[skeeter]

These days, under this regime, I don’t know if its a very good idea to associate yourself with any group that might in any manner indicate that you own a firearm.

[Q-ManRN]

Editorial by me about the Gun Owners of America.

[Kirkwood]

Commonly told story about the NRA. If they stopped being jerks, they would easily have 10x the membership.

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[Still Thinking]

Nice essay. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[ozzymandus]

I agree about all the junk mail from NRA, but they are still far more effective than GOA. GOA seems to spend as much time attacking NRA as supporting gun rights. Larry Pratt has a big problem with NRA, which doesn’t help anybody.

[real saxophonist]

bump

[Balding_Eagle]

BTTT. Good essay.

[atomic_dog]

I used to feel the way you and, in fact, let my NRA membership lapse for the very reasons you cite. Several years ago I got back in the fight for 2A rights and was actively hostile to the NRA in the mistaken belief that they had written California off and were leaving gun owners here alone to fend for themselves.

Then one evening I accompanied a friend to a NRA members council meeting and began to learn that they do a lot behind the scenes lobbying and provide a lot of support at many levels. The plain truth of the matter is that no other organization has the depth of resources to bring to fight. As one of the more influential players in the 2A fight in CA says, "Never choose not be a member of the NRA." So I took out a new membership.

Then my mail box filled up with crap and I became angry with NRA again.

When I whined about it at the members council I was told that all I had to do was email the NRA at membership@nrahq.org or call them at 800-672-3888 and ask them to put me on the "Do Not Promote" list and the tide of crap receded.

So now I am an NRA member in good standing again even though I dare not put the decals on my automobiles in my neighborhood. I am also a member of the state affiliate CA Rifle and Pistol Association which, even if good for nothing else, meets the requirements to make purchases at the CMP. I am also a member of SAF - Second Amendment Foundation since it is these guys, often with financial assistance from the NRA, that brings the hurt to the anti-gunners in court. These are the organizations fighting in the trenches day and night to take back my gun rights from my masters in Sacramento. No other organization can do so effectively and some such a NAGR are pretty much scams that exist solely to separate the clueless for their cash.

[Big Red Badger]

I would not join anything that would have Me as a member.

FReepin’ is as committed as I can get!

[Big Red Badger]

So did You get a semiautomatic revolver with extended mags and a Lazer?

Or a Double Barrel with nite vision?

[JoeFromSidney]

There are lots of good pro-gun organizations. I belong to NRA, GOA, 2nd Amendment Foundation, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (they accept gentile members). My view is that the function of JPFO is to make the NRA look reasonable to the ordinary members of the public.

I don't get a whole lot of unsolicited mail from NRA, so I don't get upset about it.

[NonValueAdded]

Very well said.

I was most impressed by the immediate and emphatic reaction by the Second Amendment Sisters to the post-Katrina gun grab in the big easy. The NRA took days to issue a statement. Consider giving them your support as well, male or female.

[Impy]

Smart move.

I am not happy with the NRA, the GOA is unquestionably the better organization. The NRA gives “A” ratings to plenty of people that get Ds from the GOA, and they helped re-elect rat Joe Manchin, who quickly betrayed them.

[Jack Hammer]

A little late to the party, but welcome nevertheless.

[MinuteGal]

Great essay!

I let my membership lapse a couple years ago when I found myself in a bewildering array of memberships in this and that and decided to pare down considerably.

I received a lot of advertising from the NRA but it didn't bother me as I believe in "anything for the cause" and I didn't let it offend me in any way.

Leni

[ErnBatavia]

Somewhat off topic, but a couple of years ago we bought a Readers Digest magazine which had an insert offering something like five years for under 10 bucks, so we subscribed under wifey's name.

Ever since, we get tons and tons and tons of junk mail in her name....so that's how RD makes their money; selling names and addresses.