Get it straight about the NRA.
Question:
>I say again if there is a war, you can choose either side or sit on the >sidelines.
So it is your contention that the US single-handedly won WWII. Or were there perhaps more than just 2 sides? Perhaps several diverse groups working together can accomplish more than one smaller, but united, force? > In this war we have the NRA on one side and the ARFs and >anti-gun people on the other. You may not *like* how the sides have been >drawn up, but it is so. Accept it.
Wrong. There are pro-RKBA people one one side, and anti-RKBA people on the other. NRA does not represent all pro-RKBA people, nor could it possibly do so. We are not a homogeneous society as Americans, or as gun-owners. Accept that. >When the anti-gun and anti-hunting LA Times, NY Times and Washington Post >regard the NRA as the enemy, it is with good reason. The NRA has been >effective. What have the other and smaller organizations done? I used to >support them all, but not any more.
No one is doubting NRAs name recognition, just this exclusivist attitude that it’s NRA or nothing. If you doubt the achievments of any of the other pro-RKBA groups, you are apparently not well versed in their efforts. Feel free to visit their web sites and learn about their contributions. >Join the NRA, work inside to have your point of view heard.
No single organization can represent all of the gun-owners in this diverse nation. Nor should it try to. My point of view clashes with NRA leadership. Either I won’t get my way, or they won’t get theirs. > When any of >you NRA detractors say anything derogatory about the NRA, the antis pick >it up as proof they are right.
I am not sayinganything derogatory about NRA. I am saying they are not the only pro-RKBA organization. And that is a good thing. > If we had 30 million NRA members, thisng >would be very much different…jim dodd >San Diego
But you don’t. And one of the many reasons is that NRA is not for everyone. Some gun owners don’t like it. You can question their reasons all day long. You can claim their views are invalid. But the bottom line is that some of us will not give NRA our support. Do you want us to fight beside you, or sit back and watch you lose? -Don
Response:
Don writes:
"Good advice, why don’t you follow it? There are plenty of other pro-gun organizations who work just as hard, if not harder, as NRA. The implication that anyone who won’t join NRA is fighting on the side of the antis is not only untrue, it hurts the pro-gun cause alot more than having 7 or 8 different pro-gun groups ever will." I say again if there is a war, you can choose either side or sit on the sidelines. In this war we have the NRA on one side and the ARFs and anti-gun people on the other. You may not *like* how the sides have been drawn up, but it is so. Accept it. When the anti-gun and anti-hunting LA Times, NY Times and Washington Post regard the NRA as the enemy, it is with good reason. The NRA has been effective. What have the other and smaller organizations done? I used to support them all, but not any more. Join the NRA, work inside to have your point of view heard. When any of you NRA detractors say anything derogatory about the NRA, the antis pick it up as proof they are right. If we had 30 million NRA members, thisng would be very much different…jim dodd San Diego
Response:
> . . . snip >The fact that the vast majority of hunters are not members of >the NRA is a frightening example of the indifference, apathy, and >misinformation that is plaguing this country. > >-Everett Logan Actually, Everett, I interpret this as not apathy (I know I am not apathetic about my guns being taken away) but more dissatisfaction with the NRA. I have been an NRA member off and on over the years. (Admittedly, not right now.) Each time I join, and start getting correspondence from them, I do not feel like they are representing me. In fact, a lot of what I see in their magazine frightens me and it is easy to see why a lot of Americans see them as extremists and supporters of covert antigovernment groups. PLEASE DO NOT MISINTERPRET THIS TO BE MY OPINION. I do think that is how a lot (majority?) of American citizens, and certainly citizens of other countries see the NRA. I think the NRA is inherently a good organization. I think they need to go back to the hunters, and other shooting non-members and find out why they don’t belong. Instead, they choose to berate them for not seeing things their way. If it were just a few gun owners, that weren’t members, I’d call it apathy. When it becomes many, and most of them were former members, there is a problem that needs to be fixed, and it is not necessarily with the non-members. Pete Githens>> Pete your part of the problem and not the solution. While you would want the NRA to correct all of its problems to please your perspective, they are fighting tooth and nail to see to it you still have a gun to hunt with. Lets make that correct. I, an active NRA member and others with me, are fighting tooth and nail for you to still have a gun to hunt with. I am the NRA. I see to it that congressmen are afraid to propose more gun legislation. I send them nasty letters. I send my money to the NRA so that they can lean on legislators. Talks cheap. You are part of the casualty list in the war of divide and conquer from the anti’s on the wrong side. The "organization" will never be able to please every one and limit themselves to what all of the those dissatisfied individuals think is appropriate levels of action. When you have no gun rights left then maybe you will rethink your position. The NRA is the only strong national level organization that has some pull in congress to slow down the onslaught of the left and Slick Willie. You think Sarah Brady has any intention of slowing down and not coming after every gun you have and every type of bullet you buy or load??? We need to look past the small squabbling and realize we are in a fight for our very rights. Don’t look at the NRA, look at the facts of what Clinton, Brady, Schumer and the other anti gun advocates have been doing. If you wait until they want your last hunting rifle or shotgun to rethink your position, you will be way too late. And all the other people that you helped to dissuade from joining the fight will be in you boat with you. Stop looking at the problems and look at the fact that we NRA supporters are still working damn hard towards the solution. The best perspective to have is to support the NRA and be part of it and work towards the day when the only thing that has to be on the agenda are subjects of good hunting, who won the latest national competitions, and new types of ammo loads to use!!! Get smart and do something to help the cause, not badmouth the people who are trying. Gary Molle
Response:
>Get smart and do something to help the cause, not badmouth the people >who are trying. Gary Molle
Good advice, why don’t you follow it? There are plenty of other pro-gun organizations who work just as hard, if not harder, as NRA. The implication that anyone who won’t join NRA is fighting on the side of the antis is not only untrue, it hurts the pro-gun cause alot more than having 7 or 8 different pro-gun groups ever will. -Don
