membership is up for renewal, withhold your money until the vile,corrupt collusion between the NRA and the BATFE, this disgusting mutuallove-fest -- and the dire consequences it has for every gun owner --comes to an end. Make no more contributions until the NRA stops making excuses and the BATFE is abolished. Work to remove any board member who does not actively strive to abolish the BATFE. Demand that they stop endorsing politicians who are not true Second Amendment supporters. If you want to help abolish the BATFE yourself, get a copy of The Gang http://www.thegangmovie.com/,the JPFO documentary exposing its long history of irresponsible,malicious, and criminal action. Study it, show it to your friends, atgun club and other meetings. Likewise, at Shop.JPFrg, the message of Innocents Betrayed encourages a greater understanding of how evil "gun control" -- and the acts of genocide it makes possible -- truly is. Learn how governments have historically deprived their own people of firearms -- and then wiped them from the face of the earth. Undoubtedly the most effective way, in the long run, to deal with entities like the BATFE is a program we call "Take Your Money Back"which will abolish the federal income tax and federal regulatory agencies would be underfunded. The obvious place to start is with those agencies that -- like the BATFE -- are a violation of the Constitution.Go to <broken link removed> and see. Finally, as an NRA Life member for the past 35 years, I find that I have several membership cards that have been practically screaming to be ceremonially burned for the benefit of YouTube. I can only imagine-- and savor -- the reactions by various segments of the press and public (not to mention the NRA) if I am joined by even a hundred other angry NRA members, let alone perhaps thousands or tens of thousands. Watch who steps forward to defends this incestuous NRA/BATFE affair.They are neither your friends, nor friends of the Second Amendment.Could be it's time for a little of that revolution Jefferson wrote about. (Mark Ambinder comments on NRA's 'new friend' - John McCain) ========================================================================== "Men cannot be governed and remain men. Domesticate the wolf and he changes both physically and mentally. His muzzle shrinks, his teeth diminish, he loses size, speed, and strength, He grows spots. His ears flop. His brain withers. He becomes a dog. Men are on the verge of becoming dogs -- the changes are underway already -- unless we do something to stop it."-- The Ceo Lia Wheeler, Phoebus Krumm, forthcoming Four-time Prometheus Award-winner L. Neil Smith has been writing about guns and gun ownership for more than 30 years. He is the author of 27 books, the most widely-published and prolific libertarian novelist in the world, and is considered an expert on the ethics of self-defense. His writings may be seen on the following sites: The Webley Page: <broken link removed> The Libertarian Enterprise: L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise: working to fulfill the promise of the American Revolution since 1995 The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel, Roswell,

 

[jer fly]

Sorry for the long text. This is an e-mail that was forwarded to me , and I think everyone should have a chance to read it. BTW I am a third generation life member to the NRA.

 

[del_and_bones]

I just signed up for the EPL Lifetime membership. They're not perfect for sure, but they do have a lot going for them.

 

[drew]

Like other responses here, I don't like everything they do but I am still a member.

 

[CAL30M1]

If nothing else, American Rifleman is a great magazine. Worth the yearly dues on it's own right.

 

[RB87]

Jer fly's quoted essay at JPFO:

With Friends Like The NRA ...

 

[pcoast]

I was an NRA member until they decided that the 1st was negotiable. I believe that once you decide not to defend one right, its just a matter of time until you lose them all. It is an all or nothing pact to me. Just my own personal opinion. You're welcome to disagree.

 

[Gunner3456]

The NRA can go fly a kite until they decide to wholeheartedly fight for our rights. No picking and choosing....if it might infringe on the 2nd ammendment or loss of a freedom could cause 2nd ammendment erosion from another angle FIGHT!

Otherwise don't let the screen door hit ya where the good lord split ya!

T_H

But, but... They need your money so they can put gold leaf on the cover of their entrance.

 

[Spitpatch]

I have disagreed with the NRA on multiple occasions for multiple issues. BUT: The NRA is the most powerful and influential lobby organization that has ever existed on the face of the earth, period. We are fortunate that the issue they are involved with is a basic tenet of human freedom. And that is why I have not separated myself from them even when a disagreement initially seems to indicate I should.

As for those who would insist that the NRA never compromise, never negotiate, never decline a battle in the greater interest of winning the war: I will agree that is the strategy that might be taken by one holding certain proof they are in the right. And then, sadly, often they become dead right. Then the wrong win. I'd argue this is the very definition of politics. Wise politics.

As for mailings, the NRA offers an option to decline all mailings except for your membership notification.

As for those who would wonder if the leadership of the NRA would do what they are doing if they were not compensated, I would ask that the same question be applied to onseself where one's job is concerned. Certainly, some can answer yes. Most cannot.

Jerfly's presentation is valuable information, and becomes ever more so valuable with his statement of membership despite his passionate effort to keep hard track of all the NRA's failings. It is these people that are the true strength of the NRA.

 

[whiskeybill]

There are a few ranges / clubs out there that don't require membership in the NRA. My old club in Montana is one such example. Last year they changed their by-laws to allow NRA members to have a discount on annual dues. The club members that were not NRA members raised a real howl about how unfair that was (and this is a club that charges $80 for annual dues). Some of the non-NRA members went so far as to quit the club. Not to worry, though. The by-laws also limit the number of club members to 750 members. After the mass protest exodus of members, there is still a two year waiting list for membership.

The NRA is like any other organization, right down to the local gun clubs we deal with. How many of these clubs are run by a small cadre of officials that keep getting re-elected year after year? How many club members are dissatisfired with the way the club is being run? More importantly, how many people actually attempt to voice their opposing views, or run for elected office to affect a change? Many people don't realize it, but right now there are some folks who are trying to affect some positive change in the NRA, most notably during these past elections for the NRA Board of Directors. Unless you are following some of the National level matches (not particularly Camp Perry, there are others) and get some of the correspondence that is going around throughout the disciplines, you might understand that there are other folks out there that share whatever frustrations you may have.

For those of you who "Just want a place to shoot", please keep in mind that if it were not for the efforts of the NRA, through such programs as Range Development assistance, club insurance programs, and other efforts, you in all likelihood would not have "Just a place to shoot".

Regards,
Bill

NRA Endowment Member

 

[MA Duce]

I wouldn't join any organization that would have someone like me as a member.

 

[PDXSparky]

For those of you who "Just want a place to shoot", please keep in mind that if it were not for the efforts of the NRA, through such programs as Range Development assistance, club insurance programs, and other efforts, you in all likelihood would not have "Just a place to shoot".

That is the main reason many clubs require NRA membership.

 

[Gunner3456]

Jer fly's quoted essay at JPFO:

With Friends Like The NRA ...

This. Please read it.

Tell you what. Right now I can pretty much concealed carry anywhere except the courthouse where they have trials, and in any federal government building.

Please answer me this: If my 2A rights aren't any good on OUR federal government property, what's next? Where am I assured they will be any good? WHERE IS THE NRA ON THIS? WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN?

If the NRA is all that, why are we living with the remnants of the 1968 gun control act? Where have they been all this time? They've had just 43 years to get it overturned.

 

[slingshot1943]

I can not forgive The NRA for supporting Harry Reed. Another liberal on the Supreme court is the biggest danger to the 2A. Supporting any liberal is dangerous.

 

[jer fly]

"THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED....." I do not believe in making compromises when it comes to my right's as a citizen of the state of Oregon in these United States... just as Pcoast said, I believe it to be all or nothing, your either free or your not... And my family's history of life membership to the NRA ends with me.

 

[whiskeybill]

Sorry for the long text. This is an e-mail that was forwarded to me , and I think everyone should have a chance to read it. BTW I am a third generation life member to the NRA.

I completely agree with the analisys presented by that letter. To a point. The point where I become a bit cautious is just how this symbiotic relationship occurs. Some can argue that it is a puposeful relationship, somehow planned in advance. I would argue that it simply evolved into this relationship, and is merely two or more large organizations that are mutually beneficial to each other. It doesn't matter if you are a member of GOA or the Second Amendment Foundation. Once one of those organizations becomes large enough with enough political power and influence, you just may see the same sort of symbiotic relationship develop with BATFE, DOJ, or whatever. I just don't see what difference it will make. As an aside, I was always under the impression that Thomas Dodd was involved in the Nuremburg trials and that is where he first became aware of the Nazis' gun control laws.

Bill