[mack59]

There are many organizations, the NRA is only one, don't like the NRA then join a state rifle association, or JPFO, or GOA, or SAS, or SAF, or Pink Pistols, or ect..., or start your own grassroots organization- many have.

All the above organizations have their place, their focus, and all serve a purpose in their own way.

Most individuals that are members of one are also members of others.

But for purposes of discussion let's take a look at the NRA - it seems to be the gun rights organization that takes the most criticism from gun owners.

The NRA is the oldest. It started out as a marksmanship program with the purpose of promoting marksmanship after the civil war. Over the years it expanded to encompass hunting and gun collecting. It was not really an active political lobbying group. When the tax/gun control law of 1934 was passed into law - the NRA was not positioned to fight the legislation - gun rights had not been under assault by the federal government and if I recall the organization itself was divided as was the membership on the issue.

In 1968, believe it or not, the NRA although more political than in 1934, was still not near the effective or efficient lobby group that it now is, and again there were some members who did not oppose the gun control act.

(As an aside, I get annoyed when individuals blame the NRA today for the loss of gun rights in 1934 and 1968 - the NRA is not a stone carving - it is a living and changing organization that responds to the desires of its members - those in charge and most of the members of the NRA in 1934 and even 1968 are dead and gone - to blame the NRA today for whatever failures and sins of the past it was guilty of, or complicit in, is foolish.)

1968 was however the crisis that helped to propel the NRA into full time political lobbying and that helped to mold the NRA into the guns rights organization that it is today. The NRA is one of the most powerful independent organizations in politics. But that needs to be understood in perspective. The NRA represents only 8 million people out of a population of 300 million. Although the NRA raises money - the amount that the NRA can raise by itself is a pittance compared to the money available from billionaires, corporations, and the money raised by the political parties. So the size of the membership and the money raised/controlled/spent by the NRA is not by itself what gives the NRA power. It is the dedication the passion of the members of the NRA that makes the NRA powerful - politicians know that the NRA members will work actively to elect or defeat them, that the NRA will spend money effectively to mobilize their members, and that their members will work to influence their families, friends, and neighbors to vote to elect or defeat candidates. It is this combination of dedication, passion, money, and 8 million members that makes the NRA powerful.

Yet the NRA has, because it is so large, many problems to contend with. First the NRA to please its members and in order to attract new members, to retain old members and to maintain traditional duties and focuses - is not just a pure "gun rights" organization. It teaches firearm safety, it trains police, it promotes shooting sports, it promotes hunting, hunter safety, and hunter safety training. It works to ensure the preservation of wildlife habitat and the ability of hunters to have access to wildlife lands for hunting. The NRA works to protect gun ranges from unreasonable environmental and noise restrictions. The NRA works to pass legislation to protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits designed to drive them out of business. They work to pass legislation the makes it legal for gun owners to carry a gun for self defense without having to do so in violation of a law. The NRA tries to do all these things to please current members, to attract new members, to allow gun owners to use their firearms safely for protection, defense, or sport.

Since the NRA is so large, they also work to maintain the credibility of their organization in the eyes of the many gun owners and non-gun owners who are not members. Were the NRA to allow themselves to be completely demonized and painted as completely extreme and unreasonable then they would lose members, lose credibility, and become a political liability rather than a political assets that politicians would shun instead of seek. NRA spokesman therefore have found that at times it is better to temper their rhetoric than to alienate Jane and John Q. Public.

Organizations like GOA and JPFO do not have to worry about PR like the NRA does - they are firebrands and bomb throwers and if you are passionate and believe in Liberty and gun rights then they often say what you wish the NRA would say. But because of their rhetoric and passion they put off many would be members, though the members they have are very passionate and also tend to be equally vocal. Politicians who agree with the NRA, who believe in gun rights, who seek the NRA's endorsement or support - do not want the endorsement or open support of some of the more openly passionate guns rights organizations because they fear they will be seen by their constituents as too extreme.

None of the above is a knock on any of the organizations mentioned. I like them all. I don't agree with everything any of them do or say. But I recognize that they all serve important purposes, each with their own unique focus and their own style.

Is the NRA effective, well over-all yes. Not that long ago it was only the citizens of a handful of states that could carry a gun for self-defense without fear of arrest. That number has grown to the vast majority of states. The AWB has sunset without renewal, and though it was enacted, it was only enacted with a sunset provision. Gun manufacturers no longer have to worry about being bankrupted by idiotic lawsuits. Parts of the gun control of act of 1968 were repealed. The NRA introduces many individuals to firearms in a positive light through education programs, safety training and classes, support of shooting sports, training in self defense, hunting safety and hunter safety training, preservation and access to hunting lands, range building and preservation, preserving the history of firearms and their legacy, educating and training individuals in firearm safety and shooting. The NRA has partnered and helped to develop many of the state wide rifles associations so essential to fighting statewide gun control legislation.

Does the NRA always win - no. Does the NRA always do the right thing or what I feel is the right thing - no. Is the NRA perfect - far from it. Are there ugly politics inside the NRA - yes. But you know - those are all things that one can work to change - at least with the NRA - its members can actually vote and lobby for change.

That said, I belong to a number of gun rights organizations - none of them are perfect - I don't agree totally with any of them - but you know what - they all are important and necessary as they all serve important functions and unique purposes in the on-going struggle to retain and reinstate our liberties.

Only you truly know what the truth is for you, you are the one who has to look in the mirror and face what you see and who you are honestly. But, I suspect that many who complain loudly about why the can't or why they won't join with others to defend their freedom are just too lazy or afraid to really act - to really make a last stand by themselves as they claim for if they will not put themselves out and take a risk when it is easy and the cost is low - how will they choose to do so when the risk is high and the penalty severe. They have somehow forgotten that if we do not hang together, we will most assuredly hang separately.

Pray for peace, prepare for war.