Why do so many gun owners dislike the NRA?

[Prometheus]

The Veterans Disarmament Act ..... knee jerk label applied by those who have not read it........ key work in HR 2640 is ADJUDICATED.

I have debated this on other forums, and will not do it again here. This is my opinion formed because I have been diagnosed with PTSD, I'm service connected for PTSD, and NOBODY has approached me about firearms from the VA. I also happen to work for the VA, and I KNOW FOR A FACT that there is NO policy in writing to quiz any Veteran about firearms unless the Vet brings it up, or family brings it up, or unless there is a negative history related to firearms.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Got nothing to do with the military side, it's the civilian side...
Just wait till they link those records with the NICS system (still ironing out the kinks). Good luck getting anything but a denial. Good luck raising your legal defense funds... Like a captive thanking his captor for the water he previously withheld... brilliant.

 

[thompal]

Good point, but is it better to support them or have no one? I ask myself this question every year. Is this an org. that

One of the big problems is that with certain NRA leaders saying that nobody needs more than a 10 round magazine, the gun grabbers point to those worse as an example of the "extremist gun fringe." So they will say that nobody needs to have a magazine of more than 5 rounds, which the NRA would fight, but would be forced into compromising on a 10 round magazine limit (because one of it's leaders claimed that was an extreme limit).

20 or 30 round magazines wouldn't even be considered.

As simply as that, the NRA would have given up our right to magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

 

[BE Mike]

If anyone is looking for an excuse not to join any organization they will find it! You have to weigh the positives and the negatives.

 

[MilitaryArms]

If anyone is looking for an excuse not to join any organization they will find it! You have to weigh the positives and the negatives.

What are the negatives of GOA and SAF? Do they compromise on gun legislation? No. Do they sell black rifle owners down the river every chance they get? No. Do they support any anti-gun legislation? No. Have they ever supported a 10 round magazine ban? No. Can you name one thing they've done to hurt gun rights? No.

The NRA can't say the same thing.

And before you guys try the tired "well the NRA has more members" schtick, if you started supporting a real pro-gun rights group this wouldn't be an issue. The problem here are those who do not support real pro-gun groups and think their NRA membership relieves them of any further support of real pro-rights groups or actions.

Many NRA members send their $25 in and stop there. They've never written a single letter or made a single phone call to a Congressman or Senator. They've never signed a petition. They've never called their local radio station and got on a show to discuss the 2nd Amendment. They've in essence done nothing but sent $25 to an organization that does precious little to protect ALL of our rights (and has done quite a bit to hurt them).

Even worse are the "lifetime" members who tout it as if its some badge of honor. They paid their $300 and think that's all they have to do. No more membership dues to the NRA or other gun rights groups... or anything else I've mentioned above. Hey! I paid $300 for my rights, now go away and leave me alone for the rest of my life! I've done my part! I know not all lifetime members do this, but I've ran in to quite a few who do.

 

[dburkhead]

What are the negatives of GOA and SAF? Do they compromise on gun legislation? No. Do they sell black rifle owners down the river every chance they get? No. Do they support any anti-gun legislation? No. Have they ever supported a 10 round magazine ban? No. Can you name one thing they've done to hurt gun rights? No.

Do they have the political clout to actually accomplish their stated goals? No.

 

[MilitaryArms]

Do they have the political clout to actually accomplish their stated goals? No.

I guess you missed this part of my post.

And before you guys try the tired "well the NRA has more members" schtick, if you started supporting a real pro-gun rights group this wouldn't be an issue. The problem here are those who do not support real pro-gun groups and think their NRA membership relieves them of any further support of real pro-rights groups or actions.

As for stated goals, you support the NRA's negotiation of our rights way?

 

[Crystalship1]

Do they have the political clout to actually accomplish their stated goals? No.

Yeah.... This is why I decided to support the NRA and the others also. Some folks just aren't going to get it. They're probably the same people who threw thier votes away on a third party and helped Obama into the Whitehouse.

 

[MilitaryArms]

Yeah.... This is why I decided to support the NRA and the others also. Some folks just aren't going to get it. They're probably the same people who threw thier votes away on a third party and helped Obama into the Whitehouse.

You're the one "not getting it".

So you fund the NRA so they can negotiate your rights away, then you fund the GOA so they can protect all of your rights. Brilliant... and you think I "don't get it".

As for who I voted for, never ass-u-me. I held my nose and voted for McCain.

 

[Crystalship1]

As for who I voted for, never ass-u-me. I held my nose and voted for McCain.

Heheheh..... Oh please believe me when I say I just don't care what you do or think.

 

[MilitaryArms]

Heheheh..... Oh please believe me when I say I just don't care what you do or think.

Oh really, that's why you respond to me, eh?

 

[Crystalship1]

Oh really, that's why you respond to me, eh?

Are you "dburkhead" ???

Do try to follow along.

 

[MilitaryArms]

Heheheh..... Oh please believe me when I say I just don't care what you do or think.

Oh, I'm sorry, this wasn't meant for me? Why did you quote me then?

 

[Soundslikejosh]

You're the one "not getting it".

So you fund the NRA so they can negotiate your rights away, then you fund the GOA so they can protect all of your rights. Brilliant... and you think I "don't get it".

As for who I voted for, never ass-u-me. I held my nose and voted for McCain.

I am not certain who to believe when it comes to condemning the NRA. However, I think FullAuto makes a distinction that is important- don't support the one who harms you. It would be like supporting the Brady campaign and saying "I had to support someone." +1-1=0

Now, don't misunderstand me- I haven't drank the anti-NRA yet, and currently I am of the impression that the NRA does more good than harm, and does not have malicious intent. As this thread shows, its the "fact" of the matter is not clear.

The thing about "support the NRA and the GOA. GOA is right on the issues, but NRA is huge." Well, I have invested similarly, but now question doing so. If enough people told the NRA to go pound sand and sent all that money to GOA, perhaps GOA would be big enough to matter. I am not naive enough to believe that will actually happen, which is why I supported both.

 

[Crystalship1]

Oh, I'm sorry, this wasn't meant for me? Why did you quote me then?

Dude.... HONESTLY.

Re-read the flippin' thread!!!! I was taking to "dburkhead" when you began quoting me and giving your opinions.

Holy moley!!!!!

 

[MilitaryArms]

Dude.... HONESTLY.

Re-read the flippin' thread!!!! I was taking to "dburkhead" when you began quoting me and giving your opinions.

Holy moley!!!!!

Read my freaking post. You responded to me, then claimed you didn't. It's right here in black and white and I even quoted you. Jesh. I don't care that you also responded to someone else, you claimed you didn't talk to me when you clearly did.

You have an honesty issue... that or a very frail ego.

 

[Soundslikejosh]

Ladies, please, don't make Fenway or one of his jackbooted thugs come in here. Cant we just all dislike each other quietly?

 

[MilitaryArms]

Ladies, please, don't make Fenway or one of his jackbooted thugs come in here. Cant we just all dislike each other quietly?

Hehe, you're right.

 

[Crystalship1]

Ladies, please, don't make Fenway or one of his jackbooted thugs come in here. Cant we just all dislike each other quietly?

Yep. Should have taken the high road with this one!!!

 

[Soundslikejosh]

Was that like a virtual group hug? This is getting weird. You guys were supposed to continue, maybe include a few swear words or insult the other guy's wife. CMON!!

 

[dburkhead]

I guess you missed this part of my post.



As for stated goals, you support the NRA's negotiation of our rights way?

Didn't miss it. Clout they don't have is not a reason to join an organization. Claims that if I do join they might, might, have enough clout then, well, claims are easy.

Also, it's not the membership alone that makes for a lack of political clout--the "no compromise" (i.e. "all or nothing") approach actually weakens them. "No compromise" is simply not politically achievable.

I am a member of the NRA. I am also a member of GOA. When GOA is able to do even as much as the NRA to slow the loss of our rights, then, and only then, will I consider not being a member of the NRA.

The problem is that it's not the organization per se but the membership. If most of the membership of the NRA really wanted the NRA to take a harder line, don't you think they'd do it? Convince the membership that more "compromise" that's not actually compromise is a losing proposition for what's important to them and the organizations will change. You have to do that anyway to get them to join the other organizations.

In the anti-NRA groups there's always the assumption that if the NRA had taken a less compromising position we would have won. What's lost is the very real possibility that not "compromising" would have been to lose it all. The situtaion is not so clear cut. Maybe they could have done better, but nobody knows how much better and anything less than complete victory would still have people claiming they could have "done better" right up until we hit the point where attempting to "do better" would have meant losing everything.

If you take a no compromise, "all or nothing" approach then "nothing" is a very real possibility. Not only very real but the most likely possibility.