PAFOA members who are not NRA members

[jahwarrior72]

heh. the NRA has a bazillion $$ to throw around to fight for gun rights, and their strategy has always been compromise. don't forget they they joined in on the Heller case, after a non-gun owning rich guy decided to fund the case with his own money. they provided little in the way of a legal fund. do you really think they care about the single working mom from Hazleton who carries a used .38 Special in her purse? PAFOA and it's individual members have done more for gun rights in PA than the NRA has ever done, and they don't ask me for money every 5 minutes. if i were to pick an organization to donate money to, it wouldn't be the NRA. PAFOA, GOA, and others would get my support first.

[CoyoteJack]

Originally Posted by mjfletcher

They started as a hunters organization and over time have moved into competitive rifle, competitive pistol, and most recently have started into the defensive side of firearms. As with all organizations, they've grown over time. Im a member of the NRA and other organizations because no org can cover the entire spectrum without becoming completely useless because they're spread too thin. The NRA will continue to get my membership, as will the GOA, JPFO, Etc for as long as I can afford to remain a member.

The NRA started as a markmanship organization in the late 1800's. It didn't put focus on bringing hunters into the fold until after WWII.

I'll support as many of these organizations as I can afford and currently I can't afford not to.

No organization is perfect. No organization I know of exactly matches my stance on gun control or any other issue for that matter.

This is for sure though, without the NRA and others like them, the anti-gunners would have gained a great deal more than they have up till now at local, state, and the national level.

[VariableFeedback]

For all of you who won't support the NRA (which admittedly isn't prefect), but do support the GOA, let me ask you these questions:

What has the GOA accomplished?

Which organization brings out more votes on election day?

Outside of the gun community, how many have heard of the GOA, and how many have heard of the NRA?

Which organization do you think is more likely to receive an audience with legislators?


I don't have a problem with any one supporting the GOA, but politics is a coalition building exercise, and the NRA is by far the best among gun rights organizations at it.

[Poonie]

I used to be a member of the NRA, but let my membership go after the endless mailings always asking me to conrtibute more $ to this and that. I thought my membership money would be enough but evidently it wasn't. The constant begging, and the sky is falling letters I'd get were just too much. As others have said, I will give support to the cause of freedom to other organizations before I will give to the NRA. As was also said, they are not the only ones fighting for our gun rights.

Besides all mentioned above, I too believe the NRA does not support military firearms enthusiasts. If you are a good ole boy deer hunter, then yes they have your back, but for those who enjoy shooting military firearms, I feel the NRA turns a blind eye. I won't support an organization who is partial to dividing the field.

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

I have given the reasons I will not donate any $$$ to the NRA on many other posts and will not go into that again.
I support other pro-firearms organizations with both my time and money and will continue to do so; but the until the NRA makes amends to their members for the policy of appeasement they followed for years and gets back "everything" we had before the appeasement policy was started, I will vote to donate my money elsewhere


oracle

[The_War_Wagon]

What has the GOA accomplished?

Well, in GOA's defense, I hardly think they're sitting around, living it up on our membership dues.

http://www.gunowners.org/hstb.htm

I don't think anyone's UNappreciative of all that the NRA has done on behalf of shooters and the public good - from the Eddie the Eagle program, to financing rifle ranges at Boy Scout Camps, to world-reknowned safety and sporting programs. And I think we ALL know what a real boost the late Mr. Heston was to the cause, both in visibility for our beliefs, eloquence of speech, and setting the tenor for the debate of the issues(rather than having our asses handed to us, as we usually get from liberal pundits. NRA members are good people, but lousy public speakers, it seems!).

Like MANY others though, I've been very troubled by the inability of the NRA, to keep first things first, in the fight for gun rights. First of all, we want, NO COMPROMISES. PERIOD. OF ANY KIND! Law-abiding citizens with no criminal history, do not NEED to be told what they 'can & can't possess,' and having joined the NRA in '88 (the year I was old enough to own a handgun), I have seen a steady erosion of the willingness to STAND and fight against the hoplophobes of CONgress, the media, and the looney left, save for those few years Charlton Heston was President, and the Republicans CONTROLLED Congress. I let my membership lapse in 2003, because with the exception of the late LTC Jeff Cooper, and Ted Nugent , no one else on the board seems anything more than a compromiser.

NOWHERE was this more evident, than in their support of MCCAN'T for President this year. Was there not MORE than ONE candidate running?!?! Yes, there WERE! By compromising (the lesser of 2 "evils"), the NRA endorsed a candidate with an "F-" track record (by GOA standards, and little better by NRA standards!!!) on gun issues!!! What kind of "LEADERSHIP" is THAT?!?!? Why SHOULD CONgress respond to the NRA, when they 'KNOW' the NRA will endorse a TERRIBLE compromise candidate anyway, so long as he runs on the 'right party' ticket?!?! If I'm not willing to support 'their candidate,' why should I throw GOOD money after bad, to support THEM?!?!

Perhaps when the attitude of the GOA, BECOMES the attitude of the NRA, I will be able to give THEM more than 'lip support.' Because when it comes to OUR RIGHTS, that's ALL they seem to be able to do for US these days. With no disrespect intended towards other NRA members here - or anywhere else - be it known that I shall ever remain in the fight for the CAUSE, but I shall march behind a different banner.



Bob

[seaotter]

I'm an administrator for a small forum for disabled sportsmen. Out of 70 members, a total of 8 to 10 are NRA members. I myself asked why they are not members. Most seem to come up with any excuse they can.
Some, say not enough money, others, "I only own a few guns", others, "what do I get out of it?"
The NRA is not god, it can't please everyone nor can it throw its resources into every members problems. Over the years, people have come to expect miracles from the NRA. I've seen many place blame for this gun law or that law on the failure of the NRA.
What do people expect? They can't do everything. no group can. But we are stronger if we stick together. If people who believe in the constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 2nd Amendment don't start sticking and working together, don't point and place the blame on the NRA.
Liberals fear the NRA. If everyone came together and joined the anti's would be running for the hills and back into their holes.
Its everyones right to gripe about something. But unless we all come together, the Second Amendment and this very country will be lost. Please join. Stop the fragmenting of our strenght.

[seaotter]

I'm an administrator for a small forum for disabled sportsmen. Out of 70 members, a total of 8 to 10 are NRA members. I myself asked why they are not members. Most seem to come up with any excuse they can.
Some, say not enough money, others, "I only own a few guns", others, "what do I get out of it?"
The NRA is not god, it can't please everyone nor can it throw its resources into every members problems. Over the years, people have come to expect miracles from the NRA. I've seen many place blame for this gun law or that law on the failure of the NRA.
What do people expect? They can't do everything. no group can. But we are stronger if we stick together. If people who believe in the constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 2nd Amendment don't start sticking and working together, don't point and place the blame on the NRA.
Liberals fear the NRA. If everyone came together and joined the anti's would be running for the hills and back into their holes.
Its everyones right to gripe about something. But unless we all come together, the Second Amendment and this very country will be lost. Please join. Stop the fragmenting of our strenght.

[Siobhra]

I don't like the NRA any more than the rest of you but I rejoined anyway.

I would like to ask something of those who are NOT members of the NRA.

What groups DO you belong to? You don't like the NRA so you don't give to them, fine, now tell me what groups do you give to. Or is your bitterness to the NRA just your excuse not to give?

I do all my giving to groups, web sites, etc with my tax return, but I give.

If you think the NRA is useless be honest, are you any better?

[Defender]

Originally Posted by The_War_Wagon

Well, in GOA's defense, I hardly think they're sitting around, living it up on our membership dues.

http://www.gunowners.org/hstb.htm

I don't think anyone's UNappreciative of all that the NRA has done on behalf of shooters and the public good - from the Eddie the Eagle program, to financing rifle ranges at Boy Scout Camps, to world-reknowned safety and sporting programs. And I think we ALL know what a real boost the late Mr. Heston was to the cause, both in visibility for our beliefs, eloquence of speech, and setting the tenor for the debate of the issues(rather than having our asses handed to us, as we usually get from liberal pundits. NRA members are good people, but lousy public speakers, it seems!).

Like MANY others though, I've been very troubled by the inability of the NRA, to keep first things first, in the fight for gun rights. First of all, we want, NO COMPROMISES. PERIOD. OF ANY KIND! Law-abiding citizens with no criminal history, do not NEED to be told what they 'can & can't possess,' and having joined the NRA in '88 (the year I was old enough to own a handgun), I have seen a steady erosion of the willingness to STAND and fight against the hoplophobes of CONgress, the media, and the looney left, save for those few years Charlton Heston was President, and the Republicans CONTROLLED Congress. I let my membership lapse in 2003, because with the exception of the late LTC Jeff Cooper, and Ted Nugent , no one else on the board seems anything more than a compromiser.

NOWHERE was this more evident, than in their support of MCCAN'T for President this year. Was there not MORE than ONE candidate running?!?! Yes, there WERE! By compromising (the lesser of 2 "evils"), the NRA endorsed a candidate with an "F-" track record (by GOA standards, and little better by NRA standards!!!) on gun issues!!! What kind of "LEADERSHIP" is THAT?!?!? Why SHOULD CONgress respond to the NRA, when they 'KNOW' the NRA will endorse a TERRIBLE compromise candidate anyway, so long as he runs on the 'right party' ticket?!?! If I'm not willing to support 'their candidate,' why should I throw GOOD money after bad, to support THEM?!?!

Perhaps when the attitude of the GOA, BECOMES the attitude of the NRA, I will be able to give THEM more than 'lip support.' Because when it comes to OUR RIGHTS, that's ALL they seem to be able to do for US these days. With no disrespect intended towards other NRA members here - or anywhere else - be it known that I shall ever remain in the fight for the CAUSE, but I shall march behind a different banner.



Bob

Ok, so the NRA backed Mccain. BIG DEAL! Look what you got now Pelosi, Reed, and Obama. Obama gets a gun bill to strip you oy your cc rights he will sign it. Obama gets a gun baill banning so called "assault weapons", he signs it. Obama gets a gun bill for so callled "Safe guns", he signs it. At least with McCaina (who I really did't care for) we had a chance. Now we don't! I hope your happy! Did we not side with the Communist Russians to defeat Hitler? Remember, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And the NRA is the enemy of the Democrats. Like I said, the time has come to put away these petty differences and stand together, or we will surely fall together. When the words GOA is mentioned in Congress, that body barely stirs. Mention the NRA and those Congress critters tremble. The NRA can deliver votes. You can live with yor fantasy of GOA this, or another gun organization that. But nobody, nobody has the power of the NRA! So, don't support the NRA, you have that right. But when all that crap comes down, and your gun rights are severely restricted, I hope you'll be able to sleep at night, knowing that you did not do all that you could of done to defeat the gun grabbers.