Choices of charities with Amazon smile... NRA?

Clark · January 28, 2016, 10:34 AM

What gets the most pro gun bang for the buck in charities?

Amazon is going to contribute, so I have to pick something.

I just gave $150 on the phone to the NRA, MY money, but I don't know which sect.

LockedBreech · January 28, 2016, 10:40 AM

I contributed to the NRA CDF for about a year with Smile, but stopped because as a member for the past 7 years I don't like how the NRA has shifted from pro-gun to pro-fringe-conservative. I'm pretty sure the Rifleman has had as many Obama covers as covers with guns on them at this point.

I think my Smile account is now set to Charity: Water

BarryLee · January 28, 2016, 11:23 AM

There are three key facts about Political Leaders and the NRA:

1) One Political Party has made increasing gun control part of their national platform.

2) One Political Party has made defending the Second Amendment part of their national platform.

3) The NRA supports political leaders who support the Second Amendment.

Instead of demonizing the NRA for defending the Second Amendment maybe the critics should focus on the leaders of the party who make expanding gun control part of their platform. I suspect the NRA would welcome true supporters of the Second Amendment from all parties and gladly support their election/re-election efforts.

BobCat45 · January 28, 2016, 11:54 AM

Clark, I do not know the answer to your question about most bang for the buck, but mine is set to NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund. It says it was established to be involved in court cases to establish legal precedents favoring gun owners.

I'm afraid I buy so little on Amazon that my contribution is paltry, but I do send some dough to the NRA-ILA when I can.

johnwilliamson062 · January 28, 2016, 04:57 PM

Mine is set to SAF.

If I could split it with charity water I probably would.

LockedBreech · January 28, 2016, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryLee

There are three key facts about Political Leaders and the NRA:

1) One Political Party has made increasing gun control part of their national platform.

2) One Political Party has made defending the Second Amendment part of their national platform.

3) The NRA supports political leaders who support the Second Amendment.

Instead of demonizing the NRA for defending the Second Amendment maybe the critics should focus on the leaders of the party who make expanding gun control part of their platform. I suspect the NRA would welcome true supporters of the Second Amendment from all parties and gladly support their election/re-election efforts.

I've been an NRA member for 7 years. I pay my dues and that means I have the standing to criticize them. They VERY regularly paint "liberals" and "Democrats" as one group despite there being a LOT of pro-gun liberals and Democrats.

If you're politically moderate (as I identify) the conservative-fringe pandering by the NRA hasn't even been subtle.

I consider my NRA dues-paying a necessary evil. If I could support a group who supported pro-gun politicians without all the [redacted, almost forgot TFL doesn't do politics] folks getting a boost I'd do so in a heartbeat.

I'll stop derailing the post now. But I reserve the right to criticize any group of which I'm a dues-paying member.

SAF is outstanding, legal focus without political nonsense, didn't know they were on Smile and I may change to them.

AirForceShooter · January 29, 2016, 06:58 AM

SAF here too

AFS

BobCat45 · January 29, 2016, 01:57 PM

Thanks johnwilliamson062 for pointing out that SAF is an option. Excellent!

FrankenMauser · January 29, 2016, 11:18 PM

I have SAF selected.

johnwilliamson062 · January 30, 2016, 09:38 AM

I wonder if the money SAF receives from Amazon is published anywhere. I bet it is pretty significant.

Nathan · January 30, 2016, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryLee

2) One Political Party has made defending the Second Amendment part of their national platform.

Which one is that? The NRA needs refocused on beating gun control over beating down Democrats.

NJgunowner · February 1, 2016, 01:38 PM

Nathan, since the democrats are the ones pushing gun control I'm not sure what your arguing about? Almost every (if not every) democrat at the federal level has signed off on every major gun control proposal in the last 10 years.

BarryLee · February 1, 2016, 05:35 PM

Ok, again, my intent wasn’t to attack any particular party, but to point out that the NRA supports candidates who support the Second Amendment. I would love to see a majority of candidates in both parties supporting the Second Amendment, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. If we want the NRA supporting more candidates in the other party maybe someone should encourage those individuals to support the Second Amendment.

As for the platform issues one party stated: We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements—like reinstating the assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole—so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.

The other party stated: We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend the law-abiding citizen’s God-given right of self-defense. We call for the protection of such fundamental individual rights recognized in the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago affirming that right, and we recognize the individual responsibility to safely use and store firearms. This also includes the right to obtain and store ammunition without registration. We support the fundamental right to self-defense wherever a law-abiding citizen has a legal right to be, and we support federal legislation that would expand the exercise of that right by allowing those with state-issued carry permits to carry firearms in any state that issues such permits to its own residents. Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling Americans to defend their homes and communities. We condemn frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners. We oppose legislation that is intended to restrict our Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the ill-considered Clinton gun ban. We condemn the reckless actions associated with the operation known as “Fast and Furious,” conducted by the Department of Justice, which resulted in the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and others on both sides of the border. We applaud the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in holding the current Administration’s Attorney General in contempt of Congress for his refusal to cooperate with their investigation into that debacle. We oppose the improper collection of firearms sales information in the four southern border states, which was imposed without congressional authority.

So, just looking at the party philosophies it seems understandable why the NRA might support one over the other. Again, if we want the NRA to support more politicians in the other party let’s find ways to get those politicians to support the Second Amendment.

https://www.democrats.org/party-plat...eater-together

https://www.gop.com/platform/we-the-people/

turkeestalker · February 1, 2016, 07:01 PM

Excellent post BarryLee.
If you actually take the time to read intuitively, it's kind of a 'slam dunk'.

January 28, 2016, 10:40 AM	#2
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	Choices of charities with Amazon smile... NRA? I contributed to the NRA CDF for about a year with Smile, but stopped because as a member for the past 7 years I don't like how the NRA has shifted from pro-gun to pro-fringe-conservative. I'm pretty sure the Rifleman has had as many Obama covers as covers with guns on them at this point. I think my Smile account is now set to Charity: Water

January 28, 2016, 11:23 AM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	There are three key facts about Political Leaders and the NRA: 1) One Political Party has made increasing gun control part of their national platform. 2) One Political Party has made defending the Second Amendment part of their national platform. 3) The NRA supports political leaders who support the Second Amendment. Instead of demonizing the NRA for defending the Second Amendment maybe the critics should focus on the leaders of the party who make expanding gun control part of their platform. I suspect the NRA would welcome true supporters of the Second Amendment from all parties and gladly support their election/re-election efforts. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

January 29, 2016, 06:58 AM	#7
AirForceShooter Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Sarasota (sort of) Florida Posts: 1,296	SAF here too AFS __________________ 'Qui tacet consentit': To remain silent is to consent.

January 29, 2016, 11:18 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I have SAF selected. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 1, 2016, 05:35 PM	#13
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	Ok, again, my intent wasn’t to attack any particular party, but to point out that the NRA supports candidates who support the Second Amendment. I would love to see a majority of candidates in both parties supporting the Second Amendment, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. If we want the NRA supporting more candidates in the other party maybe someone should encourage those individuals to support the Second Amendment. As for the platform issues one party stated: We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements—like reinstating the assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole—so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few. The other party stated: We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend the law-abiding citizen’s God-given right of self-defense. We call for the protection of such fundamental individual rights recognized in the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago affirming that right, and we recognize the individual responsibility to safely use and store firearms. This also includes the right to obtain and store ammunition without registration. We support the fundamental right to self-defense wherever a law-abiding citizen has a legal right to be, and we support federal legislation that would expand the exercise of that right by allowing those with state-issued carry permits to carry firearms in any state that issues such permits to its own residents. Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling Americans to defend their homes and communities. We condemn frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners. We oppose legislation that is intended to restrict our Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the ill-considered Clinton gun ban. We condemn the reckless actions associated with the operation known as “Fast and Furious,” conducted by the Department of Justice, which resulted in the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and others on both sides of the border. We applaud the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in holding the current Administration’s Attorney General in contempt of Congress for his refusal to cooperate with their investigation into that debacle. We oppose the improper collection of firearms sales information in the four southern border states, which was imposed without congressional authority. So, just looking at the party philosophies it seems understandable why the NRA might support one over the other. Again, if we want the NRA to support more politicians in the other party let’s find ways to get those politicians to support the Second Amendment. https://www.democrats.org/party-plat...eater-together https://www.gop.com/platform/we-the-people/ __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

January 28, 2016, 11:54 AM	#4
BobCat45 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: East Bernard, TX Posts: 523	Clark, I do not know the answer to your question about most bang for the buck, but mine is set to NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund. It says it was established to be involved in court cases to establish legal precedents favoring gun owners. I'm afraid I buy so little on Amazon that my contribution is paltry, but I do send some dough to the NRA-ILA when I can.

January 28, 2016, 04:57 PM	#5
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Mine is set to SAF. If I could split it with charity water I probably would.

January 29, 2016, 01:57 PM	#8
BobCat45 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: East Bernard, TX Posts: 523	Thanks johnwilliamson062 for pointing out that SAF is an option. Excellent!

January 30, 2016, 09:38 AM	#10
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	I wonder if the money SAF receives from Amazon is published anywhere. I bet it is pretty significant.

February 1, 2016, 01:38 PM	#12
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,254	Nathan, since the democrats are the ones pushing gun control I'm not sure what your arguing about? Almost every (if not every) democrat at the federal level has signed off on every major gun control proposal in the last 10 years.

February 1, 2016, 07:01 PM	#14
turkeestalker Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2015 Location: Cottleville, Missouri Posts: 1,115	Excellent post BarryLee. If you actually take the time to read intuitively, it's kind of a 'slam dunk'. __________________ Vegetarian... primitive word for lousy hunter!