What is your View of the NRA

CFF Members,

I just had an interesting morning trying to discuss my concerns with the NRA via NRA Membership Services, NRA-ILA Representative and 3rd Party Marketing Group.

I was UNABLE to reach anyone in the NRA-ILA to discuss my concerns... AND, once I did reach "David" and begin to tell him my concerns, he abruptly interrupted and said you need Member Services... and transferred me.

What is your view of the NRA? Please vote whether you are a member and then one of the three choices regarding your opinion and then write your own experiences or concerns.

In full disclosure, I would like to point them to this thread for "Feedback". Whether they choose to face or consume the knowledge they would see in this thread is up to them.

Thanks!
Gentleman

There is no doubt in my mind that the NRA will fold if a cost-benefit analysis is done on how this organization is run.
I don’t think the NRA understands its customers....Spending $ on stupid tchotchkes to get members to re-up their membership is waste.

Life member and have a few of their certifications.

I abhor their marketing to current members so much so that I had to call and be removed from mailings and the every other week phone calls wanting more money. Ridiculous fear mongering calls really just irritated the ever living crap out of me.

All that being said they are a neccessary evil. Even if they don't get anything done, they're good (at least used to be good) about being the 800 pound gorilla in the room and driving anti's crazy. Now they're more of like a chimp with a butt rash and stinky finger.

Good Stuff... please keep your thoughts coming!

I will no longer support their Ponzi-scheming leadership with my money until said leadership changes.

I think the NRA used to do a lot for firearms training, education, and protecting rights. Now it seems like a way to enrich and fund Wayne LaPierre's lifestyle. All I get are "It's never been worse" phone calls and mailings begging for money. What I don't get are results. We don't see what good the NRA has done. There is no report to the members about how the money was spent. And, just like the republicans in federal government, when we had the presidency and congress, what got done? Not much. No Hearing safety act, no constitutional carry. Instead we get acquiescence on a bumpstock ban and more mailings.

The magazines have gotten worse too. It used to be that American Rifleman had lots of useful information in it. Now it is 2 pages of armed defense stories, 3 articles about the NRA-ILA, and a couple of advertisements masquerading as honest reviews of gear. I've never seen them give bad marks or criticism to any industry sponsor for a bad product.

No more money to the NRA until Wayne's gone and we have some real action on gun rights/shooting programs and some accountability to the membership.

I'm a member. My range requires that all range members be NRA members as well. I think its part of the range's insurance policy.

On the whole, I think the NRA generally does good work, but I also think that the organisation is out of touch with its members (just like a lot of political parties?) And needs to take a good hard look at how it does business. It seems to me that the NRA's highest priority is scare mongering and lobbying to get more money from its members, instead of fighting the good fight for the 2A in Washington as it should be.

I'd like to see the NRA change its tactics, and its leadership, and focus its work on preventing anti-gun legislation, repealing and overturning anti-gun laws, and promoting shooting and education.

I have blocked most of the NRA's phone numbers. Turns out they also use spoofed local numbers for their solicitation calls. Their telemarketers get really annoyed when I interrupt their spiel with "just send me a bill when next year's membership is due".

Wow... you guys are really hitting the points I was calling about...

Keep going... This is good feedback!

How many state and federal legislators get C and B ratings - and money - when we know they are hostile to liberty?

When I lived in NH, a lot of people put in a ton of hard work to get Constitutional Carry before the legislature. Just when it looked like it was going to pass with a veto proof majority, in steps the NRA who had done absolutely nothing to throw a monkey wrench in the gears. Mostly because it wasn't their bill.

I let my membership expire when the Lairds of the Potomac apologized for calling some Fed LEO jack booted thugs after they shot a lady in the face who was holding her infant. Then they doubled down and spent even more of my membership dues providing more training for LEOs.

I've been done with them for a long time, and I've not applied for membership to clubs to which I'd very much like to be a member because of their NRA membership requirement.

My opinion summarized is Sleeping with the Enemy!

I signed up for a 1 year membership a few years ago. With all of the mail, phone calls and lack of results they provide I let my membership lapse. If they started getting the results we would like to see I would renenw in a heartbeat.

I let my membership lapse some time ago. I really didn't like how little they accomplished and in some cases made things worse. They're typical Republicans, they're full of cheap talk and do nothing. I refuse to send them one dollar until LaPiere is gone.

It's unfortunate because the libtards on the left really do hate and fear the NRA meaning they could be powerful. Just imagine what they could have achieved if they hadn't wasted all that member money on Wayne's lavish lifestyle.

I'm a life member.

Were membership in the NRA not a requirement at the two ranges I'm presently a member of I would tell them to take the life membership I've paid for and stick it unceremoniously where the sun don't shine.

They waste money begging for more money to waste more money to beg for more money to waste money on Wayne LaPierre's expensive suits while conversely folding like cheap suits when it comes to further infringements of the 2A.

They need a purge.

if politics is a special access forum - how is anyone going to see the results. im doubtful the nra cares enough to become a member, request access etc to view this as opposed to just clicking a link that the entire public can see.

i could be wrong - but in my experience people are surprisingly lazy.

@Howland reminded me of another gripe.

The NRA isn't a big tent, advance the cause together organization anymore. They are a "buy from us only" type of place. Remember when they got USCCA disinvited to the annual meetings because the NRA came out with it's own carry insurance program and thus was trying to eliminate the competition?

https://www.concealedcarry.com/news/nra-vs-uscca-real-issue/

The NRA has donated campaign money to the likes of Harry Reid.

I think in some ways the NRA is similar Al Sharpton and the poverty pimps. I have heard analysis that many don't really want to solve problems for their community because it would result in making them less relevant and losing their power and money coming in. If you look at it that way, it's really in the NRA's best interest to keep us on the edge about losing ground on 2A so everyone keeps donating money to fight "because it's never been worse for your rights". That's why I believe they step in the way of constitutional carry. They haven't advanced the HSA as much as they should. They went along with the bump stock ban. They will donate money to a B or C grade candidate. I just think they are more interested in the money coming in and their seat at the table of power.

I'm a Life Member, my son's a Life Member -- there's been one or more members in my family since before Miller and NFA34, if not further back. I was active until the ascendencies of Hammer, Metaksa, and LaPierre. The Knox revolt had a big influence on me and I pretty much gave up on them completely after "Gunstock" in 1994. It is no longer a "members' organization", just as our federal government is no longer "of/by/for the people". Lord Acton was spot-on accurate!

Can the NRA be reformed? I have my serious doubts. The times they are a'changing, and I think that the NRA has "hubrised" itself out of relevance to both gun owners and constitutional preservationists alike. I say, let 'em burn with the rest of the oligarchs.

smithnwesley said:

if politics is a special access forum - how is anyone going to see the results. im doubtful the nra cares enough to become a member, request access etc to view this as opposed to just clicking a link that the entire public can see.

i could be wrong - but in my experience people are surprisingly lazy.

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Good point! I forgot that the Politics section was Request Only. Huh, maybe I have some bias showing in my poll for me to put it in "Politics". I'll see if I can get it moved to a more public subset.

@Geezer

I am a member and hold many certifications. I became an instructor to bring more shooters into the fold, not for personal financial gain. Over the last few years, the NRA has dumped on it's dedicated instructors and changed it's programs to eliminate us and increase their own bottom line.

The only money they receive from me now are certification renewal fees. If this was not required to keep my job, they would get nothing.

Oh and, even if they do a complete "top down" reorganization and financial disclosure, I am not sure I would change my mind.

Miss Lily said:

I am a member and hold many certifications. I became an instructor to bring more shooters into the fold, not for personal financial gain. Over the last few years, the NRA has dumped on it's dedicated instructors and changed it's programs to eliminate us and increase their own bottom line.

The only money they receive from me now are certification renewal fees. If this was not required to keep my job, they would get nothing.

Oh and, even if they do a complete "top down" reorganization and financial disclosure, I am not sure I would change my mind.

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That was exactly the point that I was trying to make before I was transferred. That many of us members are only due to the certifications, club requirements and competition requirements. Wow.. this is great.. Keep going folks!

Bump stocks are silly useless range toys. -NRA

The 2nd amendment....for skeet shooting. -NRA

pros
- they are the largest, most recognized gun rights org
- they still maintain some clout with politicians
-they have a larger media presence for outreach
-they promote education and exposure to legal issues and gun safety

cons
-they are too willing to compromise our rights and are increasingly ineffectual in ADVANCING our rights
-their leadership seems to be more concerned with revenue instead of protecting our rights
- the 2A wasnt written to protect the right to hunt - i'd rather see all rights encouraged and defended
-their mailings are excessive and wasteful
-like the govt they seem plagued with red tape and waste - for the number of members and revenue they enjoy it seems we could be getting more for our dollars (and i dont mean range bags, and other "treats" for joining/renewing)

bottom line other smaller orgs will get all of my money (instead of some of it) when they reach a larger audience like the NRA does. as their influence and efforts have diminished so has my financial support.

They are like NASCAR, both of them are circling the drain.

Not a member, no interest in becoming a member in the current climate.
What I think they should be doing, is replicating on a large scale what I see happening at the local level. Push hard that they are the foremost organization dedicated to shooting sports and firearm safety. Push hard to be inclusive to people that the leftists call "marginalized people" while continuing to grow shooting among women. Push hard to point out that gun control legislation is biased most heavily against said marginalized people. Come out publicly against DAs that do not vigorously prosecute firearm crimes/give light sentences to people who commit violence using firearms. Completely re-brand the sports/safety org as a separate entity from the lobbying/legislative org so that the name "NRA" is not political poison for anyone interested in joining/supporting. Find a Colion Noir equivalent spokesperson from the LGBT+ community. Start using the left's playbook against them.

Basically I want to see shooting ranges become a social element like a bowling alley used to be. Show folks that it is fun, and give them reasons to come out and shoot and then socialize. I know that a lot of that is on the individual ranges and some do it very well, but the presentation of all that is happening out there should be on the NRA.

LaPierre and his goons are the biggest problem with the NRA, he wants all the money and doesn't want to use it for the fight and doesn't care about anybody else. I signed up for a life membership but am about to cancel it because of the RINO's that run that place. There are other orgs that actually DO fight for our 2A right and don't make it about the stupid bags and other "made in china" crap for membership money.

I'm happy that the NRA exists and lobbies for my special interest. I'm unhappy about how they manage their branding and fundraising. Their pitch looks exactly like a scam and works against their reputation. I think they could reach a lot more people with a different approach.

I'm required to be a member as a condition of membership at CR-PC, otherwise I would not send them money.

I was a member for years then the constant calls for more money even after telling them I was already a member really started to bother me. After calling and asking them to stop calling me I continued to received calls. The straw that broke the camels back was when my wife answered the second call for the day from them she was mid sentence telling them I wasn't home and if she could take a message the person hung up on her. That was it for me. Since I was about a month away from renewal I just let it lapse. Then for quite awhile when we received calls we told them we had just got the number and no one by that name was here. That was the end of that and they will never get another dime from me. Also, if I was forced to again get a membership to shoot at a range I would find another place to shoot.

I'm a lifetime member and bought my son a lifetime membership as well when it was $600. Unfortunately, they are the only thing left between us keeping our gun rights and not. I hate the in-fighting and controversy that seems to be surrounding them these days. They remind me of the Wounded Warriors Project, where things were so mismanaged that I can't support them anymore. I am also a member of the Grass Roots North Carolina and the OathKeepers. I try to give when I can.

Bradman said:

Unfortunately, they are the only thing left between us keeping our gun rights and not...... I am also a member of the Grass Roots North Carolina and the OathKeepers. I try to give when I can.

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I am not trying to pick on you, but I am going to point out that in your own post you name other things between the left and our gun rights. IMO we have other things between the left and our gun rights. GRNC, GOA, the 2A community as a whole, Oath Keepers, and the four boxes of liberty as well as the fact that 2A is a natural right from the creator despite what any document says about it.

I am a lifetime endowment member. Had to be a member since I needed the NRA Range Safety Officer Certification at one point in my job. Believe I became a lifetime member when they ran some crazy special when they were broke again and for that they sent me a cheap Chinese Bowie knife. Not sure how I got the "endowment" part tagged to my membership. The definitely need to clean up their kitchen and get their house in order. I believe they perform a function for the 2A community. That said, I doubt I would join again and I have not sent them money in probably 10 years besides to re up my Safety Officer Cert. The amount of junk mail and phone calls are beyond scam marketing. Between them and the Red Cross my call log on my home phone is usually full when I get home everyday.

I’m not a member and don’t see myself becoming one as it is currently structured. It seems to me that, if people believed they were efficiently doing “good work”, they wouldn’t need to offer discounts and inducements. I don’t remember the Red Cross offering me a bag in exchange for a donation.

Lifetime membership for $300. That was my deal sometime in the last 10 years or so. No real reason to cancel it, but I also have never sent them another dime. They rarely call or send me mail.

@VA_GENTLEMAN
If you hope to convince them of the error of their way, I’d like to suggest another question or two...

If you are or were not currently a member, is there any chance you would join as the NRA is currently structured?

Is a gift “with purchase” a motivating factor for you?

Do you believe the NRA is being run in an efficient, ethical and transparent manner?

Do you trust the NRA to advocate for your rights?

I am a Life Benefactor Member and have been for longer than I can remember. They will no longer get any of my money until Wayne (Buy a new suit) leaves. They no longer call me but I still get weekly mailings e-mail and snail mail wanting to give away China made junk for Big Dollars.

They are toxic to gun rights advocates until then get rid of Wayne, and a few others.

The poll choices do not include "I was a long time member, but got fed up and left." I'd check that one.

I was an annual member for decades, got my RSO certification, and recently renewed -- at the more expensive non-member rate -- just to stay a non-member.

I almost got a lifetime membership years ago, then decided against it specifically so I could withhold funds if they slacked off their mission (again). They did this for the last time (for me) when they rolled over and played dead when the we're-clearly-getting-a-foot-in-the-ban-semi-autos-door bumpstock ban came around.

Shortly after, the palace coup attempt was thwarted. then came the torrent of more and more dirt about LaPierre, his cronies on the BoD, the unstoppered spigot of money pouring into their pockets, and the draining of value from NRA assets.

Self-serving Swamp Society. I doubt they can be reformed, and, if they are, they will lose what clout they've built up and squandered, so they (probably) won't be worth re-joining.

There are many other 2A supporting organizations that are far more deserving of our donations and loyalty. Those may be smaller and less powerful, but they make up for that in dedication and integrity. My money goes to them for the foreseeable future, not the NRA.

Climberman said:

No more money to the NRA until Wayne's gone

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I tell them this at Least twice a week.

Life member. Removed from all contact immediately, so I get none of the marketing pitches thankfully.

The officers and board need a complete overhaul, and they need to start fighting to regain rights instead of compromising. Most of all, their standard needs to be simply “shall not be infringed”.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I let my membership lapse when someone I know was running for NC house, and the NRA ILA endorsed the B- rated incumbent because he had a voting record they could look to, and all my friend had was his questionnaire answers. Problem with that is, my friend is a life member, and until he filed for election, was the NRA-ILA eastern NC representative. A lifelong 2a activist passed over by the incumbent protection program... Nope, I am done

Windini said:

but they make up for that in dedication and integrity.

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Unfortunately that currency is not accepted in DC.

In my opinion when you need a swamp creature on your side you want the biggest nastiest one you can buy.

Life member since the early 70's and have seen the best become the worst. I do not for one second believe there is any hope for a turn around, sleaze rules this country top to bottom and the NRA is just another example.

I'm not a member and will not join based on their current course and speed. Which is to say, they have no course and speed.
Folks have raised good points here, but my biggest beef (outside of miserable executives , alleged misuse of member funds and leadership in general) is that largely everything they do that's in the public eye is reactive, in response to a legislative threat or some rocks that have been thrown at them. They do other things, of course - mostly preach to the choir. There is no concerted effort to mainstream the hobby.

Proof ? Most common perception of the "Public" is that NRA members or for that matter, anyone who likes guns or shooting as a hobby are deranged cellar-dwellers neckbeards. Not mainstream. Not intelligent. A few fries short of a Happy Meal. Crazed. Delusional. The phrase "The NRA..." immediately conjures up arm waving loonies with even the most open minded citizens.

The left has very successfully has depicted for many years that any supporter of the Second Amendment is from the shallow end of the gene pool. Not your neighbor, teacher, plumber, scout leader, church elder, etc. Long before any specific piece of legislation is tabled, the battle is lost in the public eye, press, etc. and the NRA has to defend, defend, defend. If they were really on the ball with effective PR it would be a more level playing field. Legislative fights and lobbying Congress is one thing, but when you have long since lost the war of public opinion, its too little too late.

I don't like it, but that's the way it is. Smart companies today manage their industries reputations or risk having it defined for them by others.