I concur
I hate being a cheerleader for the NRA. I would love to be able to sit down with pro-gun people, and have a reasonable discussion about things that I think the NRA could be doing better, things I wish they wouldn’t do, and things I wish they’d pay more attention to.
But all too often I get the sense that a lot of people are more interested in flinging poo at the NRA than they are at fighting gun control. There’s even an active contingent of pro-gun people out there who believe that flinging poo at the NRA amounts to fighting gun control!
Yes. He concludes with:
To the extent that the pro-gun movement is a bickering family, we’re healthy, and I don’t worry. But as soon as it turns into the Hatfields vs. McCoys, we’re in serious trouble. Too many people want to make this a feud, and it gets tiring. I can think of no better way to enable a resurgent anti-gun movement than to spend energy fighting each other.
To prove my sincerity, I will today (for the first time) join the NRA.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:03 am
The problem with the NRA is that they think too “big”.
They need to have more local involvement while not sacrificing any of their focus on DC.
They have enough money and support, they need to open branch offices and keep touch with their members, 7 days a week.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:01 am
[…] says he’ll join the NRA.  I hope he’ll join us in Louisville next year.  I had a great time last year, and it […]
August 30th, 2007 at 10:01 am
You’re very correct Jon. You take a look at groups like VCDL, and in my state ACSL (Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League) and PFSC (Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs), and you can see what these groups are able to accomplish at the state and local level. NRA’s resources are limited by what their membership gives them, and it’s important to note that ILA, the legislative arm, is a separate contribution, since NRA and ILA have separate tax status.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:09 am
You’ll also be able to build a nice bunker out of all the mail they’ll send you asking for money 😉
August 30th, 2007 at 10:29 am
As one of those “poo flingers”, I just have to weigh in and say that the absolute worst thing that could happen to the pro-freedom movement would be to present a totally united front. I’ve expressed my misgivings on that NICS improvement, and based on the feedback, I’ve come around and become a supporter. The tubes of the Intarw3bz have changed things forever, and I’ll be here trying to keep the NRA and our pro-freedom congress-critters honest, rather than sitting back and rubberstamping everything the NRA says.
That being said. – and since I’m the NRA too – welcome to the 800 pound gorilla of the pro-freedom movement. I highly recommend that you go with the Life membership right off the bat. It’s something like only a measly $25 payment per quarter, and as long as the NRA is using sound financial strategies, your Life Membership will help fund the NRA in perpetually.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:35 am
To be clear, I will not rubberstamp everything, so to speak. I’ll remain critical of them.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:00 am
You are my daily read precisely because I know you won’t echo the party line, even as a NRA member.
I’m sure Sebastian never meant that he want to adopt Reasoned Discoursetm instead of the open and honest debate on the tubez that we have now. Perhaps he just wants me to not scare the white people?
And perhaps I’m feeling a tad guilty for not showing up over at the (practically in my backyard) District Heights protest the other day, even if my schedule only allowed me to stay for the first 15-20 minutes.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I absolutely do not want to silence criticism of the NRA. My complaint is the folks who primary fling poo because they want to see the NRA covered in crap rather than because they want to help it be a better and more effective organization, or who demand that it be perfect, which it will never be.
Criticism is important, but I think it needs to be constructive, and based in reality. Most of what I see in the blogopshere falls into that category. What I’ve been seeing in forums largely doesn’t.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:24 am
I recently joined the NRA myself… not because I always agree with them or how they run the organization, but because they are the biggest, loudest, and wealthiest supporter of my rights. Sure, the libertarian in me would love to see the NRA be a little more idealistic… but the reality is, you have to play the political game. If they support the NICS improvement act, then they are doing it so they have some measure of control over what goes into it. They are also doing it to defang the anti-gunners who are calling it “gun control”. They are also doing it so they can add one instance of “playing along” with the libs… so that every time someone tries to demonize the NRA, they can come back and say they support “common sense gun control”.
They understand the game of giving up a foot to gain a yard, even if a lot of gun owners whole-heartedly disagree with that tactic.
Oh, I also like having that NRA membership card in the front of my wallet… it makes a great conversation starter when people notice it 🙂
August 30th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Well, I guess you are not talking about me, because I hate forums. If there’s a worst waste of bandwidth (with the animated icons, goat.sx images, and worthless “me too” comments, It’s a pain in the ass to wade through and find the signal buried in all that noise.)
Besides, who the fuck needs eleven hundred and elevendy one different smiley icons? 🙂
August 30th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Welcome to the essential organization fighting for our 2nd amendment rights. I am also a member of VCDL. Having worked for a national trade association, I can tell you that it is nearly impossible for a national association to work on state issues – only those that have national implications. Recources go only so far. Every state would benefit from having their own version of VCDL.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I am a life member ov the nra, have been sence I was 18, I am 62. Best $100 I ever spent. I have not always agreed with their policies, but I have alwayes enjoyed reading the magavine from cover to cover the day it arived.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Aaach forgot to spell check.
August 30th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I too have been a Life Member since the 60’s. Local politics here is anti-shooting rather than anti-gun. The library refuses to display the Rifleman, even when I offered to pay for the subscription. The best I could do was give a gift membership to my barber with the condition that he let the other customers read it. He is a strong hunter so I included American Hunter. I don’t know if this has done any good, but the magazines look like they get plenty of use.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Dang, I wish I had thought of that back when I was a member.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Welcome aboard. I’ve long said that gunnies who prefer another, more ideologically pure alternative to the NRA ought to join both organizations, not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.