Friend of NRA

[dwtt]

Hi everyone,
I was reading the CRPA newsletter and came across a blurb for the Friends of NRA. They have two events in the bay area, one in Boulder Creek and one in Napa. Looking at the web page for this organization, it looks pretty, uhmm.. upscale, with a formal dinner and stuff. Anyone know what this Friends of NRA stuff is? I've never heard of it.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

I know a couple people who have been to them. From what I understand, it's usually held at a fairly upscale restaurant, and I think there's a raffle or two for some nice guns somebody donated. Don't know what else tho.

[m2hbvic]

Yeah, I heard the ad on the local radio station here in the Lancaster/Palmdale area about the annual "Friends Of The NRA" dinner that they're having on May 13th in one of the buildings at the local fairgrounds here in Lancaster, in the middle of the desert. Doesn't sound very "upscale" to me. I thought about buying tickets and going to it but then I got to thinking that it might be one of those hoidy toydy type of dinners where you have to get all dressed up in a suit, act all stuck up with everyone else that's there, and "mingle" with rich people who have alot more $$$ than me to donate to the NRA when they ask for another donation which I'm sure they probably will at this dinner.

Screw the dinner! I'd rather go to a good old gunshow dressed in blue jeans/t-shirt/sneakers and be myself in a non-formal setting.
Vic

[dwtt]

I was afraid this was an upscale dinner. I first thought it was a fun shoot or something like that. It's too blueblood for me.

[sac7000]

Hi everyone,
I was reading the CRPA newsletter and came across a blurb for the Friends of NRA. They have two events in the bay area, one in Boulder Creek and one in Napa. Looking at the web page for this organization, it looks pretty, uhmm.. upscale, with a formal dinner and stuff. Anyone know what this Friends of NRA stuff is? I've never heard of it.

All I can say is go! It's an annual fundraiser that generates money which eventually returns to your local shooting ranges. You might even get lucky and win a new rifle or pistol or many of the dozens and dozens of other items up for raffle and drawings. It the most fun you can have with your clothes on. You'll meet some really nice people and have a great time.

[sac7000]

Yeah, I heard the ad on the local radio station here in the Lancaster/Palmdale area about the annual "Friends Of The NRA" dinner that they're having on May 13th in one of the buildings at the local fairgrounds here in Lancaster, in the middle of the desert. Doesn't sound very "upscale" to me. I thought about buying tickets and going to it but then I got to thinking that it might be one of those hoidy toydy type of dinners where you have to get all dressed up in a suit, act all stuck up with everyone else that's there, and "mingle" with rich people who have alot more $$$ than me to donate to the NRA when they ask for another donation which I'm sure they probably will at this dinner.

Screw the dinner! I'd rather go to a good old gunshow dressed in blue jeans/t-shirt/sneakers and be myself in a non-formal setting.
Vic

You don't have to dress up and most of the folks you will meet at the dinner are the same one's you see at your local club's shooting range. Nothing blueblood about it. The event helps keep alive your rights to keep and bear arms in a state that wants to take them away. Go to the dinner! Bring your friends!

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

Hi everyone,
...the Friends of NRA. They have two events in the bay area, one in Boulder Creek and one in Napa.

And one in Antioch, coming up in July.

Ok, so I understand that the local Member's Councils either run it or are somewhat afiliated in the event...

http://www.nrafoundation.org/friends/states/dollars_raised.asp?state=California

These things go for between $25-50 a head. I'll get steak and potatoes. I'll get to hang out with a some of the guys. However, for $50, my whole family can otherwise have steak. Why should my wife and I hire a sitter and pay her $10-20 and another $100 for us to get in? If I'm getting in on a raffle to win a donated rifle, am I going to have to pay for the raffle ticket or is my previous load of cash covering that?

I really don't mean to throw a wet blanket on this, the guys local to me who are setting this up are good guys. I would love to get involved locally and with likeminded people. I haven't yet figured out how paying $50 for a steak helps anything but lighten my wallet. Some of these events raise $10k, some raise $50k. What is that fundraising money funding? NRA mailings, postage, printing, and salaries for people to stuff envelopes? I understand that the Member's Councils can have an effect in this state with their letter-writing campaigns and things, but they're voluntary. They fund themselves amongst themselves. Ok sure, the NRA has one lobbyist in the state who's running around frantically trying to get everybody voting his way. That page I linked to shows that at for 2005, at all these dinners, a total of $1.6 million was raised. Did that all go to the one lobbyist? Or to him and his staff? Or to him, his staff, and all the mail I got? Were there TV ads in prime time that I failed to catch? Please, somebody, make me feel good about this and want to do it.