Well, for the 5 who are not members, do you realize you are not supporting a major representative and lobbying force in the crucial fight for freedom and 2nd amendment gun ownership rights in Washington D.C. and the entire U'S.? Just wondering the reasoning for such apatheism?

The NRA is the only significant voice we have in D.C. This year I also joined the Second Amendment Foundation and Gun Owners of America. Last month I realized that dividing my donations was not prudent, so I sent another $20 to NRA-ILA. Unless you are prepared to register and pay $200 each for your 11+ cap magazines, your AR, etc, you need to join NRA.

Senate panel approves bans on assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition magazines - Sun-Times Politics

Here you go, the NRA fighting against this very current legislation in Illinois.

I just got off the phone with Dave at the NRA Life Member desk....

1-800-672-3888 option 3

Dave indicated that sponsored members may be upgraded to Life status for approximately 30 more days, at $300 per upgrade.

He also said that recently expired memberships may be renewed at Life status, with a sponsor. He did not qualify "recently" but I got the idea that "recently", will not be rigidly applied. Our 2nd Amendment rights are worth a call to find out of your situation meets the criteria.

As I indicated earlier in this thread, I will sponsor anyone who asks.

I just joined about a week or two ago.

This is why it's important to partner with the NRA, and stay after your elected officials....

The Illinois Dems have pulled their gun control bills

BREAKING: Illinois Democrats Pull Gun Control Bills | The Truth About Guns

Originally Posted by usmcj

This is why it's important to partner with the NRA, and stay after your elected officials....

The Illinois Dems have pulled their gun control bills

BREAKING: Illinois Democrats Pull Gun Control Bills | The Truth About Guns

You are so right usmj! If it weren't for the NRA and pro rights elected officials gun owners would be sunk and that's a cold hard fact. This is a very good sign, there are snakes in the grass at every turn, next the fight at the Federal level. Only 4.5 million members out of approximately 160 million gun owners is pathetic and shameful.

Originally Posted by usmcj

The $300 sponsored Life Membership is back in play.

Call 800-672-3888 select option 3, then give your sponsors membership# , then your current NRA number and credit card number.... takes about 2 minutes.

I'm a Life Member. I will be glad to act as a sponsor, just PM me.

I've been a member since shortly after I joined the Navy. Signed up for a 5 year membership, but due to the horrible mail system at the base I was at never received my welcome aboard package, gave them a call, let them know my situation and they sent out a 5 year member ship card active the day I called in, giving me a year free basically. 5 years was the most I could put out at the time, and right now I can't even renew for a year. I've always wanted to be a lifetime member, if I could I would make my whole family lifetime members of both NRA and GOA, but I'm flat broke right now. Just deployed this last month and the new pay hasn't kicked in yet, and after the holiday season, well, I'm sure yall know how that goes.

So for now, yes I am a member. and the 300 dollar sponsorship lifetime is a great deal, I'd do it in a hard beat, but I'm not in the best of times right now. Pisses me off because with everything going on right now it's all I can do to stop from trying to get another credit card and maxing it out for a membership and an ar-15 stripped lower +ammo. I'm so stoked that during my worst deployment ever I'm more stressed about whats going on in DC than here...

Originally Posted by denner

Only 4.5 million members out of approximately 160 million gun owners is pathetic and shameful.

I forget where I read it, but it's been said that only about 30% of NRA members even bothered to vote in 2008. If someone has the correct data, please correct me. It's really a sad state of affairs.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

Why?

I think Gun Owners of America is a better organization.

Originally Posted by Vorpal

I think Gun Owners of America is a better organization.

Could you elaborate on that? I joined GOA in September, paid full annual membership, and I received an envelope full of newsletters and other stuff of minimal interest. That's it, except that a month later, I got a renewal notice for 2013. I've seen nothing from or about GOA suggesting that they are doing anything for the protection of gun ownership.

In retrospect, I think my money would have done more good if I had sent it to the NRA-ILA. So I did, then again day before yesterday.

If anyone is interested in comparing which organization spends more on pro gun activities.......

Gun Rights | OpenSecrets

Originally Posted by denner

Well, for the 5 who are not members, do you realize you are not supporting a major representative and lobbying force in the crucial fight for freedom and 2nd amendment gun ownership rights in Washington D.C. and the entire U'S.? Just wondering the reasoning for such apatheism?

I'm not apathetic. Incidents like Wayne LaPierre's tirade against video games a few weeks ago leave me with a distaste for the NRA. They're out of touch with the most recent generation of gun owners, and until such time I'm convinced they've got their heads on straight, I'll simply continue messaging my representatives and senators myself.

KG

Originally Posted by kg333

I'm not apathetic. Incidents like Wayne LaPierre's tirade against video games a few weeks ago leave me with a distaste for the NRA. They're out of touch with the most recent generation of gun owners, and until such time I'm convinced they've got their heads on straight, I'll simply continue messaging my representatives and senators myself.

KG

I disagree, you may not like what Wayne LaPierre's has said, but I myself agree with what he said, especially immediate action to have armed personel at all schools. He bravely attempted to address perhaps a root cause(whether right or wrong) while politicians and many others only attempt the wrong and easy solution to cure from the surface(i.e blaming and banning AR-15 Bushmaster's w/ 30 round magazines). We of course have differing personal opinions. I do believe the video game Call of Duty, which I play often w/ my nephew had ill influence on the Sandy Hook shooter. Likewise, garbage gangster rap music I feel likewise influences sick uneducated moronic minds. I'm all for freedom of speech and expression, but look to the root cause. Is there a cure, I doubt it, but there is always cause and effect. Generally you and I can decipher between reality and fiction, but one with a very sick mind and being a psychopath will not. Whether you like or dislike what the NRA stands for there is no question the NRA is the most effective lobbying force and protector of our 2nd amendment rights in the U.S. They have numerous attorneys filing and defending suits concerning 2nd amendment rights and are very influential as a watchdog which keep track of politicians and bare great influence on congress. Why do you think they are out of touch with the most recent generation of gun owners? All i can say is that with an attitude like your's we won't have to worry about any gun owners because there won't be any.

The NRA has been doing a great job, watching out for firearms owners for years.......it's a very large org. and you just cannot please everyone, politically, or otherwise.....Have I been happy with EVERYTHING that they have said or done? No...........but all in all, over the years, no one has fought harder for firearms than the NRA, besides firearms makers. It's what they do. If it weren't for them. we would at best, probably be walking around with .22 cal. derringers, and a bat. Lest not forget the training that they do, all over the country.

NRA to attend White House meetings on guns - First Read

Here we go, NRA at the Whitehouse. "The NRA, however, is a potential major stumbling block to major legislation given its sway on Capitol Hill. And it has dug in after Newtown, continuing to be a staunch opponent of any further restrictive gun measures". So reasoning dictates, Biden and his team including the president are looking for gun control legislation to ban semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines at the very least. Once you lose a right it's very hard if not impossible to get back. They blame the guns and not the very sick minority in our society. No guns, no problems is their socialist motto, whats good for the few is good for the law abiding masses. As Charlton Heston stated: "From my cold dead hands" is my motto.

Originally Posted by denner

Why do you think they are out of touch with the most recent generation of gun owners? All i can say is that with an attitude like your's we won't have to worry about any gun owners because there won't be any.

Pardon me for thinking it's not worth sacrificing the First Amendment to save the Second. I'm not interested in providing funds to an organization blaming free speech any more than I am to one blaming guns for violent crime. The "you're with us or against us" attitude I repeatedly see out of NRA members like you is not particularly compelling, either.

KG

Originally Posted by kg333

Pardon me for thinking it's not worth sacrificing the First Amendment to save the Second. I'm not interested in providing funds to an organization blaming free speech any more than I am to one blaming guns for violent crime. The "you're with us or against us" attitude I repeatedly see out of NRA members like you is not particularly compelling, either.

KG

Then you're against us is all right by me, and from Kentucky no less? If you don't have the second then you won't have the first.

Joined last week

I think all gun owners need the N.R.A., I know of no other organization that does as much for us as they do To make my point I would quote Benjamin Franklin ," we must all hang together or we will all hang separately".

Who else do we have to protect our CIVIL RIGHTS?

Originally Posted by kg333

Pardon me for thinking it's not worth sacrificing the First Amendment to save the Second. I'm not interested in providing funds to an organization blaming free speech any more than I am to one blaming guns for violent crime. The "you're with us or against us" attitude I repeatedly see out of NRA members like you is not particularly compelling, either.

KG

To be honest, I am with you on this. IMO, you can not pick and choose the amendments you like. The Constitution is the law of the land. Period.

As for being a member. Yes I am. They have had our back for many years, and I do not see them stopping. I hope they continue to put foot to ass for the cause.

Have been a member for 40 years. With our current bosses in DC we should all belong. We need each other now more than ever.

I am a member. they are a great organization and their hard work keeps the extreme anti gun lobbies at bay.

the nra provides very good services and is great for information on gun safety and gun laws.

and they will only get stronger with all these new gun owners across the country.

The Second Amendment refers to "the right of the people..." That right already exists. The Second Amendment grants no right, only enumerates one that is inalienable.