There are 4.5 million NRA members

[edhopper]

could enough new people join, say another 10 million and oust the current leadership to make it a more moderate organization?

I am wondering if they have something in place to stop that or if the members don't decide on the executives?

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. So? Your'e asking 10 million people to fork over $40 a year on the OFF CHANCE

something may change there? Really?

[edhopper]

5. No I am wondering if they did

could they castrate the NRA. I am asking if it is doable? I don't know enough about how the NRA works to say if this should be done.

[SCantiGOP]

2. Wouldnt work

For one thing, 10,000 new members at $40 each would give them $400 million. Members do not set policy or control legislative activities.
I don’t think they have anywhere near 4.5 million members. I know someone who joined 40 years ago. He said he still gets mailings for them and has asked to be taken off of their mailing list but he said he knows they still count him as a member.

On edit: I have read that the big majority of their funding comes from large donations and from “corporate memberships,” which means dues from gun and ammo companies. Member dues are probably not essential to their agenda.

[edhopper]

6. Thanks

I was thinking out loud.

[msongs]

13. great idea tho. outside the box thinking is good nt

[RandomAccess]

3. That's an interesting thought

It really depends on the Charter and ByLaws -- their organizational rules. I can imagine, for example, that the regular $40/yr members might not be the ones who vote them in. Then there's the paid Director -- LaPierre. He's an employee, I think.

But it's an interesting idea, for sure.

[Henry Krinkle]

11. One must be a member for 5 or more consecutive years...

or a life member in order to vote.

Makes sense when you think about it.

[hunter]

4. Disgusting every last one of them.

Would you suggest we all join NAMBLA to make them moderate?

[edhopper]

7. That is quite a stretch

A question, would you consider joining if you knew you could oust LePierre within the year?

[hunter]

12. No, I would not.

At this point defending the NRA is like defending drunk driving.

[edhopper]

18. who's defending

I'm talking about taking them down from within.

But seems to be ot workable.

[Hoyt]

8. The membership does elect Board, which theoretically sets policy.

Of course, management can manipulatee the board they want.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Ever participate in a corporate vote of share-holders?

Trust me, the rank and file is pretty meaningless. I assume the NRA is the same.

[Hoyt]

15. Thats why I said management manipulates things. But theoretically members could

replace board.

[Takket]

10. that's one out of every 78 citizens

high time the other 77 of us got a seat at the legislative table

[sarisataka]

14. I used to believe that was possible

But after the takeover by radicals , the bylaws were changed so they wouldn't be ousted in the same process they used to seize power.

Now a person needs to be a member for five years to vote. Ballot candidates are selected by a nomination committee with no real input from the members. Usually the number of nominees equals the amount of seats so it is a rubber stamp.

There is a way to petition to add a name to the ballot and might actually change one seat but the logistics make it virtually impossible for sweeping change.

Good idea, but those at the top have cemented themselves in

[edhopper]

19. too bad

It was just a thought.

[DURHAM D]

16. About that 4.5 million...

I have a friend who joined back in the 70s. They gave him a life long membership. He has been trying to cancel that membership for 30 years without success. He gets livid everytime he gets a letter and/or a sticker from them.

I would assume a lot of their members have been deceased for decades.

[C_U_L8R]

17. The members are suckers and rubes

The NRA is a marketing association whose mission is to advocate and sell more guns on behalf of manufacturers. The 'members' are merely useful idiots to be fleeced frequently and vigorously.

[aikoaiko]

20. x5 years. You have to pay 5 years before you can vote for

the board of directors.

[TheBlackAdder]

21. Are they true 'active" members? Some paid $125 for Lifetime Memberships and became disillusioned.