Your Thoughts on the NRA Today?

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Folks, I'm going to respond honestly. I'm a lifetime firearms owner and user, but I'm neither inclined to Republican views nor a big fan of the NRA. It's hard for me to post sometimes because I am very much in the middle when it comes to many firearms issues, and stating any unpopular opinion tends to get very extreme replies.

But the gent asked for very honest responses. Here are mine, and I appreciate your respecting them.

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?

I was a member for years. I stopped renewing in the late 80s. The reason was that before that time, the NRA was involved in more honest discussions of firearms issues, but over time they simply adopted a policy of refusing and blocking any changes in firearms laws. It appears to me that they are no longer part of the effort to find solutions.

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

Not under the current policy positions of the NRA.

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

Why not? Because I believe that the Supreme Court interpreted the Second Amendment incorrectly and that there should indeed be some limitations and qualifications for firearm ownership. The NRA has resisted every effort to take moderate new steps like background checks and has resisted red flag laws, which I believe are both an exercise in common sense, and very important. Unless the NRA becomes involved in actions to improve national record keeping about firearms, supports ways to keep firearms out of the hands of those who should not own them, and accepts the fact that society is changing and firearms play a different role than they did more than 200 years ago, I don't plan to support the NRA.

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

I'm glad that the financial malfeasance has been uncovered and that sincere NRA member donations can be put to better use. NRA heeded a house cleaning. Now it needs to become engaged in real ways to reduce firearms deaths rather than blocking all new ideas.

I don't apologize for my views being different than many others here, but I hope that those who read this realize that I am simply stating my position. It's a valid one even if we may disagree. Please recognize that I'm one of the millions of firearms owners who do own and use guns, but who are deeply concerned about finding new ways and new laws to reduce firearms deaths in the US.
 
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I’m back for one more point.

I know guys who scrimped and saved and denied themselves and their faimilies things so they could be “Life Members” or some higher tier.

You took their kid’s Christmas money and bought suits and vacations with your girlfriends.

Shame on you all at the NRA.
 
NRA going forward

I have been an NRA member since about 1976, life for about last 10 years. I haven't contributed lately and will wait on changes before doing so. I liked the "I am the NRA" ad campaign and think it should be restarted. I almost quit when LaPierre came out with the "jack-booted government thugs" comment regarding Waco and David Koresh. I don't want to be associated with defending anti-government child molesters. I don't like supporting such items as bump stocks and Glock switches. The NRA needs to lead the charge for incarcerating convicted criminals who commit crimes with firearms. A good percentage of gun crimes are committed by repeat offenders. Bail reform should include increasing bail for violent offenders. Again, the NRA should be leading the charge to remove violent bad actors from society.
 
I am a Life Member of NRA. I do not currently contribute to the NRA, but have in the past. I did not want to fund WLP lavish lifestyle. His leaving is a start. But many of those board members who allowed and condoned him and his lavish spending are still there. They failed to act, and were it not for the NY AG lawsuit, he would still be there.

The NRA affiliate in Florida has been active in supporting gun control in the state, opposing open carry. Absolutely unforgivable! (Florida is one of a handful of states that essentially bans open carry.)

Clean out the board room. Send Marion Hammer to join WLP. Then you will get my financial support.

JeffKnox, I wish you the best of luck. We need the NRA to be strong, powerful, member supporting organization. Sadly, it currently is not.
 
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They're doing the right thing

The 'new' folks in charge at NRA are doing it right. I wasn't much interested in continuing to support them until I saw WHAT and HOW they are doing it: they are doing the kinds of things I would, if I were part of the management.

So, I re-upped. They want to fight to protect my rights and my country, so I will help.
 
Annual member for a LONG time. A lot of dinner money, etc. given to politician's to influence their thought's on legislation for the 2nd Amendment. Those day's are GONE. It is lawyer up time in America. Take them to court if they dot the i wrong in a bill to infringe on our right's. GOA is doing a EXCELLENT job. Merge with them.
 
NRA today

#1 - I've been a member for 40+ years, currently an Endowment member.
#2 - For the last several years I didn't donate any extra. This year I have donated again. Also donated to Gun Owners of America, FPC, 2nd Amendment Association & Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.
#3 - Getting LaPierre out and some other positive steps made me decide to donate again.
#4 - NA
#5 - Do more with less. Less staff, less mailing asking for money, less phone call center calls asking for money. I'm very tired of getting almost daily letters asking for more money. Fight for our rights....no compromise.
 
I am a Benefactor Member and NRA Instructor, joining in 1970. I'm thrilled that we've finally rid the association of Wayne and his acolytes, it's been too long in coming. Now we should do something about reducing the size of the Board of Directors. Most corporate boards are a fraction of it's size. We don't need a bunch of directors just because they are celebrities or politicians.

I have continued to financially support the NRA but only the ILA. I think that they should spend money fighting Washington and not on postage for Win a Gun/Truck promotions. I hope Wayne enjoyed the suits and private plane rides I paid for.

I try to look at the big picture and see the good things done by the NRA over the years. Maybe we can get back to what we were before money and power corrupted the association's leaders. Our new officers have a lot to do to convince the rank and file members that things will be different.

I would like to thank you Jeff what you did, you'd make your father proud.
 
We Tried Being Reasonable

ColoCoug said:
Folks, I'm going to respond honestly. I'm a lifetime firearms owner and user, but I'm neither inclined to Republican views nor a big fan of the NRA. It's hard for me to post sometimes because I am very much in the middle when it comes to many firearms issues, and stating any unpopular opinion tends to get very extreme replies.

But the gent asked for very honest responses. Here are mine, and I appreciate your respecting them.

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?

I was a member for years. I stopped renewing in the late 80s. The reason was that before that time, the NRA was involved in more honest discussions of firearms issues, but over time they simply adopted a policy of refusing and blocking any changes in firearms laws. It appears to me that they are no longer part of the effort to find solutions.

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

Not under the current policy positions of the NRA.

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

Why not? Because I believe that the Supreme Court interpreted the Second Amendment incorrectly and that there should indeed be some limitations and qualifications for firearm ownership. The NRA has resisted every effort to take moderate new steps like background checks and has resisted red flag laws, which I believe are both an exercise in common sense, and very important. Unless the NRA becomes involved in actions to improve national record keeping about firearms, supports ways to keep firearms out of the hands of those who should not own them, and accepts the fact that society is changing and firearms play a different role than they did more than 200 years ago, I don't plan to support the NRA.

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

I'm glad that the financial malfeasance has been uncovered and that sincere NRA member donations can be put to better use. NRA heeded a house cleaning. Now it needs to become engaged in real ways to reduce firearms deaths rather than blocking all new ideas.

I don't apologize for my views being different than many others here, but I hope that those who read this realize that I am simply stating my position. It's a valid one even if we may disagree. Please recognize that I'm one of the millions of firearms owners who do own and use guns, but who are deeply concerned about finding new ways and new laws to reduce firearms deaths in the US.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your honest views, and I know it's challenging to hold views different from the majority within a group.
As you might expect, I strongly disagree with your position.
I have been involved in the gun rights war for my entire life, with my father being one of the early activists in the field.

The reason we (gun owners) won't be "reasonable," is because we tried that for years, and every time, we were stabbed in the back.

Lyndon Johnson said something like: "You don't judge a law by the good it would do if properly administrated, but rather by the harm it could do if improperly administrated."
If you and I were in charge of enforcing and administering the "commonsense" laws that you are advocating, gun owners would have nothing to worry about. But you and I don't get to do that. Bureaucrats who have nothing but enmity for guns and gun owners are the ones who administer and enforce these laws, and they have ALWAYS used them to the detriment of responsible gun owners. It's way easier (and safer) to pursue and prosecute regular gun owners than it is to pursue and prosecute real criminals.
The NRA was "reasonable" in not strongly opposing the NFA in 1934, and compromising on the GCA in 1968, and in agreeing to the Brady Bill, with the transition to NICS, in 1993. In every case, the anti-gun politicians and bureaucrats used those laws to come after regular gun owners.
Universal background checks are only "universal" when applied to regular, law-abiding gun owners. Red flag laws specifically target guns, ignoring other threats and due process, and judges have demonstrated an attitude of being more willing to "suspend" a person's gun rights, than they are to suspend a person's drivers license. Every state has laws allowing a court -- or a regular street cop -- to require a person to be held for a 72-hour mental health evaluation. That takes the person away from guns, cars, knives, flammables, etc., and provides them with mental health support, and an opportunity for due process. It's a much more invasive and burdensome action all around, but if a person is a serious threat to themself or others, it's a much more reasonable response than banging on their door and demanding their firearms, then just leaving.

At the risk of appearing self-serving, I would encourage you to read "Neal Knox: The Gun Rights War." It is a compilation of my father's writings from the mid-1960s to the early 2000s. In it you can see the progression of the fight, and the slow shift in attitudes over the years. Even Dad, who was considered a "no compromise" extremist by many on the NRA Board of Directors, started out trying to be "reasonable." I believe the Kindle version is available on Amazon for a dollar.

Again, thank you for your comment. I will take your viewpoint into consideration, and I hope the folks here don't beat you up too badly over your honesty.

-- Jeff
 
Thoughts

I’ve only been a life member for a few years. I would not donate money to the NRA again until I was convinced that the NRA was moving in the right direction. I have been donating to GOA and to a California organization. As far as I’m concerned, the biggest change needed, going forward, is a reduction in the size of the Board by 2/3 or more and term limits. Ideally, we should start with a new Board of 25 or so.
 
1) Annual member 1974-1987, Life since.
2/3/4) After paying for Life memberships for my wife and myself on the installment plan we donated annually to the tune of 2-3 times the annual dues for several years. We also volunteered for FNRA banquets, bought tickets, bought tables, bought auction items. The scare tactics, the overblown rhetoric (e.g. "jack-booted thugs") the tightening of board elections to the point the board became self-perpetuating, the lavish executive lifestyles, the emphasis on big-dollar ad campaigns at a time when any real victories were being won in court and the constant badgering for donations to support the ad and lifestyle all combined to make me send my money elsewhere. CCRKBA, GOA, ISRA seemed to be getting more done.

3/4) As we toddle into full retirement pistol-packin' Momma and I have to be more careful where we spend what we have to live on for (God willing) the next 15-20 years. NRA will have to convince us that they are the best place to invest in our grandchildren's 2nd Amendment rights. You are no longer the default organization.

5) A leaner board with term limits. Doesn't mean they can't run again after sitting out a term or two, but that and the EVP positions have to be seen as opportunities to serve the organization and not entitlements. The leaner board needs to function as a genuine governing body between annual meetings, not a rubber stamp for the upper level employees. Accountability at every level. As others have said, a full and thorough accounting by an independent auditor. I know it will be embarrassing. Man up. Get realistic about what can be achieved in Congress and the courts and focus on what can be done today instead of pipedreams of a gunpowder Utopia. Collaborate with the other 2A organizations as a partner and a peer (if they will have you), and not as the big dog letting them do the grunt work while you publicize the "NRA-backed" victory. You aren't the big dog anymore. Credibility is built over time and lost in an instant. There is no (pardon the pun) magic bullet: just honesty, humility and hard work.

You asked for brutal, but I held back. You'll need the guts and dedication of another guy with your name whose work I admired when I was a new annual member to make this work. I wish you well.
 
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Just to lighten the mood a little bit regarding requests for contributions. I'm a second generation upper level Life Member. My dad became a life member of the NRA back when a Life Membership was $50 or $100.

Pop had been a paid up Life Member for many years when the NRA bought its present headquarters, and made a request for contributions specifically to pay off the mortgage. Lo and behold, Pop made a contribution. Later he told me that he had made a contribution toward retiring the mortgage and said, "I sent them a contribution because I felt guilty for living so long." :D:D And Pop lived for another 20 years after that!
 
Member of NRA for approximately 15 yrs,, let my membership lapse,,, I paid my dues like everyone else ,, and in the end I just got so annoyed with getting mail 3 or 4 times a week asking for more money. If they saved all that postage money they wouldn’t have to keep asking for more
Chuck
 
Jeff,

First, I am very pleased to see you (finally) on the Board of NRA. Your commitment to the defense of the Second Amendment is second to none and the politics that kept you off the Board for years was abhorrent.

1. Are you a current or past NRA member?

I am a Patron level member and have been for some time.

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

I have not contributed financially to NRA for several years now and have adopted a "wait and see" attitude following the disclosures concerning the management of NRA and the Board's decision to turn a blind eye to that mismanagement.

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.)

Per #2 above, I am waiting to see whether or not the "new" NRA is committed to following through on its promises to reform. Specifically, I want to see an open competition for Board seats, elimination of the Nominating Committee, a reduction in the number of Board members to a rational level (perhaps 10 plus the EVP), publication of annual financial reports reviewed by a reputable accounting firm no later than 120 days following the end of the fiscal year, formal Board approval of budgets and objectives for each fiscal year prior to the start of that year. In other words, run NRA like a non-profit organization that is accountable to its members. As others have said, stop spending too much money on solicitations - make them fewer, tie them to objectives, and make them count. Rededicate the NRA to its key objectives: promote and protect the Second Amendment, support NRA/ILA in its activities, train the thousands of new shooters, police, and first responders, competition, publications, and a museum that showcase shooting and firearms ownership in a positive light. I'm sure I've missed one or two, but those are enough to keep the NRA busy. Like others have mentioned, I miss the "We are the NRA" adverts that showed the depth and breadth of our "tent" and the normality of gun ownership.

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

First, is ensuring the financial security of the organization coupled with transparency through regular audited financial reports.
Second, is reforming the Board so that it is active in its oversight of the management and accountable to the members.
Third, is a top-down performance review of all employees by management and by Board members to remove "the friends of Wayne" who facilitated the mismanagement, rationalize employment levels, and give expanded responsibilities to those who have earned it.

Jeff, you and your reform colleagues are the right people at the right moment to preserve the NRA and restore it to its rightful place as a preeminent civil rights organization. I wish you success and promise my support.
 
In order:
1. Life Member
2. Haven't contributed for a number of years due to the obvious mismanagement. May begin again, ball's in your court (see #5)
3. NA
4. Re contributing, see above.
5. (1) Get the hell out of NYS. NRA will never be secure and will be forced to expend ever-increasing legal $$ while HQ'd there. (2) Develop and state the plan to dig out of the hole you're in, with attainable goals, metrics and progress reporting. The current issue of AR was a good stat, but only a start.; (3) Annual transparent financial reporting to include salaries.
 
rkeniston said:
In order:
1. Life Member
2. Haven't contributed for a number of years due to the obvious mismanagement. May begin again, ball's in your court (see #5)
3. NA
4. Re contributing, see above.
5. (1) Get the hell out of NYS. NRA will never be secure and will be forced to expend ever-increasing legal $$ while HQ'd there. (2) Develop and state the plan to dig out of the hole you're in, with attainable goals, metrics and progress reporting. The current issue of AR was a good stat, but only a start.; (3) Annual transparent financial reporting to include salaries.
Click to expand...

There has always been too much "rah-rah feel good" in most, if not all AMERICAN RIFLEMAN editorials, seldom if ever focusing on topics members are interested in but never covered. "Glossed over" is about as close as any editorial comes to discussing critical internal matters that must be addressed, rendering the commentaries pretty much worthless. Regrettably, the author of any such work is aware of that.

As for board members, while there are no figures available, probably fewer than 20% have any real interest in enthusiastically supporting and advancing NRA goals and purposes. Five or six zealous board members could do far more than the battalion they have now. It appears many of the present bunch don't want to let NRA ideals interfere with their careers.

A smaller point, but that magazine...it hasn't had a good editor in at least thirty years and has suffered a great deterioration that could be rectified with a complete revamp. Bruce Canfield is easily the best writer but his articles are limited to military arms. Make the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN what it once was and bring back the technical staff.
 
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1. Life member since 1998 my wife Endowment member since 2004.
2. No not as of late but I'm considering donating lots of factors though like elections, politics and now WWIII?
3.NRA's past history, dishonesty, lies and then the legal issues coupled with the same deceit.
4.Legal issues and a lack of trust just cuz!
5.Stay away from courts and judges and develop a sense of unity with the new(er) board members as to their duties and responsibilities to the members. Stand up for freedom and the Second Amendment without which there is no Republic nor Constitution and make the NRA great again!
 
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