Your Thoughts on the NRA Today?

[Brian Parrish]

Wayne LaPierre

I honestly do not agree with the anger over WLP's clothing. If he fights for us, then we should be happy to dress him as nice as a televangelist!

The problem was with his organizational philosophy. He believed that the organization itself was first. His thinking, left over from his days at the ILA, was that he never wanted to take on a fight "we couldn't win." There are many similar organizations where perpetuating the organism overshadows the reason for its existence.

Why the NRA? There are people in our ranks who believe that we should "promote the shooting sports". Others think the NRA is the "last line of defense" for the second amendment. Others want the fight carried to the enemy (that's me). If we are going to continually send out fund raising letters, gun-grabber warning letters, and there is much to be scared about, then we must fight the fight that is reflected in those letters!

We got suckered into a phony manufactured scandal, by Letitia James!

Appreciate your efforts for us and for our country.
Appreciate the mods encouraging this discussion, which was needed and there is much cause for optimism.

Kindest and Best to You!
BrianD

 

[Heinz]

I particularly want to know:
1. Are you a current or past NRA member? Current
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? I upped my membership from life to Patriot Life Endowment
3. If so, what convinced you to do so? The election of the four reform slate members, including yourself, to the Board oof Directors
4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.)
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address? They need to direct their efforts and funds to electing pro second amendment public officials and to protecting the Supreme Court in its present format. It would also be good if they supported an amendment to make the 9 member court a permanent number

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Getting e-mails......Join now before the deadline......Last day to join before the deadline...........LOTS of changes have to occur before I come back. Why don't post about what they are DOING RIGHT NOW for gun rights......Are they doing anything? Supporting Trump with ads and $$$?

Questi0ns need to be answered.

 

[Engineer1911]

#1. Annual member 1975, Life member begining 1985
#2. When NRA is concerned about pending legislation at State and Federal level I will contribute.
#3. No not yet.
#4. The ghost of WLP, bloated BOD
#5. NRA sends frequent "Doom's Day Pleas" for immediate money.

Official section at front of magazine is filled with money pleas. The GOA sends frequent emails about contacting local politicians at State and Federal level about pending gun legislation. The NRA bombards me with constant money requests. There are no appreciable results from National competitions in Indiana. 47 shooters for the National Precision Pistol Championship (2700 Bullseye) matches are not exactly record setting. Firearms training is fading from the light.

 

[zippy06]

MHO

First, thanks to all who supported my campaign for the NRA Board of Directors. Our "Four for Reform" slate came in 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 16th out of 26.

We've made tremendous headway on the NRA's path to redemption, but there's still much work to do.

It's easy for us to get trapped in our own echo chamber, thought silos, so I'm reaching out to different groups to get a better grasp on what folks are thinking about the current state of the NRA.

I'd like to know your thoughts on where the NRA is now, and what you see as the most pressing issues that we (the NRA Board) need to address.

I particularly want to know:
1. Are you a current or past NRA member? LIFE +2
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? Still member.
3. If so, what convinced you to do so? Why lose the fight.
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 issue is with you and your Dad. I have never seen or read why you are against the NRA. It's like you got NRA DS.
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address? Get out of NY and move to Texas.

Any other thoughts or feedback you'd like to share with me and other NRA Directors?

Thanks.

Jeff Knox
NRA Board of Directors

Do not support you. Found this by accident. MHO

 

[Wingmaster]

I was an anual member from 1991 until 2020.

I will renew my membership when I see a no compromise stand.

Also I am no fan of Wayne.

 

[97ViperGTS]

Welp here goes....

1. Are you a current or past NRA member? Lifer since mid-70s; Patron for about 10 years.
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? I've been tossing them $10-$20 a couple times a year FOREVER, but not so much recently because of what appeared to be foot-dragging on the pistol-brace fiasco. Can't fully express how much that pieced me off. FPC and GOA have been getting most of my extra loot lately thanks to their pistol brace actions/successes.
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.) See #2
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address? It's size.

By the way, Jeff... any relationship to Neal Knox? I remember him as a "hell on wheels" 2A guy from way back.

 

[somorris]

particularly want to know:
1. Are you a current or past NRA member? Life member.
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? Mostly the ILA.
3. If so, what convinced you to do so? I understand that politics in the U.S. runs on money and the NRA needs to be involved in politics.
4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.) N/A
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address?

1. I received an email from FT (you know who this is) in which he indicated there is a push to reinstall several BOD members of the "old guard" who would obviously favor a return to the old way of doing things. We members need more communication (and let's move to the 21st century and away from the USPS) to keep us informed. I really appreciate your soliciting our input here. Just keep in mind that the average age of us here would likely indicate a lot of Boomers.
2. Quite a few here have complained about the size of the BOD, but if I understand correctly, the NY judge has already addressed that.
3. As others have indicated, stop the mass mailings and gifts. Those just go to the recycling bin at my house and create work for me in shredding the portion that includes my name.
4. If possible, reinstate/emphasize the "I'm the NRA" program or something like that. Too many here, and elsewhere, use "they" when referring to the NRA, when it is not "they." It is us!

I could go on, but am going to quit at this. Thank you for your time and efforts in serving all of us in the NRA and actually asking us for our input.

 

[ladder13]

The NRA was at over 5 million members and almost $400 million a year.
All of the other groups combined might equal about 1/10th of the members and revenue of the NRA right now, at our weakest point in over a decade.

With NRA's steep decline, the increases in other organizations was not nearly equivalent. While NRA lost some 1.5 million members, the other groups gained tens of thousands.

No one can fill the vacuum if NRA leaves the arena.

It seems to me like that 1/10th has done quite a bit with limited funds and resources.

 

[4506517]

The NRA was at over 5 million members and almost $400 million a year.
All of the other groups combined might equal about 1/10th of the members and revenue of the NRA right now, at our weakest point in over a decade.

With NRA's steep decline, the increases in other organizations was not nearly equivalent. While NRA lost some 1.5 million members, the other groups gained tens of thousands.

No one can fill the vacuum if NRA leaves the arena.

That smug attitude RIGHT THERE is why I said heck with yall.

Other organizations don't play this pansey compromise game like you guys do.

They are doing waaaaay more with less, so I'd careful with that open mouth....it garners a lot of shoe.

Get out of here with this "we really really want to make it better" garbage.

For years folks like the cat lady pushed stupid outdated politics. You stuck your head in the sand. Firearms Owners Protection Act in 86, not fighting hard enough in 1994....

You guys are a joke.....washed up. The fact that you have to come here and ask what we would like means you haven't been listening to us tell you what we wanted for years.

I'm done. I actively support GOA and others because they get done what you just cannot. Period.

 

[kev74]

1. Are you a current or past NRA member? - Endowment member
2. Have you rejoined or are you financially contributing to the NRA now, or planning to do so in the near future? - Have not contributed since the Wayne mess came to light, but intend to resume.
3. If so, what convinced you to do so? - The change in leadership.
4. If not, what is holding you back? (Please be as specific and brutally honest as you can. We need to understand your issues.)
5. What internal issues (in priority order) do you think the NRA Board most urgently needs to address? - !) Stop shoveling money to Brewer law firm. Even if they were somehow providing service worth their compensation, their reputation is tarnished and hurt the NRA's recovery. 2) Be open and transparent with the membership. We got a taste of this with the new Executive VP when he took office, but there should be monthly, bimonthly or quarterly appearances on friendly media with status updates. 3) Trim the BOD to a manageable level. 4) Undo the "reforms" that hinder the membership from keeping the BOD accountable.

Jeff, thank you for what you're doing. This is the first time I ever recall hearing an NRA director asking the membership for input.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Been a lifer for many years, now a Patron. Since WLP is gone I give a bit now and then to ILA.

 

[TwoShoes1]

I have been a member of the NRA since the late 60's or early 70's and I am currently a Benefactor member and Golden Eagle. These days I am inundated with letters and emails from the NRA, NRA-ILA, and NRA-PVF. I use to donate what I could to all of them but no longer. I was unhappy with the way the organization was being run but the final straw was when the NRA backed a state representative in the Republican primary who single handedly killed several pro gun bills in the last legislative session. One of those bills would have prevented "red flag laws" here in the state of Texas. I now donate to other organizations that support our 2nd amendment rights.

 

[mckenney99]

Stop the constant phone solicitation/harassment. Solicitation phone calls are received several times a week and sometimes multiple times a day.
The organization has LOST my trust PERIOD. Wayne Lapierre's crimes did not take place in a vacuum, they occurred with the full support or at least willful negligence or participation of the board of directors. There is going to have to be MAJOR changes within the management of the organization before I am willing to TRUST them with my hard earned dollars again.

 

[BRL40]

Constantly pushing for donations and the admin. is rewarding themselves handsomely.
I was stupid enough to think my money was going to pro-gun causes.
Game over!