N.R.A. vs G.O.A.?

[Ballenxj]

OK Guys, Thanks for all the information provided.
I think I came up with the correct answer to my question here based on all the input.
My remedy?
Today I joined,

#1, The N.R.A.

#2, G.O.A.

#3, S.A.F.
Thanks again for all the help and advice.
I hope others will be inspired to follow my lead.
-Bruce

[Silver Bullet]

Ballenxj,

Welcome aboard ! And thank you for your contribution to RKBA.

[aerod1]

It's the NRA for me. They have done more for gun owners. All I've seen the GOA do is complain about the NRA and send out a few alerts. If the GOA would spend half as much time (and money) truely fighting the anti gun agenda as they do trying to discredit the NRA, their success record could be outstanding.
I don't want to give money to an organization that discredits another pro gun group. You may as well join Sarah Brady's group!
NRA all the way for me!

[Archie]

Okay, I'm lazy and I didn't read all of the posts.

Why not both? It's not like either would be a waste of time or money.

[Ballenxj]

Silver Bullet, Thanks for the welcome.

Originally Posted by Archie

Okay, I'm lazy and I didn't read all of the posts.

Why not both? It's not like either would be a waste of time or money.

Archie, See post #26 in this thread.
-Bruce

[44 AMP]

The NRA was founded in 1871. Thant's right, eighteen hundred and seventy one! And for just about 100 years their aim was to promote marksmanship and firearms safety.

Anyone railing against the NRA for "allowing" the NFA '34 to pass simply doesn't know anything about the real situation at tha time. The NFA was, quite literally, a sneak play, while the nation was distracted with much bigger issues, and in reality, only affected a tiny fraction of the nation's gun owners. AND, for many years, unregistered full auto (and the other restricted items, silencers and "sawed off" guns) were treated as a (relatively) minor tax infraction. If you got caught with an unregistered item, you paid the tax, did the paperwork, maybe paid a fine, and got on with your life, with your newly registered property.

It wan't until later years that the treasury dept routinely enforced the criminal penalties. Today, the govt will consider nothing else but severe enforcement of the criminal penalties for these violations of what are actually tax laws. In 1934, there were no firearms owner advocacy groups, none were needed.

The GCA 1968 was a serious wake up call. Using the Kennedy assasinations and others as their emotional driving force, the skillfully spun adaptation of early Nazi gun control laws was even supported by some progun legislators, who saw the import restrictions as protecting the US arms industry.

It was only after the full impact and import of the 68 GCA became felt that the NRA was able to organize membership to enter the political arena in a serious and effective manner.

Since I started reading internet boards a few years ago, I have seen many people bashing the NRA for not doing "enough". Blaming the NRA for things that they had nothing to do with, and for making mistakes. Well, the NRA is made of human beings, and they are not all knowing and sometimes make mistakes. But no one has done more for our side, and I don't think anyone could have done more.

Everytime you hear someone say the NRA is giving our rights away, not doing enough, not worth the money, etc. etc, look at England, Canada, Australia, or anywhere else in the world. And ask your self two questions. Considering their gun laws, would you want to live there? and considering where we are in this country today, where do you think we would be today without the work that the people making up the NRA have done?

[Silver Bullet]

Great post, 44 AMP.

[Ballenxj]

I agree Silver Bullet. Very interesting information 44AMP. Thanks!
-Bruce

[aerod1]

44 AMP,

That was very well said.
The NRA has been the one major factor in saving our guns.
Want to do something for our gun rights? Send NRA - ILA some money. It is working and has been working.
The group most hated by the anti gun politicians is the NRA, which gives me reason to send NRA money!!!!

I AM THE NRA!!

[Tamara]

I've always suggested to folks that they should belong to the NRA and at least one other organization. For me, it's the NRA, GOA, and JPFO.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I'd also add to not forget your state rifle and pistol associations - a strong local RKBA group inevitably means a strong national RKBA group because antis get their careers ended early before they have a chance to graduate to the big leagues.

Personally I am a member of NRA, SAF and TSRA. I'd also add that if I only gave my money to RKBA groups that had a 100% record of never doing stupid things that angered me, I wouldn't be a member of any group.

[Ballenxj]

You guys are killing my pocketbook. Please post links to suggestions so I/we can check them out.
Yesterdays events wore me out, so I'm being lazy today.
-Bruce

[azsixshooter]

I have always belonged to the NRA but I just joined the GOA this year as well to see what they're about. So far I'm not impressed, but it only cost $20 so it's not a big deal. I also joined my state's Rifle and Pistol Association for the first time this year and I'm much happier with that choice.

I'm planning to get an NRA Life Membership next and then I'll consider joining other groups from year-to-year depending on how effective they look. The GOA's NRA-Bashing is a BIG turnoff to me so I doubt if I will renew with them, but I will keep an open mind. On one hand I think it's okay to have multiple lobbying groups to better reflect everyone's individual stances, but then there's that "divide and conquer" factor that I don't like.

Too many cooks spoil the broth; we can probably get more accomplished with the NRA juggernaut than with a bunch of small, under-funded poodles nipping at the anti's heels. My suggestion to anyone pondering the question of which pro-gun group to support is start with the big dog, join the NRA. Then look into joining a local Rifle/Pistol organization. Then either send the NRA and your local group all of the money you can afford to budget towards pro-2A stuff each year or shop around and test the waters with other unproven groups.

[Dangerwing]

There have been a few mentions of HR 4900. I had never heard of it, so I did a little research. To me it sounds like a good deal! Here are some of the key points. Not that anyone should doubt anything they read on an internet forum, but just in case, below is a link to the website I got the info from.

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) make preliminary determinations on firearms license applications and notify applicants in writing of a proposed denial; and (2) establish guidelines for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) inspections, examinations, or investigations of possible firearms violations.

Prohibits ATF from disclosing information on firearms purchasers other than to a court, law enforcement agency, or prosecutor.

Permits an owner of a firearms business whose license is expired, surrendered, or revoked 60 days to liquidate inventory.

Prohibits taxes or user fees for background checks under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.

Eliminates the requirement of written permission for the use of a handgun for lawful purposes by a minor (under age 18) where a parent or legal guardian is present at all times during such use.

Restricts the disclosure of information in the ATF firearms trace system database.

Obviously there is are more key point, but these are the ones that I really like.



http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill...00&tab=summary

[IZinterrogator]

Originally Posted by Antipitas

If you want another effective organization to belong to (other than or in addition to the NRA), try the SAF.

They have filed lawsuits. They have filed amici briefs (in their own name, not merely as one of a large group) to various Circuit Courts and the SCOTUS. They have lobbied directly for and against various legislation (both State and Federal). They are also good at getting grass-roots movements going. They have co-operated with the NRA, when it was in their interests to do so. They strike out on their own when it is prudent. They do not bash other pro-gun groups.

The SAF is unifying.

As usual, I think of a point to make and Al has already made it, and a lot more eloquently than I ever could.

I just entered "gun owners of america" into the find box on my Outlook program. That brought up two e-mails from them, the invoice for my $500 life membership and the reply to my e-mail asking where the hell my life membership materials were. It also brought up nine e-mails from the NRA-ILA and 11 e-mails from the SAF or SAF-sponsored groups. None of those 20 e-mails were referencing GOA, they just had all four words in the e-mails.

Also, when I moved two months ago, I had to go to all the organizations I belonged to and change my address. The NRA and SAF both had places for me to change my address. The GOA had none. Since they have my $500, I guess they don't need anything else from me.

[azsixshooter]

I also had to badger them after not having received anything regarding my membership a month after they got my money.