Want to keep your firearms join the NRA or other group you like, money talks, if we had all firearm owners in the NRA I believe we would have very few problems with new gun laws.
I would suggest perhaps rather then life memberships purchase a membeship for a buddy low on funds or family members, that is what I've done to build NRA numbers.
We need an advocacy group in DC and like it or not the NRA is our best shot, pardon the pun.