NRA Advertising through the yearsYou can see the massive shift from a sportsman, competitor, education driven organization to a gun rights organization with the gun control act of 1968, which they foolishly stood behind as "something we can live with". Shortly after that the politicians went all in on gun control, starting with the "Saturday Night Specials" lie, and the NRA realized that they had to step up to the game. In fact, they were pretty darn effective and despite well-meaning and ineffective things like the Clinton "assault rifle" ban we're as a nation in much better shape nationally in the gun rights than any time since 1968. How many 2nd amendment sanctuary states, Constitutional Carry or Shall issue states did we have then? I think that answer is zero (but I could be wrong).
As a life member, I'll echo others here that the NRA will get zero dollars from me until they get rid of Wayne P and hopefully the complete restructuring of the board. Other things to consider;
- Make it very clear that there is the NRA and the NRA-ILA and where the messaging and roles lines are..
- Very clearly organizationally split the competition and education off from the big umbrella org. Those of us who shoot competitively know that organization does a good job but I'm equally sure that the fees I pay are poached by other areas of the organization - Host grassroots competitive and fun shooting to bring others into it. That should include subsidizing clubs (and other orgs like Appleseed) for firearm and ammo purchases to hold free clinics and attract and train new shooters. We're a nation of shooters and hunters. Let's make sure they all directly understand the link between their rights and laws and it's easier to do that when they are active shooters.
- Team with other gun rights orgs to present a coherent and united message. Don't waste time with duplication. Each org gets respective leads on certain aspects that we need to keep the press on to fix.
- Focus on states. The Federal government has it's guns right issues but the states are the real suppressors of gun rights (yea, I know "move" got it and will in < a year but not everyone has that option). Team with, augment, fund and provide backing for growing states firearms advocates. State representatives are much easier to influence when it's local voting citizens are the one's you're hearing from.
Without a doubt, WLP and his ilk are corrupt and have committed fraud in
our organization. There are other good gun rights orgs out there but I'm not writing off the NRA until this legal stuff has passed and we'll see if they are salvageable. If not and dissolved, it opens a need for someone to run competitions as that will go down just like the rest.
Would to hear other's idea's on how to fix the NRA vice just abandoning it.