Another NRA bashing thread?
It is very easy to get off the NRA mail and call lists. I have never requested to get off the lists, and I get very few calls. Maybe once every three or four months. I trash the mailers I get, usually after a quick glance.
I think the emails are definitely tallied. I have also called on the 800 number provided by the congress-critter's web site, and often talked to a real person. I think a combo of email, telephone, and snail-mail works. I know for a fact that if a congress-critter gets thousands of emails expressing an opinion, they listen.
Folks, the strength of NRA is in the numbers. I very seldom send any money to them other than my dues. If I give any money, it is to specific candidates. (I don't mean through NRA.) But when my liberal congressman, who carries an "A" rating from NRA, has the opportunity, he votes against gun-control bills. He knows that loss of the NRA rating and endorsement would be the kiss of death for him in a largely conservative district. In fact, without the NRA rating, he would have probably lost this time.
My point is, NRA can make legislators toe the line. No congressman who is in even a moderate district wants to get on the NRA bad list. NRA can do two things--they can send out the alerts to members, making them aware of proposed legislation, and they can send thousands of dollars to targeted districts to defeat anti-gun candidates, and to support pro-gun candidates. In 2008, Saxby Chambliss, one of the most pro-gun US Senators, was forced into a runoff. NRA ran ads at least once an hour all day long for the last week on the radio station I listen to, supporting Chambliss. Just an example. If you wonder what happens to your dues money, there is a tangible example.
