NRA Reaches 5 Million Active Members

[vliberatore]

There isn't much margin in guns, the profit is in accessories and ammo. A better idea is a mandatory to tack 1 year memberships onto the price of hard to find items like Colt AR15s.

That's what I was thinking. Or perhaps a 10% discount on range fees?

Just thinking out loud. I might run that by my LGS next time I go. Couldn't hurt.

[sholling]

That's what I was thinking. Or perhaps a 10% discount on range fees?

Just thinking out loud. I might run that by my LGS next time I go. Couldn't hurt.

At the range I go to proof of NRA membership is mandatory.

[NorCalDustin]

I've never signed up for an NRA membership, but I regularly donate to the NRA-ILA. Besides that, I don't think there's an excuse.

Even that I've been told is a poor excuse for not being an NRA member... But frankly, most people sign up for a membership and pay the yearly dues and think they've done their part.. Many months I donate more than the yearly membership dues to the NRA. :/

[boarder010]

At the range I go to proof of NRA membership is mandatory.

I've heard of ranges that do this but sadly none in my area do. I think that's a good idea for ranges to adopt and stores also if they really cared for the cause.

[Paladin]

As someone mentioned above, there are an estimated 80-90M gun owners in the US, yet only -- now -- 5M NRA members. I won't be happy until we're above 8.5M members -- a 10% membership rate.

Oh, and in case you think now we've got REAL clout -- AARP has 40,000,000 members! 8x as many as the NRA has now.

[Paladin]

I've never signed up for an NRA membership, but I regularly donate to the NRA-ILA. Besides that, I don't think there's an excuse.

Even that I've been told is a poor excuse for not being an NRA member... But frankly, most people sign up for a membership and pay the yearly dues and think they've done their part.. Many months I donate more than the yearly membership dues to the NRA. :/

Priorities, my friend. First things first!

To All: See what Gene Hoffman, the head of CGF said in my sig line. ALL the CGF board members are NRA members, despite any disagreements they have w/the NRA (or NRA-ILA).

IIRC, after 5 successive years as an Annual Member, or becoming a Life member, you get to vote for members of the NRA's Board of Directors and they direct the direction of the NRA and elect its leaders (e.g., defend "sporting purposes" only guns, or defend RKBA in public and "fighting tyranny" guns?).

[phamkl]

In my case, I really don't have any money, only debt. I'm a student. It wasn't too hard to budget a few meals to figure out a way to save the 25 bucks for an annual. Next year, more budgeting, I'm hoping to manage a lifetime upgrade.

[Didymus]

In comparison,the ACLU has "over 500,000 members and supporters". Can you be a "supporter" and not be a member? If that's the case the NRA can say they have over 50 million members and supporters.

Have you guys been to the ACLU's website? Not one mention of the Second Amendment civil right. I thought maybe they would have SOME mention of the 2A.

[myk]

In my case, I really don't have any money, only debt. I'm a student. It wasn't too hard to budget a few meals to figure out a way to save the 25 bucks for an annual. Next year, more budgeting, I'm hoping to manage a lifetime upgrade.

Good for you. The free-loaders should take a lesson from this "student" and contribute to the cause. One night of not eating out at Hooters/Tilted 'Vag/Chili's or whatever will easily sign someone up for an NRA membership.

As for the original post, 5 million is good news, now we just need to get the other 80 million or so gun owners to get into the game...

[penguin0123]

Have you guys been to the ACLU's website? Not one mention of the Second Amendment civil right. I thought maybe they would have SOME mention of the 2A.

National consider 2A a collective right, and disagree with SCOTUS on Heller. You'll find a lot of local chapters to be very receptive to 2A. National is staffed with old liberals from the 60s. Local usually has enough of a mix of libertarians to make a difference. I'm waiting for local to tell national off (about as likely as Holder admitting he screwed up with F&F).

[1681]

As someone mentioned above, there are an estimated 80-90M gun owners in the US, yet only -- now -- 5M NRA members. I won't be happy until we're above 8.5M members -- a 10% membership rate.

Oh, and in case you think now we've got REAL clout -- AARP has 40,000,000 members! 8x as many as the NRA has now.

why is AARP more effective?? pretty sure it's not just about $25 or $35/year...

[SilverTauron]

One wonders how different the political landscape would be if the NRA had 50,000,000 members.

[hornswaggled]

I've never signed up for an NRA membership, but I regularly donate to the NRA-ILA. Besides that, I don't think there's an excuse.

Even that I've been told is a poor excuse for not being an NRA member... But frankly, most people sign up for a membership and pay the yearly dues and think they've done their part.. Many months I donate more than the yearly membership dues to the NRA. :/

I also donate to the NRA-ILA. But I'm a lifetime member too and have gifted about 10 regular memberships this year to friends that didn't have them yet.

Membership numbers matter. Obama is clinging to his 90% statistic because he knows numbers matter. Don't let these lying politicians use counts against us, join.

[diverwcw]

Amazing

I signed up today at Bass Pro in Rancho Cucamonga for 25. They had NRA recruiters outside with drawings for a handgun and gunsafe included with your signup.

It is amazing that the NRA would actually get new members outside of a store like Bass Pro. It would seem to me that the vast majority of people frequenting that establishment would already be members, but I guess not. I would have no issue with providing a few dollars for a scholarship for somebody to join the NRA.

The top, middle and bottom line is that it takes MONEY and MEMBERS to fight the gun grabbers in Washington and Sacramento. More so in Sacramento.

I think the NRA has already done enough to keep their membership at an affordable level. How about some incentive from our local gunshops or ranges? Are there any FFLs or business owners on this forum who can answer the call? Any thoughts from them?

[TRICKSTER]

why is AARP more effective?? pretty sure it's not just about $25 or $35/year...

AARP automatically sends out unsolicited membership cards once you reach a certain age. I wonder if they automatically count you as a member also?