Why Would Anyone (Re)Join The NRA?
BY Herschel Smith
3 years ago
At WoG, David posts an anecdote of “nobody home” when a reader tried to renew his NRA membership.
Why, I wondered, would anyone do that? I was reminded of the answer when I read the comments.
NRA certification as a trainer still means something and is required by a lot of ranges if you apply for work. It also still matters on your resume / CV for folks who weren’t military.
We need to change this. With the NRA sponsorship of gun control, their waste of membership dues, and the total corruption of the board of directors, we need another body that respects and will fight for the second amendment, as well as publish good content and develop certifications for trainers.
On October 29, 2021 at 12:08 am, Archer said:
We do need another organization whose certifications mean something, but that’s only half the issue. Maybe less than half.
The other half is that many state’s statutes regarding who is qualified to teach CCW courses specifically name the National Rifle Association. Nobody else. Those statutes will also have to be updated and expanded to include other respected firearms education groups. If you live in a Blue state, that’s going to be an uphill battle, at best.
I imagine that’s one of the reasons the Left is trying so hard to get the NRA dissolved; even “shall-issue” states won’t have to issue CCW permits if there’s nobody qualified to teach the required course. Feature, not bug. And yet another foreseeable kerfuffle that falls directly at Wayne’s feet….
On October 29, 2021 at 5:30 am, Russell G. said:
I let my NRA dues go when they started what you wrote in the last paragraph. Haven’t looked back. Could care less. GOA is doing more groundwork for our side than buying good suits and putting neocon has-beens on the board. Many of the people I know don’t exactly worship the NRA, that is to say they don’t trash talk them, but most of those people also have a lifetime membership in the NRA for some reason. In Florida (as in everything else Florida does) FDLE (and maybe the Sheriff if it’s an FDLE certified range, does the training (and recruitment; wink wink…read: good ‘ol boys) for RSO papers, and NRA certification wouldn’t get you a cup of coffee with most Sheriffs departments or municipals.
“Never belong to a club that would have you as a member.”
On October 29, 2021 at 6:59 am, Fred said:
I disagree that we need another org that will fight for gun rights and cert trainers. We need another org that will shut up, stay in it’s very narrow lane and ONLY cert trainers and trainings.
Training and safety are, and should remain, completely separate from the political situation.
On October 29, 2021 at 7:19 am, Matt said:
The local gun range (club) I belong to requires it because it’s mandated by their insurance policy. They say they can get other insurance but it’s cost prohibitive by orders of magnitude.
On October 29, 2021 at 7:35 am, Fred said:
Well, it’ll be hard work. The NRA for too long now has had free reign and look at the extent of the problems they’ve created. Apparently the NRA was (is) more worried about monopoly power than your rights. It is after all, a DC lobbying firm is it not?
The hardest part will be building the relationships needed to begin to garner the reputation that will allow for acceptance of the new org and its certs.That’s very hard work and it’ll cost too.
Perhaps start as @Russell indicates with a local sheriff and then two and so on with an eye to getting the first state sheriff’s association to recognize the new org. It’s an idea.
On October 29, 2021 at 9:09 am, ViulfR said:
Not sure how you consider this, but I’ve been a member here for many years: https://www.nmlra.org/
On October 29, 2021 at 10:19 am, Dubs said:
Perhaps we need to rebrand the NRA as the National Range Association, just doing safety and instruction. Then we’d still be NRA certified!
Bought my life NRA membership back in the fire sale days. Finally called them and said don’t waste any more money on fundraising with me. Just send me my magazine. Any funds I donate will be to GOA or local groups. They were not happy, but stopped with the constant crap. Still get the magazine too.
On October 29, 2021 at 11:35 am, Don Curton said:
The gun range I belong to has Charles Cotton (*spit) as a more or less permanent board member. He insists (and all the others follow suit) that range membership is limited to only people who are NRA members. If it wasn’t the best gun range in the area, I’d drop out. As it is, there’s a very long waiting list to get in, so I renew every year just to have a nice place to shoot.
On October 29, 2021 at 2:09 pm, scott s. said:
For me, NRA competition division is also a reason for membership. Though of course it could be spun off sort of like how USA Shooting came about for international shooting.
On October 30, 2021 at 12:19 pm, billrla said:
I have not commented here in a while, but, this sort of content keeps me coming back. Thanks.
I take my responsibility as a certified instructor and RSO seriously and, for better or worse, I will maintain my membership. That said, I mail back my off-year “membershiip renewals” (wasteful fundraising solicitations) and other NRA junk mail with a request to dump current NRA leadership, reorganize and downsize the board, and get back to NRA’s core mission (i.e., education, training, competition).
2A advocacy is vitaly important, but, the way to do it is by supporting NRAs core mission, not by wining and dining with politicians.
On October 30, 2021 at 9:57 pm, JB said:
Those who advocate for a LEO for civilian firearms training has me scratching my head. LEO’s are not known for excellence in firearms training. Depending on city or county they may be against civilian ownership of AR’s or other similar pattern weapons. They may be working in concert with the nice guys of the. ATF. I too live in Florida but in a county where the Sheriff has openly stated civilians should not have access to an AR15 or equivilant.
Lets keep Law Enforcements involvement in civilian ownership of firearms to a minimum. Of note is that in Florida the gun buyers 4473 and background checks for gun purchases are handled by the FDLE and not directly to the FBI.
Also I am a champion of the men and women of the front lines, having police officers in my family. It is the leftists of LEO that threaten the 2nd Amendment