Your Thoughts on the NRA Today?

[Mike SC Hunter]

I was a member for a lot of years. Then lapierre and 76 SEVENTY SIX board of director misusing our money...........I QUIT........iF it gets truly back on course. WHY 76 BOD's??? I'll probably come back...NRA cut a lot of useful programs under lapierre. . I too TOTALLY DISLIKE the cheap chinese junk they offer with membership......And don't hound me for $$$ every week.....My stance is.....Wait and see.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Past member. Not going to rejoin just yet.

I’ll wait and see what happens.

The organization is way too top heavy. And I’m willing to bet that there are still a few around that knew of the scandal well before it was exposed. And they didn’t say anything. They need to go.

The scandal was the absolute worst thing that could have happened. Gun haters rejoiced. Gun owners became weakened.

I hope it doesn’t, but I think it will take years for the NRA to recover.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

First and foremost -- you're a long-time member here who rarely
contributes to the forum.

I'm 72, and I was an on-and-off NRA member for 50 years. Mostly off.

I will not contribute to an organization that calls me begging for
donations with attempts to ply me with "gifts" made in China.

Smith & Wesson needs to heed that, too! At this year's annual
S&W Collectors Association symposium the knife the company
gave us says "Made in China."

B.S.

Our country is upside down. Somebody needs to right the ship.

Convince me to reconsider.

The ball's in your court.

 

[Golddollar]

I hope those who have been put off by the actions of the prior administration of the NRA will return. I am a second generation Life Member of the NRA. What I want to see is the ability of the new EVP to say to a member of Congress, "I speak for 8 million dues paying members in our organization."

 

[Model 19 6"]

1 I am a NRA Golden Eagle.
2 I donate now and then.
3 I am also a member of NGRA.
4I know it has been mentioned in the past maybe cut down on mailings.

 

[gjgalligan]

Lifetime member -Benefactor (I believe)

Only change I have seen so far is more emails try to sell overpriced "stuff".

I also agree with the "why so many BOD members?"

 

[Greyman50]

Endowment member for many years. Quit donating due to “ off course” route NRA has taken in past years. Purge needs to continue , return to supporting the 2nd Amendment with 0 compromise. Please, please QUIT sending all the begging letters and Raffles/ contests mailings. No longer have goats to eat junk mail.

 

[desi2358]

Life member since the 1980's, haven't been contributing for several years. Mainly due to the previous administration........ Way too willing to compromise our Rights while seeming to concentrate on enriching themselves. Have put more of my money and efforts to GOA since they seem to be working a lot harder for gun owners.

Would agree with others that the Board is too big and out of touch with the membership.

Also agree that the main efforts should be aimed at actively protecting our Rights first of all. Promoting the shooting sports to the general public is also a good thing, in particular getting young people interested and safely taught. We need more young people getting involved, us old folks aren't going to be around forever and we need to keep the young from being brainwashed by the anti-gun propaganda that seems so prevalent.

If the NRA is to grow it needs to regain the trust of many and prove it's serious about reforming its management and serious about preserving freedom. A lot is at stake.

 

[NYlakesider]

I particularly want to know:
1. Are you a current or past NRA member?
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future?
3. If so, what convinced you to do so?

Current over 50 year life. Also patron status. That gives me about a 65 year total as a member. I started as a Jr member and remember the big sign in form and even needed a signature from a local trusted official. Had a Albany police Sergent living across the street he signed for me.

Donations, I will only give by anonymous ways as once your on a donor list you get way too many phone calls and mail asking for more. Note this is not only the NRA but most other outfits also.

 

[rustythread]

Joined around 40 years ago, and occasionally send money. Had the NRA remove me from the "give us money" mailing list when I got fed up with the broad-brush snide remarks about plaintiffs' lawyers; figured that since the money I sent them was earned by being a plaintiffs' lawyer, they didn't need the tainted donations.

Glad to see the last of LaPierre. Hope future boards will keep a sceptical eye on the cash box. Do we need to hire independent auditors?

 

[Rammer Jammer]

No

I don't pay for junk mail.

 

[TXBryan]

I pay the annual dues and it's a long time since I've done more.

I joined GOA about five years ago and, frankly, they seem to do as much or more with a lot less. No question they run leaner and meaner than the NRA. I send GOA occasional contributions in excess of annual membership. GOA is also obviously active in my state and I don't hear much of anything the NRA is doing in Texas.

I consult on organizational governance for a host of non-profit organizations and a board of directors the size of the NRA is almost always indicative of a dysfunctional organization that values the social and personal benefit trappings of board membership over board member's contributions towards good governance. It's ridiculous. Apple has the largest capitalization of any (for-profit) corporation in the history of the world and they have eight board members. Most well-functioning non-profits have ten or less directors. Anyone who has participated on committees in their communities knows the larger they are the less accountability there is.

Wayne LaPierre and the unwavering board support of him did an incredible amount of damage to the organization. Most of us have a hard time accepting someone who makes well over a $M annually needing a clothing allowance, never mind the other accusations of malfeasance.

Until the organization spends more defending our Second Amendment rights than they do on salaries and benefits for management, and this is made plainly obvious, I fear trust will be hard to re-earn. I'd venture that most forum members do their research before contributing to "worthy causes" by investigating how much of their contributions actually goes to the worthy cause as opposed to admin. The NRA isn't passing that test right now.

Bryan

 

[erikpolcrack]

Life Member since the mid-60s. Definitely in the wait-and-see mode.

 

[Grayfox]

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?
Member for about 40 years now. Came very close to quitting a couple of times, but my gun club requires NRA membership.

2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future?
I pay my dues as required and nothing more. The NRA has wasted too much of my money for me to give extra.
BTW: I regularly give extra to GOA, FPC, SAF, my state 2A organization TFA and others. They are fighting for me and other gun owners.

3. If so, what convinced you to do so? N/A

4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.)
Under WLP the NRA was compromising on 2A issues. There is NO COMPROMISE on the 2nd Amendment! You were playing politics, not fighting to win.

5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address?
Reduce the size of the BOD. No more than 20, less would be even better. I like the idea of regional representatives.
Quit playing politics. Get back in the fight, fight hard and fight to win!

I've always said that when it comes to competition, training, safety and education the the NRA can't be beat. But you have seriously failed in protecting the 2nd Amendment and gun owners of this nation.
I'm in wait and see mode. You gonna get back in the fight for real or just keep playing politics and lining your own pockets?

 

[llowry61]

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?
Member for about 40 years now.

2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future?

I pay my dues as required and nothing more. The NRA has wasted too much of my money for me to give extra. I would consider going lifetime and or benefactor if the organization can show how it is efficiently using donations.

3. If so, what convinced you to do so?

Poor management has convinced me not to give more.

4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.)

0 Compromise on 2A - this is a brightline there is no grey.

5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address?

Reduce the size of the board of directors. I have worked for and consulted non-profit organizations, and the vanity board seats are a waste. The directors need to bring something to the table. Too much resume padding in the non-profit world.

As others have stated the more you give the more you are targeted for donations. This is an issue with many non-profits. Ask fatigue is real and insulting us with tchotchkes is not a good strategy.

Money should be spent on core mission, training education and defense of 2A on behalf of membership. Set % of donations so be spent in each area and measure / publish results. This will pry free donation dollars that are currently on the sidelines due to waste. I am not giving to pay increases in administrative costs.

 

[OmaEnb1]

I'll play:

1. Are you a current or past NRA member? Not since 1978
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? Possibly
3. If so, what convinced you to do so? NA
4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.) My focus has always been on the shooting sports, hunting, target, etc. I watched the NRA become 98% focussed on the armed citizen and frankly operating as a PR arm of the firearm manufacturing industry. The more outrages and scared the membership is, the more guns they will buy! Not my cup-o-tea.
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address? 1. Continue cleaning grifters out of the house. 2. Don't forget the outreach to the younger generation (and organizations that serve them) to increase understanding and participation in the shooting sports.

 

[Autonomous]

The NRA has taken a step forward by eliminating their most apparent source of corruption. However, a journey requires more than a single step. The entire board should be replaced with a smaller, efficient, and accountable team that upholds the NRA's fundamental purpose. It is essential to eradicate all potential sources of inertia and corruption.

In recent years, I have contributed more to causes that I believe will improve America than I have in all my previous years combined.
Will the NRA receive contributions from me again? Refer to the previous sentence.

 

[gmarshall99]

I am a current member and don’ send additional funds.

I have taken NRA summer classes at two of the gunsmithing schools, and eventually, taught a class at the Trinidad State College gunsmithing NRA summer program.
Talking with the program manager I asked what kind of financial support they got from the NRA. I was shocked to fine out that the schools had to pay the NRA. What kind of support is that to the firearm industry? Gunsmiths are getting harder to find with the baby boomers retiring.

I would wager that the 76 Board members don’t know this fact.

 

[Jimmyjones]

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?
Member since the 80's, currently Benefactor.

2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future?
Not really, last donation was to ILA in 2018 during the successful suit against the Boulder AWB ban.

3. If so, what convinced you to do so?
I was a plaintive.

4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.)
Figured Wayne had enough suits. Disappointed NRA didn't engage in the current wave of state/local ordinances in CO.

5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address?
Board is too large, dilutes focus. "A camel is a horse designed by committee"

 

[timjake]

1. Are you a current or past NRA member? - Joined 2012, moved up to Benefactor a couple years later. Golden Eagle for the last few years
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? - only "extra" contribution is the annual Golden Eagle cost
3. If so, what convinced you to do so?
4. If not, what is holding you back? - I decided last year I was going to cease Golden Eagle because of all the abuses of $$ and power by the board and most especially LaPierre. Then LaPierre went away, so I renewed this year.
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address?

a) Get rid of at least 50% of the BoD (75% would be better) - who the heck thought 76 board members was a good thing? Having been president of a non-profit in the past, I have direct experience with ungainly boards. More directors means less gets done since each will have their own agenda and priorities.
b) Get back to supporting the programs that encourage new gun owners and firearm safety. As stated in posts above, when qualified instructors are having problems finding where/how to get recerts, there's a serious problem.