The NRA

[DoverFrank]

Ive been checking in on the whole gun control topic here lately. I noticed alot of people hate the NRA. Im not really educated much on the gun issues now but I do know a little about the NRA and I think some of you might be too hard on them.

My grandpa enrolled us in the nra when I was 12 and my cousin was 14. It was alot of fun back then and it wasnt all about guns. Almost every weekend we would do some sort of activity. Sometimes we would shoot but more often we would be doing other things. The local chapter head would setup camping trips, rafting trips, trips to different businesses like cabinet makers, printing companies, pro football practices, and alot more. I was lucky that we lived in a semi small town and the organizers knew everyone in and around the town so we got to do alot more than other kids.

All the parents would teach us different things. We learned first aid, camping and outdoor skills, some construction and alot of things in between including how to solicit food donations, write a resume, balance a check book, and other things I still use today. Every parent contributed something so it was always new. They did teach us alot about gun safety though. We went shooting probably once a month during the summer. We all learned very well the do's and dont's and since some of the parents were police, we understood the laws very well. I guess it wasnt really a political thing back then, at least not what we were involved in. I had no idea the nra was demonized the way it is until I started getting involved. As you can tell Im new to politics and just started paying attention since the war started. Im not a member anymore but I sure do appreciate everything I learned.

Guns werent the only thing they focused on. It was more like the boy scouts I guess. I was never a boy scout but I think its the best comparison. We did charity work at least once a month and they really encouraged community service. Most of the parents and organizers were either police, judge, or business owners so they pounded into our heads to be active in the community. I was kind of a tutor or helper at the elementary school helping the teachers after school. Some of the older kids in the bunch were volunteers in the search and rescue teams and emergency crews. We also did alot during the winter checking in on older people and the few really poor people we had out there.

Back then the only gun control issue was personal not political. Maybe I was too young but what they taught us was that guns are dangerous if you dont know how to handle them and if they are in the hands of dangerous people. I guess Im not really defending the nra just giving everyone my perspective and what they did for me. I dont know if they still have programs like that but I can tell you it was good for me. We had alot of fun and learned alot more than I would have otherwise.

Anyone else have any good experiences with the nra? I dont really want to defend any political issues from the nra since Im not into that but Im sure some of you have similar stories.

[CO Liberal]

1. The NRA Used to Do a Lot Of Good

But since they've become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RepubliKKKan Party and included such assholes as Wayne LaPierre ands Ted Nugent in their leadership, I have no use for them.

[TX-RAT]

3. Used to be a member

They lost me in the early 80's.

[hangar18]

4. When we grow up

...we pay attention to different things. I never knew there was a gun control issue until I was in my late teens, old enough to vote.

Life member here, they are the best and have the most clout.

[Lamorat]

2. I'm a lifer

and I enjoy the NRA stuff a lot. I am collecting their 'arms of the USA' series coins now, very cool. Their magazine is interesting too.

My main complaint is that they seem to compromise too much on the 2nd. It's way too political, needs to stick to its roots.

[OpSomBlood]

5. I quit the NRA when I realized they were in the GOP's pocket.

I really think that their gun safety and training programs are first-rate. Their political activism stinks.

[FatSlob]

6. The NRA would be perfect if they...

...were not so partisan on issues unrelated to the 2nd Amendment. I must say, though, that I was quiet amused when they teamed up with the ACLU and the AFL-CIO to oppose BCRA.

[iverglas]

7. well hey howdy, DoverFrank

Last time you dropped by

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=60464&mesg_id=60464

you said:

I have a question
If the second ammendment only allows guns
in order to keep a citizen militia, why are
guns still legal?

You got about 175 answers. And y'know what? You never even said "thank you". Not another peep out of you there wasn't.

So again with the questions now. "Anyone else have any good experiences with the nra?" Could I be so forward as to ask: why do you ask?

I mean, it seems to me that before anybody puts a whole lot of effort into answering your question, s/he might like to know that you're actually interested in the answer this time.

[DoverFrank]

8. Thank you :)

If you noticed the other post you mentioned, it turned into a fight really quick. I prefer not to get in the middle of it. But thank you, and all who responded :)

I think the answer to your question is in my post here. I do read but dont have much time to reply to everyone.