Class act, NRA. Better if you sent nothing.

[texaswoodworker]

True. Plus one for jcwit. I'm done with the NRA though..........

Love them or hate them, you cannot deny that they have done a lot for gun rights. They put the fear into the liberals in DC.

[Bullshop]

Better yet bash Bullshop because he says what he believes. I cant agree more that the nra is the only game in town and they need money to do the work they do. What I said and my belief is that not any one of the exects. is worth what their pay is. I am not bashing the nra but am bashing the people who I believe take more than they deserve.
So I am out of touch with the world, thank God for that but I am not out of touch with reality. The pay they get is theirs to keep and they I am sure have expense accounts so they don't use their pay for such things.
Please don't make me out to be a socialist because I am not. I just simply believe what the Bible says "" a days work for a days pay""
What exactly do these guys do other than have expensive (on account) luncheons and dinners and hobnob with politicos and pen a new column every month warning that they were wrong last month about giving money then was most crucial ever of all time but this month is the real thing. Please at least be a little creative.
And what on earth does how much a foot ball player make have to do with any of this? So they make millions big deal that don't mean they are worth what they make. I guess my idea of worth is what is different that the worlds idea of worth.
There will come a time "AGAIN" when the world gets real and people will again understand true WORTH! My view of worth is not much different that what will be everyone's at that time.
Everyone has a different idea of what things are worth. I may think a certain gun is worth $300.00 but someone else may think it worth $400.00 and be willing to pay it. I wouldn't be willing to pay that much because I don't think its worth it. On the same token I don't think the nra staff of which there are several duplicate positions are worth what they get. Am I not entitled to think that? Does that make me a socialist?
As for me not being a member so have no say in the matter, PALEASE!!!! If you read what I said I receive the same American Rifleman and request for more money each month as well as the paper work to vote for the staff can you figure out why I receive those each month. Fact is I have been a life member for more years than many members here have been alive so please ah don't go there and make yourself look even more foolish.
Bash away if you wish it means little to me but try answering the questions I asked. How much do they donate of the over half mil they get and why do they need three vice presidents all getting the same amount.
How much does the vice president of the USA get paid. Why can our country get buy with only one. And please don't tell me you think there is no corruption there at the top nra staff. Anywhere there is that much money being made there are corrupt people doing it.
Strike that one up to my alleged socialist opinion as well.

[country gent]

Bullshop is entitled to his view, i bought my 1st gun and the shop where I bought it from bought my first years NRA membership, Ive been a member ever since. When I started competing I upgraded to life membership. Best money I ever spent. As to the execs and leaderships incomes they cant get by with just jeans and a t shirt. They travel alot meaning they are away from family and home. They have to deal with some of the hardest people to deal with there are. They have to be on their toes constantly so what they say cant be misconstrued by reporters and others. And as you can see from this post their lives are constantly examined by the public or in the spotlight. Its by no means a position I would want. Lets face it. The NRA is in a fight where money matters lobbying costs money, advertising and getting our story out costs money. If its only in the rifleman, hunter, or the other publications it is just preaching to the members, not getting the message out to the masses. Personally I think the armed citizen should be a column in every newspaper in the country. With all the programs for youths, beginners, training, matches, and such its alot of time and work by them. Ohio and i believe most States use NRA published materials for ccw courses also.

[Hogtamer]

A timely example of what the NRA is fighting...here you go...
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...p-Mag-Bans-Too

[Clay M]

I am a life member,and my son is also a life member.They have done some things I don't always agree with,BUT..I believe over all they make a big difference.They put pressure and accountability on the politicians.Without their help, things would be much worse.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've been a NRA member nearly my whole adult life. Yeah the NRA doesn't do things the way this "small town Minnesota boy" thinks they should be done. Yeah, when I first learned what E.V.P. La Pierre made (it was 1992 and his salary was 1/4 Mil), I thought it was outrageous.
BUT, when I read things the super liberals say, like the link below, I put the small town thoughts out of my mind for a moment and keep sending in my money.

Elliot Rodger Shooting Prompts Feinstein to Blame NRA ‘Stranglehold’ on Guns May 25, 2014
http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/ellio...nglehold/?dcz=

Sen. Dianne Feinstein laments,
“Unfortunately the NRA continues to have a stranglehold on Congress, preventing even commonsense measures like universal background checks that have overwhelming support. ”

FYI, Elliot Rodger, the son of a director who worked on the The Hunger Games, Killed 3 with a Knife and shot two ...Deputies found three semi-automatic handguns with 400 unspent rounds in his black BMW. All were purchased legally.
http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/crime/2014/07/21/11799690/

[salpal48]

I am sort of confused on this thread. Is it about the NRA or cheap imports form China. If it's the NRA . , this outstanding org. is trying to put together large sums of money to combat big money Libs for your 2nd amendment rights.
You ask who are they getting money from, you and me. Most all firearms people including myself are cheap. The NRA has to give cheap trinkets away to get people to donate 5 bucks.
People complain they don't have the money but they keep spending
Now the second part. years ago in the 1970's the American buying public you and me , demanded cheap products and people didn't care where they came from. First Japan became too expensive , Then turkey and India became too expensive, Mexico then became The savior of American Business, That became a disaster no brains or talent and last The Chinese powerHouse absolute the cheapest junk you can buy.
All americans welcomed this and business took advantage
Now we all are stuck with it
and the result , No industry, no jobs No talent americans The only thing you have is a mountain of Credit Card debt living from month to month
The people who are Talented or have some sort of a skill are now @ Walmart. We all got a wealth of Minimum Wage jobs with high taxes and an Overwhelming group of store selling the same type of junk
It is time to wake up and just stop buying this needless junk. If you don't need it don't buy it. It will be a hard up hill fight, No new Cars , No new sneakers, no new clothes. only buy what you need.
Now You got what you wished for Cheap stuff
Sal

[Heavy lead]

If Wayne and Co only make a half million a year each for what they do it's a bargain, they go up against tyranny everyday that is relentless and mostly win and in fact have won big in the last decade, they've moved the chains on every series on concealed carry across the country, and for the most part kept Obama at bay with his anti gun agenda the last 6 years.
Look at the big picture and what's at stake rather than judge what they make or concentrating on the failures and mistakes.

[Firebricker]

Everyone here has made good points to back up their opinions and kept it civil which is what makes a good discussion. My take on it is I do not like it but know it is close to impossible to avoid communist china made goods. That being the case I personally do not what them to send one to me but they are playing the numbers trying to please the the majority. And bottom line people like knick knacks and the freebies. Myself I do my best not to buy red china products can I totally avoid it no not practically so I do buy their products sometimes. Taiwan ROC (republic of china) as far as I know is not communist but I am not totally sure on that but even with doubt I prefer Taiwan to china.

As far as salary and what our NRA reps make and wear I have no issue. For one these are lobbyist spending a lot of time in the capitol what I wear on a daily basis will not cut it in that environment. When I go to a butcher shop I do not expect my butcher to cut meat in a suit and tie and certainly do not want Wayne LaPierre in overalls (I wear overalls) on Capitol Hill. He makes a good salary and we the members pay it. His job is not a forty hour a week gig with no worries on the weekend I would hate to think how much time he does spend lets be thankful he is not paid hourly. Sure it would not hurt my feelings to see him make a little less but I sure do not want them to fill his spot with a "bargain". My gun rights mean everything to me and I want the best man for job protecting them and do not want him quitting to make more money elsewhere not to mention can you imagine the stress he has.

The NRA is not perfect by any means but they are more necessary than ever. I do not want to end up like our friends around the world and the bogus laws they live with. So not perfect but so much better than not having them. FB

[ohland]

If you pick up any issue of the American (Rifleman) and read the columns by the regulars like Wayne and the current pres and the like its always the same thing, "" we are in the biggest crises of all time and we need as much money as possible right now"" always the same!

I'm numb. The Indian Relief Fund, the RNC (scum), House Republicans (losers like Paul Ryan), and more direct mail scumbags - tired of "emergencies", if something happens every year, like snow, then why is it a flucking emergency?

What really strips the chrome off a trailer hitch is a "survey" with red meat questions, like "do you want illegal immigrants to work for nothing and force the wages citizens get downward?". My representative thinks we need many more immigrants. While the unemployment is still very high.

Bozos... Wait. Bozo would make me laugh....

[ohland]

And you can join the NRA for $25.00 and not get the mag.

I didn't ask for the mag. Actually, when I bought my last two H&I dies, I got a card with an offer from Lyman to join the NRA for only $25. When I went to the site, IIRC, I still could have got the magazine.

Folks, please consider that the NRA doesn't have to send out pens or caps or knives made in a Communist country that has a Communist Party still in control of the society. Do you not see the incoherence between an organization that defends the 2nd Amendment getting cheap toys from a government that allows it's citizens very limited freedoms?

Hell, let's get Ukrainian stuff. Lithuanian. Israeli. These little knick-knacks from China are insulting in this light. Just like the Republican party just can't understand that people want ideas like expectation of access to a justice system, protection of persons, safeguarding of personal property, limited government... The NRA chooses to use cheap trinkets to make us feel like we have something of relevance?

Tone deaf.

[jcwit]

When you handle the purse strings and are in charge of increasing the membership then mayhap you will understand what and why they do what they do.

[ohland]

I can understand the sentiment (of the NRA supporting US made products), but is just unlikely in a global economy where they can purchase pens cheaper and use the savings for legislation reform and other political agendas aimed at our interests.

I never said support the US economy. Wouldn't be anything wrong with it, but at least let us not buy trinkets from an adversary.

As I said in the first post, they could have sent nothing. _IF_ the NRA had sent me a letter and told me that all of the funds for sending out gewgaws was being redirected to fight for 2d Amendment lawsuits, that would be skippy. I would see that as appropriate.

Yes, I do the NRA Roundup. Yes, I have been a member off and on over the years. Don't confuse fighting evil on another plane with trying to buy American or some sort of struggle against "the man".

I just find it demeaning.

[jcwit]

Reading some of the anti NRA posts here is the very reason we need a man such as Wayne on the job and making the salary that he does.

[ohland]

When you handle the purse strings and are in charge of increasing the membership then mayhap you will understand what and why they do what they do.

Careful, you will create another Rove or Carville. Both sucking scum from the bottom.

[gpidaho]

Im going to stand with Bullshop on this one too many top people taking too much money for themselves. Chaps my butte when they waste what little I can send them on mailings asking for more and your membership dues are not enough notices. Don't send me junk in hopes you will guilt me into another donation. Iwill always do what I can to support gun rights and am not afraid of speaking up when needed to senators or representatives. GP

[jcwit]

Im going to stand with Bullshop on this one too many top people taking too much money for themselves. Chaps my butte when they waste what little I can send them on mailings asking for more and your membership dues are not enough notices. Don't send me junk in hopes you will guilt me into another donation. Iwill always do what I can to support gun rights and am not afraid of speaking up when needed to senators or representatives. GP

You are entitled to that option.

[RPRNY]

For you Bullshop, you don't get quality leadership for pennies on the dollar. .

The point here is that we don't get quality leadership for a half million dollars a year.

Wayne LaPierre is inept, overly focused on manufacturer agendas rather than rank and file member concerns, and spends an undue amount of time and money on crude, almost embarrassingly condescending fundraising campaigns. The NRA does a lot of good...despite Wayne LaPierre.

[marlin39a]

I stand with NRA. We would have lost the battle long ago if not for them.

[C. Latch]

You are entitled to that option.

Yes, they're entitled to hold an opinion, but the opinions in question are socialistic class-warfare nonsense.

No offense to those otherwise fine folks who errantly hold to such horrid opinions, but y'all are pushing socialistic class-envy, whether you realize it, like it, or admit it.

Truth hurts sometimes.