NRA: Does anyone on AH know what is REALLY going on?

[Philip Glass]

The very minute we lost trust in the NRA management , heads need to roll!

Yes because we are supposed to be a grass roots organization made up of regular folks. If they are not representing us then we need a change. But make no mistake we need the NRA!

 

[Rule 303]

Yes because we are supposed to be a grass roots organization made up of regular folks. If they are not representing us then we need a change. But make no mistake we need the NRA!

I do not have a horse in this race, so to speak, but I totally agree. You do need the NRA.

 

[mdwest]

But make no mistake we need the NRA!

God knows I hate to agree with you on this...

but you are absolutely correct..



I am sincerely hopeful it will clean up its act rather than implode which seems to be the direction it is headed right now..

The NRA pisses me off more often than they make me happy lately..

But the organization is still desperately needed..

 

[CTDolan]

In late May of 1977 the NRA changed course. I haven't been a fan ever since.

When I was young a walk into the local sporting goods store revealed racks of genuine hunting rifles and shotguns (walnut and blued steel, all made to be carried afield). Nowadays, it's all black crap. Not a fan.

I've said it before and will say it again. The NRA's handling of many issues will backfire, resulting in a situation far worse than otherwise. There is a massive groundswell of anti support just waiting to pounce, their fervor fueled by such idiotic NRA positions as the calling for armed school staff in response to the school shooting epidemic.

In my opinion, the NRA has been about nothing but money for a long while, and a marketing firm for gun and ammunition manufacturers.

 

[Red Leg]

In late May of 1977 the NRA changed course. I haven't been a fan ever since.

When I was young a walk into the local sporting goods store revealed racks of genuine hunting rifles and shotguns (walnut and blued steel, all made to be carried afield). Nowadays, it's all black crap. Not a fan.

I've said it before and will say it again. The NRA's handling of many issues will backfire, resulting in a situation far worse than otherwise. There is a massive groundswell of anti support just waiting to pounce, their fervor fueled by such idiotic NRA positions as the calling for armed school staff in response to the school shooting epidemic.

In my opinion, the NRA has been about nothing but money for a long while, and a marketing firm for gun and ammunition manufacturers.

@CTDolan I am not much of a fan of the black gun craze either (wore one to work for too long). And I wish we didn’t live in a society where responsible armed adults weren’t needed in schools. But I think you are conflating cause and effect. Abolishing the NRA today will do nothing to bring back Norman Rockwell sporting goods stores filled with Winchester 94’s and LC Smith shotguns any more than it will end an epidemic of multi-generational urban poor barbarians or psychopathic video gamers turned killers. The NRA has instead fought to insure that every citizens’ final right to protect himself remains viable through as dramatic a social upheaval as the West has experienced since probably the Enlightenment - and with far less likely positive outcomes for society. So yes, the association has my support, and my granddaughter’s public elementary school regrettably but thankfully has a sign at every door noting that faculty and staff are armed.

 

[YancyW]

I know most of the NRA leadership fairly well and have for close to 20 years, I also am very close to a number of current and former NRA lobbyists. As with any very large organization, there are times when it will not run exactly the way it should, this is clearly one of those times. Add to that, the timing is very problematic, they have an extremely short window to get their shit together and get serious about the upcoming election.

Of there 179 Democrats running for POTUS, there isn't a single one who wouldn't sign the most restrictive gun legislation ever passed in the US. We are also likely one judge away on the SC of being in a position to get an opinion affirming strict scrutiny as the standard of review for the 2nd Amendment. This has been a political issue I have spent years working on and is one of the longest term protections currently achievable. The attack for those wishing to greatly restrict access to firearms realize the public health/public cost is the best path they have available to them. Unfortunately, they are correct and have made some real gains in the last few years, without a clear declaration from the SC that strict scrutiny be applied to 2nd Amendment restrictions, we are a very soft underbelly.

I have spent my whole career working DC and several dozen state legislatures, I can tell you without question, the NRA is the only game in town. If you add every other RTKBA group together, the influence would be a mere fraction of the NRA.

 

[gizmo]

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people willing to cut their noses off in spite of their face.
This is why we will loose if people don’t collectively get their shit together. Every single time this topic comes up their are many who get wound up over black guns and not supporting their interests. At the end of the day politicians and 50% of the country want to ban ALL guns. Black guns are only the start.
If history has taught us one thing it’s that you don’t loose your rights over night. It’s a piece at a time while the other side exploits all the bickering and squabbling of who didn’t get their egos stroked or who is “right”. The 2nd Amendment wasn’t put there for recreational shooting or hunting. It wasn’t put there so someone can talk up the good old days and get stuck in some nostalgia of days past. It was put there so the people have the ability to defend themselves, their families, and properties from anyone up to and including the government itself. Additionally, it applies regardless of technology. Our forefathers were well aware that technology would advance and they specifically didn’t restrict the type of arms people could possess for that reason.
This country is heading down the shitter in a hurry. All of us that are on the “same side” better get our heads out of our asses and stand together or we’re screwed.

 

[YancyW]

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people willing to cut their noses off in spite of their face.
This is why we will loose if people don’t collectively get their shit together. Every single time this topic comes up their are many who get wound up over black guns and not supporting their interests. At the end of the day politicians and 50% of the country want to ban ALL guns. Black guns are only the start.
If history has taught us one thing it’s that you don’t loose your rights over night. It’s a piece at a time while the other side exploits all the bickering and squabbling of who didn’t get their egos stroked or who is “right”. The 2nd Amendment wasn’t put there for recreational shooting or hunting. It wasn’t put there so someone can talk up the good old days and get stuck in some nostalgia of days past. It was put there so the people have the ability to defend themselves, their families, and properties from anyone up to and including the government itself. Additionally, it applies regardless of technology. Our forefathers were well aware that technology would advance and they specifically didn’t restrict the type of arms people could possess for that reason.
This country is heading down the shitter in a hurry. All of us that are on the “same side” better get our heads out of our asses and stand together or we’re screwed.

The "black guns" are their current target solely because they are viewed as the lowest hanging fruit, which is true. No one can claim they are worried about public safety and public health, then claim AR style rifles should be the top grab. In all your years as a LEO, how many times did you respond to a gun crime involving an AR vs how many times did you respond to a crime involving a handgun? They know a handgun ban is a much tougher hill to climb, so they start someplace else, but with the ultimate goal never out of sight.

Also, one of the most effective arguments they have on the AR front is that they are not able to be used for hunting, the "weapon of war" bullshit, to the degree we can mitigate that argument, the better off we are.

 

[gizmo]

The "black guns" are their current target solely because they are viewed as the lowest hanging fruit, which is true. No one can claim they are worried about public safety and public health, then claim AR style rifles should be the top grab. In all your years as a LEO, how many times did you respond to a gun crime involving an AR vs how many times did you respond to a crime involving a handgun? They know a handgun ban is a much tougher hill to climb, so they start someplace else, but with the ultimate goal never out of sight.

Also, one of the most effective arguments they have on the AR front is that they are not able to be used for hunting, the "weapon of war" bullshit, to the degree we can mitigate that argument, the better off we are.

You are exactly right however, modern sporting rifles are extremely popular here in Texas. The only reason they aren’t elsewhere is due to the antiquated gun laws of many states that do not allow them because they look scary.
In 15 years of law enforcement the vast majority of “gun crime” was typically cheap shitty revolvers. 2nd would be semi auto pistols, 3rd actual hunting type rifles, and I can only remember 1 time an assault rifle was an issue. Had a crazy dude with a crappy Chinese surplus AK get in a shooting with us. Didn’t work out so well for him.

 

[gizmo]

Additionally it’s appalling how truly ignorant people are about guns in general, even those who claim to be gun guys. On top of that you have idiot politicians spreading flat out lies.
People see people like Joe Biden on the debates talk about how he’s the only one who “got the number of clips in a gun banned”. Give me a #%*+ng break. And people buy into this bull shit. You’ve got an ignorant public supporting politicians drafting laws about something they know absolutely nothing about.
My only complaint about the NRA is that I feel there has never been enough done about educating the non shooting public about the reality of guns. Of course this is much easier said than done and I understand that. I am a NRA life member and avid supporter. Anyone who actually cares about our gun rights better get on board too. They are the only hope we’ve got.

 

[browningbbr]

Back to the issue of what is going on, I too would like to know and it wouldn't be a bad idea if there was a total house cleaning done from the top down. Just like any organization the bigger it gets them more problems it creates for itself.

I highly doubt that any of us will ever really find out just what is going on, you would need to be a member of the board to even get a hint of what is happening.[/QUOTE]

As Phillip Glass has said, we do need the NRA. However, to JimP's points above, How DO we find out what is going on and how DO we push for a house cleaning?

I personally want the NRA to be strong and effective, but first need to trust them again.

 

[wesheltonj]

Isn’t that guy who was SCI president for a awhile on the NRA board? Maybe he can fill us in. The more I read, the more Wayne and his buddies need to go.

 

[badsection]

No one said tear down the N R A. We need to re establish trust with the upper echelon, no more, no less. When Wayne's outfits are billed through the ad agency which writes it off as "business expense" on it's taxes, games are being played. Those games are going to cost us all! Can we trust anybody on the board? Trust is a word that takes a lifetime to establish and one second to destroy! I grew up amidst the D C elite. I trust used car salesman and insurance companies more than any politician, including our NRA! . Hell. I have a cut glass ashtray from Nixon's white house with hit signature etched in it! The only thing they will understand " Money Talks"

 

[Uncompahgre]

Speaking of reestablishing trust with the upper echelon or the board for that matter, how many here are voting members of the NRA. I have been a NRA life member for over 50 years and yes I have voted for the board members every election. It goes back to voting in any election. If you don't vote you don't have anything to bitch about. This is not the first time there has been turmoil within the NRA nor probably the last. I have full confidence in the board that they will do whatever house cleaning if any that is necessary. I agree 100% with gizmo on all his points.

 

[gizmo]

NRA. I have been a NRA life member for over 50 years and yes I have voted for the board members every election. It goes back to voting in any election. If you don't vote you don't have anything to bitch about.

Exaaaaactly!!!!! The same can be said for politics too. I have several friends that bitched the entire Obama debacle. They of course didn’t vote saying that “their vote doesn’t count anyway”. I have gotten so mad at that kind of ignorance I thought I was going to have a stroke. If you add up those peoples votes across the country it would likely be shocking at the difference in outcomes. Additionally, people in this country have fought and died for that very thing for over 2 centuries. How many people across the world would give everything for just the chance to have a simple and fair election.

 

[Rule 303]

I'll back up what Gizmo said. Here in Australia we have compulsory voting. If you do not vote you can/will be fined. Lucky as we are so apathetic probably less than 20% would vote and we would have mostly socialist governments.

The left around the world know how to gee up their sheeple to vote. If it was not for your collage system you would have Hillary running the place. I would say no matter how confident you are that your Republicans are going to win still go and vote and encourage others to. Same goes for the NRA. If you have a vote use it.

 

[gizmo]

I'll back up what Gizmo said. Here in Australia we have compulsory voting. If you do not vote you can/will be fined. Lucky as we are so apathetic probably less than 20% would vote and we would have mostly socialist governments.

The left around the world know how to gee up their sheeple to vote. If it was not for your collage system you would have Hillary running the place. I would say no matter how confident you are that your Republicans are going to win still go and vote and encourage others to. Same goes for the NRA. If you have a vote use it.

 

[JimP]

I have always said that if you don't vote you have to place to complain about how the country or origination is ran.

A person needs to stand up for what he believes in and voting is one of the best ways to do it.

 

[browningbbr]

These are many well-made points about voting. I'm also glad to see that some AH participants have some knowledge about NRA board members.

There is "voting" and there is "informed voting". I for one would appreciate advice when board elections roll around again. Also, I'm going to spend more time looking into CV's and voting records for current board members.

Do you suppose that this nonsense is the reason for Tom Selleck's recent resignation form the NRA board?

 

[Rule 303]

These are many well-made points about voting. I'm also glad to see that some AH participants have some knowledge about NRA board members.

There is "voting" and there is "informed voting". I for one would appreciate advice when board elections roll around again. Also, I'm going to spend more time looking into CV's and voting records for current board members.

Do you suppose that this nonsense is the reason for Tom Selleck's recent resignation form the NRA board?

Quite correct about informed voting.