More Money

[dennie]

Just received my Benefactor credentials from the NRA. In the same pile of mail was another envelope from the NRA requesting more money for something else. I know the NRA is our best ally, but jeez.
A few years ago I sent the minimum then of $15 to support the USA Shooting Team. I received a patch or decal, can't remember, a note pad, and return address stickers. Since then I have received more return address labels than I could possibly use up, and requests for more money. My $15 got me the above items and prolly $200 worth of junk mail.
Cannot figure out if I am supporting the shooting sports or the post office.
Is there a pro gun group that would actually use my money to support pro gun efforts?
Thanx for listening to me rant. I now return you to your regular programming.

[Pete44ru]

Well, the NRA isn't the only organization to flood my snailmailbox - so they all must be getting a pretty good return on their investment, or they wouldn't be doing it.

[TedH]

I pay my membership dues and the rest of it goes in the trash.

[dennie]

I do understand that it takes money , and lots of it, to do most anything. I just cannot figure out sometimes if I am just supporting the USPS.
Thanx for the replies.

[2571]

I only pay annual dues to NRA and have been doing so for 25+ years.

Went to an NRA convention to attend black powder seminars . NRA treated us like red-haired stepchildren. Guess they couldn't understand why we were not acutely interested in high-power, plastic guns.

Last year I asked the NRA for some give-away literature for a hunting class we were teaching for young kids. NRA person I spoke to was actually rude, telling me not to call them but to call manufacturers instead.

I, too, throw away (and it's a lot) the $ demands they send me.

[Hobie]

ALL and I mean ALL advocacy groups know that those who have given are most likely to be those who WILL give. It pays them to mine where they've already found gold as prospecting is expensive and unproductive. I believe that something like 90% of the money is donated by 10% of those solicited and that's just how fund-raising works. Since they've found "gold" in your pocket before you can be sure they'll go back again.

Thanks for upgrading your membership. I was an annual member for years until just recently when I became a life member.

[J Miller]

Sometime back I read a thread about this subject. One poster mentioned that there was a number in the NRA system where you call and actually have you name taken off the junk mail solicitation list. I do not know what this number was, or if it still exists, but you might check it out.

I know what you mean about the NRA mooching. I get email from them even though I'm not a member.

Joe

[Bronco]

Howdy,
I been a member for years and give a little once a year. The rest goes into the trash.
John

[dennie]

Hobie, you are right, they have gotten a lot from me over the years. I still kick in a little now and then, so they keep sendin'.
Thank you for becoming a life member!

[Ysabel Kid]

I remember getting a letter from the NRA years ago stating that they did not expect members to respond to every letter from them asking for monetary help. They understand that the membership is dedicated to our Second Amendment rights (must be - 4 million NRA members out of 80 million gun owners is the "cream of the crop"), and that we help out as we can. Most of the solicitations go in the shredder, though I do what I can for them and a few select charities.

I just sent in my money to upgrade to the Benefactor level. The NRA, though capable of mistakes (they are run by humans after all), is still the best bet we have for controlling the anti-gunners at all levels of government. It is money well-invested!

Thanks for upgrading your membership!

[505stevec]

I have a confession to make. About 10 years ago I was a member and got sick and tired of junk mail and phone calls soliciting money. I am pro gun and vote that way but I hate being asked over and over and over and over... well you get the drift. I want to become a member a again since the country will probably go Democtrat and the attack on gun rights will pick up where the first Clinton left off. But I certainly do not look forward to the hassle

[claybob86]

Freedom isn't free and it isn't easy.

[Thunder50]

Must be doing something wrong. I hardly get any stuff from them and can't remember getting any phone calls. Been a life member for over 30 years. Do get things wanting me to join, but then I notice my name has a mis-spelling on it, maye an "a" instead of the "o", is what I normally see.

Shredder usually gets that stuff and alot more. Already worn one out and may need another soon!!

[brucew44guns]

I have wished many times, that every single member, all 4,000,000, would send in $50.00 one time a year. Thats 200 million bucks, would that give them the bucks they need to pay the bills,? without cutting down any more square miles of trees to make the paper to print the begging all year? I also send in 10 or 20 bucks perhaps 6 times a year, but it does get old to get 5 solicitations in one month for more. Always figured that 1/50th of the membership did 95% of the funding.

[gcs]

It's only a hassle if you let it be, just chuck the groveling letters and forget it.
Or call the big office and request that you only get a mailing once or twice a year, or how ever they do it.

I try to give them a little extra besides the dues, I hope it helps. The money requests are no way as frequent, or as much pressure, as your average Sunday groveling sermons you get in church.