If you hate the NRA's philosophy, I say join the NRA and change it from within.

[Callmecrazy]

Last edited Tue Jul 24, 2012, 07:27 PM - Edit history (1)

I think that if those who think guns should be sensibly regulated became a large caucus in the NRA it would affect its lobbying practices in Washington. Or why not join the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence? It's only got about 28,000 members. If you have such strong feelings about guns, I say become a force to be reckoned with in Washington just like the NRA. It's easy for all of us to go on and on about these "senseless tragedies" and "domestic terrorists" and their "insanity". Calling your Congressmen doesn't work as well as a having a lobbying group do the talking for you. So why not put our money where our mouths are become one voice and a force to be reckoned with? I'm not saying it will happen overnight, but the NRA didn't happen overnight either. Politics is the slow boring of hard boards and change comes in incrementally slow steps.

[RagAss]

1. And donate your membership fee directly to Mitt and Batshit Bachmann.

Yeh...that's what I want to do.

[msongs]

2. the confederacy rises again nt

[spanone]

3. yea, join the republican party too

[Callmecrazy]

4. What?

That's not what I said. I'm saying that if enough people want to change America's philosophy about guns then join a lobbying group that advocates your ideals. Not all lobbying groups are Republican controlled.

[RagAss]

5. Your post title only mentions the NRA. That could be the problem.

[Callmecrazy]

6. Maybe my edit will help. Thanks.

[RagAss]

7. Much different...thanks.

[Baclava]

8. A recruitment poster?

I would rather buy fresh tomatoes, or pineapples

[NNN0LHI]

9. I refuse to financially support a domestic terrorist organization such as the NRA

[limpyhobbler]

10. To have any influence there you would need a lot of people or money.

Just a few people wouldn't have any impact.
If you did get a big group (thousands) of people to do this, the organization might see it as an invasion of trolls so they would resist it. Maybe if you were able to organize a membership drive in secret, so as not to alert the opponents, it might work. But it's hard to keep secrets like that.

[Callmecrazy]

12. Agreed. Then how about the Brady Campaign?

It needs members. More members equals more money, and a more powerful effect in Washington. Look, all I'm saying is if you feel strongly about a subject like this why not join a lobbying group to advocate those views. We can all complain ad nauseum on these threads but nothing will really change. We can make ourselves feel better by voicing our outrage here but nobody in Washington is going to hear you. Unfortunately, only money talks there.

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. Tried this a couple of weeks ago. Better luck to you.

& welcome to DU.

[Callmecrazy]

13. Thank you. I really feel at home here.

But sometimes I feel like I'm

[joeybee12]

14. It's amazing...all this NRA talking points showing up here...

Could this be coordinated, do you think?

[NoGOPZone]

15. OK. You're crazy. nt

[rrneck]

16. I would rather give my time and money

to a Democrat.

Lobbying organizations are lamprey on the ass of American politics.

[DURHAM D]

17. Perhaps you should read this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021015387

Your idea is utterly without merit but I don't figure it is your idea anyway.

Who sent you?

[Callmecrazy]

20. It's not without merit. And I'm no troll.

And I resent the implication.

[HooptieWagon]

18. Why give them the money?

Only 4% of gun owners belong to NRA. The other 96% choose not to belong for one reason or another, but its unlikely the NRA would be willing to change enough to suit them. Would DU be willing to change to suit some ex-freepers joining? Hardly.

Which brings me to a somewhat-related point Ive been meaning to rant about. ASCAP. What a sorry fucking excuse of a criminal enterprise pretendimg to operate for a "noble" cause. I suggest you all do a bit of reading up. Here is a rough outline:
Income. ASCAP gets income from songwriters registering original songs, and arragements. They also get income from radio, TV, and cinema. In addition, live music venues (which even includes stores,etc, playing radios) must pay an annual liscense fee. As an example, a small bar (50 customers) having music 5 nights a week pays about $4000/year.
This sounds reasonable, no? They're looking out for poor songwriters,right? Not so.
Payouts. ASCAP makes payouts based solely on commercial play. Commercial radio, TV, and cinema. If you don't get commercial airplay, you don't get a dime of royalties no matter how much college, community, or internet radio airplay you get, or how often your songs get covered in bars, cafes, etc. Furthermore, ASCAP sics gangs of lawyers on the venues that haven't registered with them, on the premise that maybe a song or arrangement registered with them MIGHT be played. Pure extortion.
OK, this is how this rant relates to the OP. Lets suppose the members of ASCAP (songwriters who've registered songs) who aren't receiving their fair share of royalties want to change the organization from within. Can't happen. ONLY MEMBERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED ROYALTIES IN THE PAST YEAR ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE! What a fucking ripoff!
I have explained this to my younger musician friends, and urged them to read up. Every single one has opted to register with the US Copyright office. Its far cheaper, and they will supply legal help if ASCAP threatens legal action for playing your original music in a non-ASCAP venue. They wont collect and distribute your royalties, but the musicians don't expect any from ASCAP anyway, and want all the exposure on the rafio they can get. Brings the crowd to live shows.

End of rant.

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Your username gave it away

Join the NRA? I'd give to the Tea Party or KKK before I gave them a cent.

(Neither of which is going to happen)

[slampoet]

21. You are under the impression it is a democratic organization which it is not.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. So the membership doesn't vote on the leaders?

[slampoet]

24. We know the vast majority don't

Also the nomination process has been criticized from within often.

I recall complaints from old timers as long back as the 70's

Do you really think the majority of dues payers thought Tom Selleck was the best person to put on the board of directors?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

25. IIRC Any life member or annual member with 5 years or more can vote

Not sure about the board member nomination process these days. There always have been dissident members of the board from what I recall

[rustydog]

22. You can't it is wholly owned and operated by gun manufacturers

It was a good organization, once, long ago...

[Lint Head]

26. The NRA doesn't control America's philosophy. They are an un-American hate group.

If you are for gun control they hate you. The NRA does not protect gun rights. Wayne "Blood Lust" La Pierre protects his lust for power and money. Screw the NRA.