AR Type firearms! NRA is a must join NOW!

[2hawk]

QFT

The main and overwhelming reason(s) to join the NRA are political, and we are forbidden to discuss politics here. Just know that there are two forces that work against each other here in the U.S. on the "gun control" issue. One side, a whole lot of politicians and many others, is driven by emotion, and the other, the NRA, is driven by solid facts and logic.

It's time to choose. If you do not choose the NRA, then you are in fact actively working for the other side. Your guns and your freedom are at stake. Now. Do it now. Get involved, or before 2013 is through, it will be all over. Don't be a sideliner. Join the team; your help is desperately needed.

John

This is so true. Check out the posts in the 2A Forum, excellent advice and information for anyone who values their right to own firearms.

 

[JRader]

Don't forget to join your State's firearms association. They'll keep you plugged into local issues.

Also there are other worthwhile organizations. The 2nd Amendment Foundation is one.

This. I belong to a Georgia organization that has been instrumental in getting carry laws loosened. They got the nebulous "public gathering" language removed which was a big deal. I had let me NRA membership lapse because they actively opposed the public gathering removal legislation because they were trying to promote some NRA sponsored bill. They didn't think the bill the local org was pushing would pass. I'm still bitter about it but too much is at stake right now. I'll be renewing next month.

 

[melonehead]

Just a quick note to add that the number of members is just as important as the $$$$.

NRA members are voters to the politicians. Nothing scares a politican more than losing re-election and having to get a real job. The more members, the better chance that the NRA can put a stop to this ****.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

NRA has an associate membership for $10. Basically, it's the same as the normal membership without the magazine. It's a cheap way to join. I've been doing it for several years.

 

[Aerosfire]

Joined. Thanks for the motivation! Can't believe I wasn't a member before.

 

[Jackar]

Been viewing this forum for a few years, but just getting around to joining.

Own several M&P15's, big fan of them, don't care too much for their handguns but really like the M&P15 rifles. Have a few Colt AR's and haven't shot them in a few years, always using the M&P 15's.

I was looking in to see what people were saying about the proposed ban. Upon reading the posts about it being a "fact" that one is working for the "other side" if they are not an NRA member it made me question why not being an NRA member makes it a "fact" that one is working for the "other side"?

I'm not a member of the ACLU but I don't work for the "other side" to destroy first amendment rights. In fact, i've probably done or given more to protect and preserve our first amendment rights than most if not all members of the ACLU.

Out of my group of family, friends and associates, some of them own guns and are not members of the NRA, some of them do not own guns and are not members of the NRA, some of them are members of the NRA. Two I know of no longer own guns but maintain their NRA membership. If its a "fact" that out of those the ones which are not NRA members are working for the "other side" because they are not NRA members does this mean they are now seeking to destroy our rights?

Could someone please qualify why not being a member of the NRA means you are working for the "other side"? I'm retired 30 year military. I'm now an attorney and have participated in first and second amendment cases in defending the rights of others in this respect, but this logic of working for the "other side" because one is not an NRA member escapes me completly.

Saying that not being a member of the NRA means its a "fact" that you are working for the other side is almost as bad as saying that because someone owns a gun they are "in fact criminally violent". Neither statement is true.

 

[Biginge]

Counselor, its kinda like explaining to you why I paid so much for a registered magnum as made by Smith & Wesson. If you have to ask there is no real good answer for you.

 

[2hawk]

Jack, welcome to the forum. Apathy and ignorance are the greatest enemies that gun owners face from within their own ranks. If you are a gun owner who wants to retain your right to own firearms, I would urge you to join the NRA. Hyperbole is running hot, but I am sure that you can see why if you are the least bit aware of the new restrictions that are being proposed. The NRA has no equal in defending our rights as gun owners, so as imperfect as it may be, you should join if you don't want to be the last legal owner of the arms you mentioned.
NRA-ILA | Feinstein Goes For Broke With New Gun-Ban Bill

 

[oneyeopn]

Jackar. you know I wish I could rationally give you an answer for what you are asking but I cannot. There is an old line of thinking that if you are not working for something then you are working against it. I believe that is what is being expressed. I have several members of my family who are gun owners and not members of the NRA, I also have several members of my family who are members of the NRA whether they own firearms or not. I do believe that some people believe unless you are actively sending emails and phone messages to your elected officials you are not working to help maintain our second amendment freedoms. Other people believe that if you are active in the process you are just putting your name on a list for the government to come after. I myself am active in trying to persuade my elected officials against any further gun control measures because I do believe that the 2nd Amendment is there to allow us to protect ourselves from criminals and tyrannical governments. I do not believe it was put there to allow us to hunt but in order to be armed as well as the government forces that will try to put us into submission. It is everyones right to pick and choose which side you choose to support. I choose to support the side that means my burial may come sooner than others.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Been viewing this forum for a few years, but just getting around to joining.

Own several M&P15's, big fan of them, don't care too much for their handguns but really like the M&P15 rifles. Have a few Colt AR's and haven't shot them in a few years, always using the M&P 15's.

I was looking in to see what people were saying about the proposed ban. Upon reading the posts about it being a "fact" that one is working for the "other side" if they are not an NRA member it made me question why not being an NRA member makes it a "fact" that one is working for the "other side"?

I'm not a member of the ACLU but I don't work for the "other side" to destroy first amendment rights. In fact, i've probably done or given more to protect and preserve our first amendment rights than most if not all members of the ACLU.

Out of my group of family, friends and associates, some of them own guns and are not members of the NRA, some of them do not own guns and are not members of the NRA, some of them are members of the NRA. Two I know of no longer own guns but maintain their NRA membership. If its a "fact" that out of those the ones which are not NRA members are working for the "other side" because they are not NRA members does this mean they are now seeking to destroy our rights?

Could someone please qualify why not being a member of the NRA means you are working for the "other side"? I'm retired 30 year military. I'm now an attorney and have participated in first and second amendment cases in defending the rights of others in this respect, but this logic of working for the "other side" because one is not an NRA member escapes me completly.

Saying that not being a member of the NRA means its a "fact" that you are working for the other side is almost as bad as saying that because someone owns a gun they are "in fact criminally violent". Neither statement is true.

Jackar,

It was my statement that you responded to. As someone here mentioned already, no explanation is really necessary, but I will try, if only to help you understand.

The NRA is the driving force behind people who are pro-gun on Capitol Hill. With over four million members, as opposed to the Brady Bunch's probable two thousand, it's the thousand-pound gorilla in the room. It keeps its members aware of threats to the Second Amendment, and its members' contributions help to elect pro-gun politicians who can fight the hoplophobes. Your membership counts, and your dollars count. You are urged to action when it's necessary.

As a non-member, it is apparent that you may not be effectively serious about protecting your gun rights. Like any generality, that is not true in all cases, but I think it applies pretty universally. The NRA is the tip of the pro-freedom spear in this country. Your weight behind it is what makes it effective. If you are NOT an actively participating member, you are not "counted" by the politicians. It's unity of purpose and raw numbers that send a tingle down the politicians' legs. You, yourself, cannot mobilize a blitz of letters, faxes, telegrams and e-mails on proposed legislation. By yourself, you cannot sense when are the ideal times to strike maximal blows in this manner. Millions of letters to your congresscritters can be generated overnight by the NRA, and if you do not have this important resource, your voice may be lost in the wilderness.

The NRA keeps you alert on the issues. It dissects them and analyzes them with resources you probably don't have. Your money is used to target specific politicians who may be teetering on the brink of voting for the other side.

If your shoulder is not to the wheel of the National Rifle Association, your good intentions are only that, and you cannot possibly act in concert with the most powerful lobby in Washington. You are ever so much more effective by being a member. It's like a tug of war with the other side, and if you are not pulling on the same rope as the NRA, we all lose. You need to put your weight on this rope, and if you don't, our chances of success are materially diminished.

Elections and issues are lost because of apathy and ignorance. The NRA is here to prevent both among gun owners. If you do not see that, then good luck to you; united we stand, divided we fall.

Your lack of support for the NRA counts - for the other side. I hope I have clarified my conviction.

Best regards,

John

 

[e-ronin]

I would also encourage people to contact their Senators and Congress Reps to let them know you do not support new firearm bans. I plan on sending e-mails on the 1st (some seats are changing) and explaining my feelings and beliefs on these issues.
Just a reminder to anyone else who plans on contacting them, please be respectful while explaining your case and USE SPELL CHECK, it will carry more weight if it sounds and looks professional.

 

[kevin in nh]

When I came home in 75' to gun hating Boston Ma after 3 years in the Army I went Life Member....couldn't stomach the Commonwealth and moved to New Hampshire in 78'....GONH Life # 200, and went Endowment a few years back.....my late wife was a member.....maybe sign up the new love I have, she shoots and has her CCW....strength in numbers.....Live Free or Die....God I love NH!

 

[Jackar]

Jackar,

It was my statement that you responded to. As someone here mentioned already, no explanation is really necessary, but I will try, if only to help you understand.

The NRA is the driving force behind people who are pro-gun on Capitol Hill. With over four million members, as opposed to the Brady Bunch's probable two thousand, it's the thousand-pound gorilla in the room. It keeps its members aware of threats to the Second Amendment, and its members' contributions help to elect pro-gun politicians who can fight the hoplophobes. Your membership counts, and your dollars count. You are urged to action when it's necessary.

As a non-member, it is apparent that you may not be effectively serious about protecting your gun rights. Like any generality, that is not true in all cases, but I think it applies pretty universally. The NRA is the tip of the pro-freedom spear in this country. Your weight behind it is what makes it effective. If you are NOT an actively participating member, you are not "counted" by the politicians. It's unity of purpose and raw numbers that send a tingle down the politicians' legs. You, yourself, cannot mobilize a blitz of letters, faxes, telegrams and e-mails on proposed legislation. By yourself, you cannot sense when are the ideal times to strike maximal blows in this manner. Millions of letters to your congresscritters can be generated overnight by the NRA, and if you do not have this important resource, your voice may be lost in the wilderness.

The NRA keeps you alert on the issues. It dissects them and analyzes them with resources you probably don't have. Your money is used to target specific politicians who may be teetering on the brink of voting for the other side.

If your shoulder is not to the wheel of the National Rifle Association, your good intentions are only that, and you cannot possibly act in concert with the most powerful lobby in Washington. You are ever so much more effective by being a member. It's like a tug of war with the other side, and if you are not pulling on the same rope as the NRA, we all lose. You need to put your weight on this rope, and if you don't, our chances of success are materially diminished.

Elections and issues are lost because of apathy and ignorance. The NRA is here to prevent both among gun owners. If you do not see that, then good luck to you; united we stand, divided we fall.

Your lack of support for the NRA counts - for the other side. I hope I have clarified my conviction.

Best regards,

John

I appreciate your attempts at explaination, however, several important assumptions were made.

First, you assumed I do not support the NRA and am not a member. Admittedly, I purposely did not say in my first post but I am an NRA member and have been for about 20 years and I fully support them.

There are other assumptions made also, however, those were not my point.

The point of my original post was this; The anti-gun lobby is attacking based upon emotion and undefined, unqualified, generalities. The only defense to those are qualified defined non-emotional actual fact. Its not that the NRA exists that means protection, its the facts that are true and correct used to battle opposition hyperbole. Simply assuming or saying its a "fact" that because one is not a member of the NRA they are working for the "other side" is the same type of emotional undefined unqualifed hyperbole generalities the opposition is using to sway the public and politicians alike.

In the end public statements of support for the NRA especially while displaying their logo are useless if they can not accurately articulate and define fact. It is not a fact that if one is not a member of the NRA that they are working for the opposition. It is emotion based and non-articulatable to say such because it allows for assumption and is disputable and you can not win against and counter opposition hyperbole by assuming and that is a fact. However, the opposition can win against comparative hyperbole by tugging at the emotional and the only defense against that is true articulatable fact.

I'm an attorney, I work on second amendment cases and understand fully. I defended my country. I fully understand what our rights are and how to protect them and what sacrifices are given and have been given, don't need it explained to me. However, if you want to protect your rights the way to do it is by fact and not by hyperbole. If one is going to make statements of support, they need to be clearly defined articulated factual statement. Why do you think the NRA and lobby groups have lawyers that write public statements for them? Its to help them articulate and define fact rather than hyperbole. I'll put it this way, if in a court battle during testimony one said that because a person is not a member of the NRA it is a fact they were working for the other side, an attorney would jump all over that and make them prove it via evidence because a fact is something that is not disputable and that statement certainly is disputable so its not fact. Thats what is needed for a defense and public support, evidence, and right now all the opposition has is mostly hyperbole and if you play their game by using hyperbole you will never win. One does not prevail against "the other side" by playing their game.

I can't really discuss this any further without getting into political commentary, discussion, or reference, so i'm out.

 

[gdauth]

Jackar, you are right, logic and facts are the only thing that will win the day. Both sides depend on emotional arguments. I am an NRA member, but I do not believe in everything that the NRA says or does. For example, I remember the opposition to banning the so called cop killer bullets. In my opinion that was based on pure emotion and it was stupid. It makes us look like a bunch of blood thristy Neanderthals. I have owned firearms for over 60 years, and I believe in the second amendment, but I also believe in reasonable regulation. What's lot of members don't realize is that a lot of the anti-gun people are truly afraid of us. It is our job and that of the NRA to demonstrate that as a group that we are responsible and that we are not to be feared. So far I think that we have failed.

 

[danno1]

Jackar, you are right, logic and facts are the only thing that will win the day. Both sides depend on emotional arguments. I am an NRA member, but I do not believe in everything that the NRA says or does. For example, I remember the opposition to banning the so called cop killer bullets. In my opinion that was based on pure emotion and it was stupid. It makes us look like a bunch of blood thristy Neanderthals. I have owned firearms for over 60 years, and I believe in the second amendment, but I also believe in reasonable regulation. What's lot of members don't realize is that a lot of the anti-gun people are truly afraid of us. It is our job and that of the NRA to demonstrate that as a group that we are responsible and that we are not to be feared. So far I think that we have failed.

GDAUTH
What you brought up regarding the "Cop killer Bullets" era was one reason I didn't join also.
Being on the NYPD at the time did not sit too well with me regarding the NRA stance on it .

But now I think we're in for a larger fight overall..so I just joined.

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

A fight you say?...Hell no! More like a war!

 

[mygeorgiaar]

$25 membership plus $25 Bass Pro gift card

Basically free;

https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp?CampaignID=bassprowy

 

[JaPes]

Basically free;

https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp?CampaignID=bassprowy

Thanks for the link. I added another year to my membership. Good to 2015 now.

ALSO...

Don't forget to contact your US Senators and US Representative.

Locate your US Representative: Find Your Representative · House.gov

Locate your US Senators: U.S. Senate: Senators Home

I'm sending them a message tomorrow morning informing them that I am keeping score on how they vote on both Feinstein's AWB v.2 and the proposed "hi-cap" magazine ban. If they issue an affirmative vote on either of these two, not only will they lose my vote during the next election cycle I will also actively work to unseat them.

Go find work in the public sector like the rest of us.

 

[EdNewman]

Signed up for the quarterly to life membership, I recommend this one for everyone. $25 per quarter for ten years and you become a lifetime member. Also, call and write your congressmen and senators!!!!

 

[Anchor]

At times I get a little tired of the funding appeals but when it comes to the big picture the NRA is the only game in town. I try to donate to the NRA-ILA on a regular basis because money talks and our opponents are well funded including tax dollars diverted to other than second amemdment friendly purposes. Anyone with an interest in the shooting sports and firearms should be a member. The magazine that come with a membership is worth the price of admission alone. Another NRA publication, Shooting Illustrated, available by subscription is an excellent publication. Join today!