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A press release from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action . . .

A more than 30-year effort by the National Rifle Association (NRA) reached a milestone [last week] as the Georgia legislature became the 25th state in the nation to pass constitutional carry. A movement long championed by the NRA, constitutional carry eliminates the need for government permission before a law-abiding individual can exercise their right to bear arms.    

“The NRA paved the way for constitutional carry by first leading the charge for right-to-carry nearly 40 years ago. Today, every state, and the District of Columbia, provides for the carrying of a firearm for self-defense outside the home in some form, and half the nation recognizes the Second Amendment protects law-abiding citizens’ right to self-defense as an inherent and inalienable right. NRA members have led this extraordinary brick-by-brick effort in building and expanding America’s self-defense laws and we are not done!,” said Wayne LaPierre, CEO and executive vice president of the NRA.   

The modern carry movement in America began in earnest in 1987 when NRA helped pass a law legalizing concealed carry outside the home for all law-abiding gun owners in Florida. This law established a “shall issue” permitting regime in Florida, meaning the state was required to issue a carry permit to anyone who applied and could legally possess a firearm. Over the next 15 years, NRA successfully worked to establish right-to-carry laws in 42 states. To this day, eight states have failed to pass such legislation. However, the NRA brought this issue to the Supreme Court last fall and if the court rules in favor of the Second Amendment, the door will be opened to eliminate restrictive carry regimes in those states in the near future.    

Constitutional carry legislation, which eliminates the need for government permission before law-abiding gun owners can carry concealed firearms, was the natural next step after the success of “shall issue” legislation. In 2003, NRA helped to pass constitutional carry legislation in Alaska. Seven years later Arizona joined the fold, followed by Wyoming, Kansas, and Maine. Ten additional states passed similar legislation by 2019. And in the last two years, nine states have become constitutional carry states. With Georgia’s vote today, half of America provides law-abiding gun owners with the ability to carry without a permit from the state.    

“This is a monumental moment for the Second Amendment, NRA members and gun owners nationwide,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Half the country now rightfully recognizes the fundamental right to carry a firearm for self-defense as enshrined in our Constitution – as opposed to a government privilege that citizens must ask permission to exercise. Passing this essential legislation has been a priority for the NRA for many years, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this huge success.”   

Constitutional carry does not affect previously issued permits to carry and allows those who still wish to obtain a permit in order to carry in states recognizing existing state permits to do so. It also does not allow anyone prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm to carry a firearm.   

When Gov. Kemp signs this legislation, Georgia will join Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, in allowing law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a government-issued permit.

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171 COMMENTS

  1. Wayne and his crooked ilk can go f**k themselves right off a bridge. The GOA and state run 2A orgs. have lead the charge for constitutional carry over the last few years, not the nra.

    • The NRA deserves some credit, but certainly not the bulk of it. In fact, some states (looking at Florida) are still not “Constitutional Carry” states because of the NRA.

      As Scott C. stated, the bulk of the credit goes to the state 2A groups, GOA, SAF and FPC.

      • I’m not sure the NRA deserves any credit at all. They are so tied into knots with their corruption schemes, they can’t do much of anything useful.

        Their name is associated with guns, so I think they just popped up and claimed credit for something that happened in spite of them.

        That’s not really a ‘bad thing’. Let the NRA paint yet another target on their backs. The gun grabbers can concentrate on the NRA while other, more capable organizations get on with the real work.

        • Pail, How about the Heller and McDonald Decisions? How about NYSR&PA v Breun?

        • @Walter

          How about WLP hanger on Marion Hammer actively working against by supporting the asshat antigunner who torpedoed Constitutional Carry and supporter of SB 7026, rabid anti Wilton Simpson for AG in Florida?

          Simpson, whom the NRA itself moments later publicly endorsed…

        • WilliamWalliceIII Excuse me but what is the problem with Marion Hammer. from all the research I have seen, she is a staunch supporter of gun rights. Wilton Simpson has apparently switched his support of Constitutional Carry. I do not know the reason but I have learned that in politics deals are made. Right, wrong or indifferent, that is the world of politics. And that is not AG as in Attorney General but is Agriculture Commissioner. Just to keep the record straight.

        • 𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 $200 𝒕𝒐 $300 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒒𝒘𝒆03 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆.
          𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆__________𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒉𝟭.𝒄𝒐𝒎

        • Walter, Simpson supported SB 7026, far worse than the simple recent backstab flip-flopping on Constitutional Carry. Have a read:

          https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/nra-and-unified-sportsmen-of-florida-endorse-betrayer-wilton-simpson-author-of-parkland-gun-control-bill/

          After that:

          https://floridapolitics.com/archives/510795-nra-endorses-wilton-simpson-for-agriculture-commissioner/

          https://floridagunrights.org/latest-news/marion-hammer-betrays-fl-gun-owners/

          Wilton is a not-so-in-the-closet anti-RINO, and the NRA is endorsing him with Marion at the forefront talking him up, when she herself is acutely aware of the score.

          The entire thing reeks.

      • And the bulk of the state groups, as in the Iowa one (Iowa Firearms Coalition) that pressed permitless carry last year, are the NRA State Affiliations… Aaron Dorr and his scam outfit tried for years to do this in Iowa, IFC/NRA got it taken care of in one session.

        On the other hand, groups like GOA cannot make it happen in, say, Florida, can they?

        Permitless/”Constitutional Carry” is, and has been a stated goal of NRA ILA head Jason Ouimet. The fact that no one from NRA really submits articles on this site does not mean NRA ILA is not in operation.

        Sure, it’d be great to not be using money fighting a scam lawsuit but those other state groups and GOA, among the rest, would’ve been bankrupt and gone forever had the suits been brought against them, in a month or less.

        And there’s yet another fact often overlooked by the NRA haters who claime to be 2A supporters: It’s likely that at least 60% of the members of other 2A groups are also NRA members. The reverse is likely not the case.

        Anyone who really believes WLP is the primary reason for this lawsuit is either delusional or hasn’t been playing politics very long.

      • This.

        Credit given where credit’s due, and I’ll openly praise the NRA for those specific situations in which the NRA has been the primary factor for such victories. But if other entities have performed the bulk of the effort and expense (SAF, FPC, GOA, et al), then they should receive the adulation, not anyone else.

        Regardless, I continue to withhold any financial contribution to the NRA until WLP is gone. I don’t trust him. Similar to how I stand in formation with my fellow conservatives in the Republican Party, but despise RINOs in charge. All tomfakery must be removed.

        • I HAZ that is your prerogative. But if you wish to change an organization, you have to do it from within.

          The NRA has been in the forefront of 2nd Amendment rights for eons. These other organizations are competing for contributions. The NRA was the primary factor in the Heller and McDonald decisions. And are prime movers in NYSR&PA v Breun. Remember?

        • Most of the credit in every state that has regained their 2nd Amendment Rights, must be given to the voters in those states. In many cases it has taken numerous voting cycles to elect the right people to the right positions. While the NRA has helped in some of these situations. A great deal of the people who voted have little or no connection or knowledge of the NRA or any of the other 2nd Amendment organizations. While there are some single issue voters. The majority of the voters simple vote for like minded people who just happen to also be pro 2nd Amendment. This was the case for my state representative. When he first decided to run for office he had very little knowledge about the on going battle for 2nd Amendment Rights in our state. I had the opportunity to speak with him at length both face to face as well through Email. About the regulations in place hindering citizens 2nd Amendment rights. As well as what he could do about changing the law. After he was elected, he got on board the push to further deregulate the 2nd Amendment. Since then Constitutional Carry as well as Castle Doctrine has become law. So don’t leave out the grassroots work that is done behind the scenes. That never seeks or gets the accolades is often deserves. It takes everyone to fight the battle, If ‘We the People’ expect to win the war.

        • Walter- I believed that also, until about 2yrs ago. WLP has a choke hold on the NRA and is more than willing to take it down rather than relinquish his honey-pot. I am an endowment member and have voted and given a decent amount of $$ to the NRA & ILA. No more until they absolutely clean house. Can’t reward bad behavior or you get more of it. Screw Wayne for the irreparable harm he has done to the 2A.

        • Big E Unfortunately that is an OPINION. We the members of the NRA have the “choke hold” on the NRA. We do it the say way we do at the polls. Out of all the member eligible to vote for the current Board of Directors, how many actually voted?

          If you want the NRA to “clean house”, you have to do more than cote in the election of the Board. If you consider there is a problem with the NRA you have to write the Board to address those matters. Remember, you are but one person. to motivate the Board you have to get more members to support your position.

          Not contributing to the NRA or the NRAILA is shooting yourself in the foot.

        • “Regardless, I continue to withhold any financial contribution to the NRA until WLP is gone…”

          Standard fodder around here, likely by a fair number who never belonged or rarely contributed anyway.

          So- who do you propose take over NRA should WLP resign or go away?

          Name someone, squeaky-clean, who all the keyboard warriors around here and other sites would agree on. And then someone that the MSM/Hollywood/Utopian Enlightenists would favor as well.

          Fact is- WLP is a minute, tiny reason Leticia James and the other NRA Haters here and in those other hate groups, gun banners and gun owners alike want to see the demise of NRA. Gotta have a villain, and Wayne certainly doesn’t look, or act like John Wayne, so…

          Why, there’d be no scam legal action against NRA without WLP.

          Yeah, right. Got it…

      • former, That is your choice. But you don’t change an organization from the outside.

        • You can, by funding competition the NRA did have to change it’s tune on concealed/constitutional carry over the last 30 years and become at least somewhat supportive of both in order to retain enough membership to be financially solvent. I may not share a lot of the NRA’s outlooks re keeping machine guns and other NFA strictly regulated but they do make for a great lightning rod to distract much of the media and political hate while other organizations chip away at nonsense restrictions. Also when they do act on training and education it is good quality and useful just not as readily available as I would like to see.

        • You can’t save a rotten barrel of apples if you allow the worms to inhabit it. The only thing that will ever save the NRA is to destroy the barrel and start a new one. The rot is to ingrained to save what’s left. I too am a decades long life member of the NRA. My membership was purchased years ago in a 1 time payment. I no longer support the NRA financially. I have seen the good, bad and the ugly of the organization over the decades. The good has mostly occurred at the state and local level. The national organization has always been to connected with the political elites and the games that are played in D.C. Because of that the leadership has lost focus on what and who they represent. Much in the same vein as many of the elected politicians have with their constituents. It has become a game within a game and the only time any of them are truly interested in the wants of their constituents is at election time and when they want our money. If you truly want to help get the laws changed in your state. Focus your efforts and money at the state and local level. The Return on your Investment with reap greater results and you’ll have the knowledge of exactly how and where your money goes.

        • SAFE “Competition” also makes for less results as it spread the money out over different organizations which have different agendas. As I pointed out the NRA is multi-faceted. They are not “exclusively” geared toward the legislative and lo0bbing efforts. The NRA has the NRA-IL which is geared exclusively toward that goal.

          Constitutional Carry has only become an issue in the past 10 or so years. Were they in the forefront? No, but have jumped on the bandwagon rather quickly. Remember we are still waiting for the Court to render a decision on NYSR&PA Breun. This alone will be a monumental decision assuming it goes out way. I remind everyone here, going to court is a “crap shoot”. You never know for sure which side will “win”. There are too many people who expect that because they believe they are right, that it should go their way. If it were that way there would be no need for a court system.

        • Darkman, That is a great analogy, but it does not apply to human beings. An organization can be changed from within but you have to be involved. Sitting back and whining accomplishes nothing.

          Every organization has the “good, the bad and the ugly”. The Republican Party use to be a run of the mill “me too” organization. No longer. It is decidedly Conservative, a change which occurred over time starting with Barry Goldwater. Yes, we have some (too many RINO’s, but they are a much smaller minority than they have been in years past.

          If you want to get anything done in Washington or any other State capital, you have to “play the game”. It is the way the system works. If you want to change the system, again, you don’t change anything or anyone’s opinion by whining, do you? Do I think those other organizations serve a purpose, of course. but to throw the NRA out would be a very bad mistake. if you want to support the lobbying side of the NRA then contribute to the NRA-IL. All of you r money would then go to that particular function. Some of you guys are “throwing the baby out with the dish water.”.

        • Walt in many cases diversification can = dilution. With how ossified the NRA was in the 90’s during the ban years there was absolutely no benefit in throwing more money their way and other local and national focused groups with different target areas was absolutely the right track to take and continues to be so. Those that seek to take our rights operate from a very similar playbook and I see no reason to limit ourselves to one potentially corrupt institution that has historically underperformed in terms of lawfare.

        • SAFE, this is not the ’80’s or the ’90’s. Every organization evolves. The NRA has. So has the Republican Party? Remember when the RINO’s controlled the party? I remember Nelson Rockefeller. Now there was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”?

          The NRA has not been perfect, but they are the “big boy” on the block. Supporting these other organizations if find and dandy if you are focused alone on “gun rights’. But without the other functions that the NRA performs, gun rights proponents would be expand as they have.

          I have been a member of the NRA for about 45 yrs give or take. I am not a Patriot Endowment Life Member. I vote in every election, local, state, and federal as well as in the organizations I am a member. I write letters to the editor in my local paper (the Daily Sentinel).

          We all have to do our part on as many levels as we are comfortable and able. Some people can’t write letters because of educational impediments. But there are other things they can do. This has to be a GROUP effort.

        • It has certainly improved slightly starting around 2005 when they realized “assault” weapons where going to stick around and about when I ever bothered with a membership. They still underperform as a top level organization but do provide a reserve fund for local organizations when they pick a legal fight (NYSRPA is a great example). With that said the overwhelming majority of any donations I make are to NYSRPA and then to whoever mounts a challenge to the SAFE act as I am more rights/legal challenge oriented than the NRA as a larger organization tends to spend even in the ILA branch (which has seen some contributions). I respect what the NRA could be but it’s leadership and bylaws for who has actual authority are not something I can support as it limits any attempt to clear out dead wood and can easily enable questionable behavior without reasonable oversight. Not saying it is as I do not know but it does not engender confidence of best practices.

        • The NRA tried to prevent the Heller case from even being filed, then once it got appealed up they got on board and have attempted to take credit for it since. They can fuck off.

        • SAFE That seems to be a majority opinion here but the majority opinion here has to be transferred into the majority opinion of the membership of the NRA.

          Rather than a “slight change”, I have seen a much larger change in tactics and strategy, Remember any organization only responds to the demands of the membership. If the members sit back and accept the status quo, then status quo is what you get. That you contribute to NYSR&PA is great. You are right to do so but don’t neglect the NRA as they work at the national level while NYSR&PA work at the “state level” ONLY.

          You only make change by getting involved. I see Mr King, who is the president of NYS R&PA as a WLP type. He is not a “firebrand”. He objects strongly to Charlton Heston’s statement, “From my cold dead hand”. He specifically stated at a meeting here in Oneida County that he “wished Heston had never said that.”

          Get nominated to the NRA Board. Get people who think as you do nominated to the Board. Bylaws can be changed by the Board. They are not written in granite. .

        • asdf “The NRA tried to prevent the Heller case from even being filed, then once it got appealed up they got on board and have attempted to take credit for it since. They can fuck off.”

          Excuse me, but where did you get that from? IT was the NRA that jumped into the case before it was filed. The NRA appealed the case to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. On June 2, 2009, the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision, based on the theory that Heller applied only to the Federal Government (including the District of Columbia), and not to states or their subordinate jurisdictions.

          I don’t know where you got your information from, but it is bogus.

        • Walt I hope your optimism re NRA reform is well founded. But this is another area where we will have a foundational disagreement in perception. I do not believe the NRA can be altered in any meaningful way until it is starving and desperate and willing to listen to its members for its very survival as an organization. I see competition as the only way the NRA will ever begin to strive for it’s intended purposes (training and education) let alone it’s valuable add on (protecting the 2nd). Hope your way is right as it will be easier for a lot of issues coming forward I just can’t bank on it based on what I have seen over the last 30 odd years where the change was not nearly enough.

        • SAFE, Right wrong or indifferent, that is your OPINION. I do NOT see that much wrong with the NRA as you seem to perceive. If you want to change an organization, you don’t burn it down. I see the NRA as supporting the wishes of the MAJORITY of its membership. I’ve been involved with the NRA’s Education programs since I retired from NYS DOCCS and I see it as a viable vehicle to brin new members into the NRA. As an INSTRUCTOR, I am also an NRA recruiter. The NRA has done more to protect our 2nd Amendment rights than any other organization since its inception. Have they made mistakes, sure. Will they in the future, bet on it. But throwing the “baby out with the bathwater” is no solution at all. If you want change you do it from within.

        • Respect your views and experiences there and to be clear not looking to burn it down, just keep pressure on it to continue improving where it is deficient. I am a bit more hopeful for it becoming what it could be than others.

        • The NRA did NOT initially support the Parker v. DC litigation (which eventually resulted in the Heller ruling) because the NRA did not think it was a winning track. The NRA supported another case that they wanted SCOTUS to hear instead, and also supported legislation that would have rendered the Parker v. DC (aka Heller) case moot before it could get to SCOTUS because the NRA didn’t want the Parker/Heller case at SCOTUS becuase they were afraid of an adverse ruling. Once the Parker case became the track we were on, THEN the NRA got on-board… but before that, nope. http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/04/03/the-nra-vs-the-second-amendment/

          Thankfully, the NRA failed, just as they almost always do in recent times.

        • asdf Let’s examine that statement that you say the NRA did not initially support Parker v DC. In February, joined by two other attorneys, we filed the Parker case, a civil lawsuit in federal court on behalf of six D.C. residents who want to be able to defend themselves with a handgun in their own homes. When we informed the NRA of our intent, we were advised to abandon the effort. Surprisingly, the expressed reason was that the case was too good. It could succeed in the lower courts then move up to the Supreme Court where, according to the NRA, it might receive a hostile reception.
          Now where I come from that is not what you claim. Parker for your edification is an entirely DIFFERENT case. See:https://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0557.htm

          The Heller Case: Heller, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2008, held (5–4) that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess firearms independent of service in a state militia and to use firearms for traditionally lawful purposes, including self-defense within the home. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-r-0578.htm

          So as you can see they are TWO DIFFERENT matters.

        • [The other groups] “they do make for a great lightning rod to distract much of the media and political hate while other organizations chip away at nonsense restrictions.”

          I’m not sure where you’re living/ I see a lot of “actions and proposals” (chipping away) put forth on this site by those other organizations but little in the form of real results or changed laws and regulations. In most cases, the states that have seen improvements have gotten them through NRA State Organizations like NYSRPA or IFC. And that’s really how it should be handled in states and municipalities- bringing in out-of-staters is a Soros/Bloomberg tactic. If, for example, Morton Grove, IL, or MA citizens are happy and I don’t live there nor need to go- what’s it to me?

        • LOL! Your ignorance is astounding. If you had logged into your Westlaw account, searched “Heller”, clicked on the case, then clicked on “History”, you would see that Parker is the case that was granted cert and was renamed Heller at SCOTUS (Dick Heller was one of the plaintiffs in the Parker case, hence why they took that name)… Christ, even the Wikipedia entry has the information. If the NRA had had their way, this case would never have been brought. The NRA is trash.

          Here is the handy flowchart from Westlaw, just so you can not appear so ignorant going forward. https://i.ibb.co/W5rMFs7/Lol-Heller.jpg

    • Scott C Horse Pucky! The NRA has been in the forefront of Constitutional Carry from the Git-Go.

      As to those of you who refuse to “rejoin” the NRA, that is your choice. These other organizations are just diluting the message of the 2nd Amendment. The NRA may not be perfect but the people who are disputing the actions of the NRA and Wayne and doing the cuse no service.

      You don’t change an organization from the outside. If you have a problem with it, you do it from within!

      • The other organizations don’t dilute the message at all. They amplify it. Local organizations focus on local legislation that the NRA does not. Organizations like SAF and FPC focus on lawsuits to overturn bad laws. Collectively they are better at achieving results and with less money than the NRA. The NRA is a money pit and more of a club than an activist organization.

        • F, I beg to differ. These other organizations were founded by disgruntled former NRA members. The NRA has many different departments. Education, Legislative, Competition, etc. Collectively, did they obtain Heller or McDonald? Are they involved in NYSR&PA v Breun?

          If you are looking for an organization which EXCUSELVELY in gun rights, then the NRA is not your “cup of tea”. The goal of the NRA is not just gun rights but education, instruction, competition, and to get more people involved in guns.

        • I’m nearly 68 years old. I don’t propagandize! Buy another gold button for old Wayne’s suit Walter the 3rd…

        • former, So what? I’m 74 yrs old. If you want change in the NRA you have to do it from within, not from the outside. On the outside you are just whining and accomplishes nothing.

          As to his salary, to get the man best suited for the job, you have to pay him/her a competitive salary.

        • Walter:
          “As to his salary, to get the man best suited for the job, you have to pay him/her a competitive salary.”
          Yeah? WLP is “suited” alright. My only regret is that he has, in the past, been “suited” with MY money. I’ve recently renewed my membership in the NRA, but there will be nothing extra from me until WLP is GONE.

        • Dave G I hear you people whining about Mr Lapierre and yet not a single specific real founded complaint. What’s up with that ?

          Let’s not delved into NYS AG who has already had her complaint for all practical purposes dismissed.

      • Walter – ordinarily I’d agree with you. But the upper echelons of NRA have become so entrenched and corrupt, that no amount of protest or voting by us minions (Life Patriot Member and Instructor in several categories here) is gonna dislodge old Wayne from the golden goose. If sanctions will work on Putin, withholding membership dues from Wayne should hopefully work similarly.

        Those board or committee members who have attempted to “change from within” have found themselves immediately sacked by the inner circle.

        • Defens, If you truly believe that the NRA’s upper echelon is “corrupt” or “entrenched”. then it can only be changed from WITHIN. “Corrupt”? How so? That the NRA used money for hotels etc, for executive team members on NRA business? That they are paid what you might consider exorbitant salaries? Positions on the Executive team are competitive. If you don’t pay you don’t get the best person for the job. Is WLP the bast man? That is for the Executive Board to determine along with the membership. But if you are not a member, you don’t have a say, do you ? A Board Member can’t be “sacked from within” if the membership keep voting for them. Quitting is not the answer. A Franciscan Brother once told my class, “Rome was not built in a day.” You don’t make change with a minority of members of the board?

        • What attributes make Wayne the “best person for the job?” Seriously, what can he do that some other person with reasonable legal, business, or government experience can’t do? I think there must be somebody who would be willing to waste $60M of members’ money. Do you doubt we could find someone else to spend more on outside legal counsel to keep themselves out of jail than on training and competition programs? Do you think we wouldn’t be able to find somebody to launder millions as unaudited business expenses from a vendor? Oh, I know, you don’t think we’d be able to find somebody who would hire a convicted embezzler as his personal assistant and then keep her employed after she then embezzled from the NRA. What brilliant program or business decision do you think Wayne has done that nobody else could have done as well or better?

          The NRA’s power is that it purportedly speaks for the tens of millions of gun owners, despite a vast majority never being members. That will continue to exist whoever os CEO. As for necessary compensation, Wayne is paid more than execs at larger charities and private companies. We could get somebody much better for less.

        • When LaPierre and his crew are gone I’d happily rejoin the NRA.
          All it is now is a scam, filling my mind with OMG’s yur fcked but we can save you.
          And then they take my money and pretend there Hughe Hefners

        • anymouse What makes him the best man for the job. Well, for one, I don’t sit on the Board, but I do know that he has done a pretty darn good job. You claim the Mr LaPierre is paid higher than larger charities and private companies. Enumerate, if you please.

          Where I come from a man is innocent until PROVEN guilty. They have not laid a glove on Mr LaPierre. There is this thing called “indemnification”. An employee and LaPierre is an employee of the NRA is entitled to indemnification as long as he acted within the scope of his duties.

          It sounds to me you have a thing about Mr LaPierre. I don’t know why, but it might be time to get over it and or yourself.

          I take it you are not even a member of the NRA.

      • The NRA supported The National Firearms Act of 1934.
        The NRA supported The Federal Firearms Act of 1938.
        The NRA supported The Gun Control Act of 1968.
        And the NRA let the Hughes Amendment of 1986 to the GCA slide without a fight.
        The NRA supported the gun free zone act.
        The NRA helped write the 1994 Assault weapons ban.
        The NRA Tried to kill the heller case.
        The NRA suggested and supported the bump stock ban.
        The NRA supports red flag laws.

        • Pure unadulterated Horse Pucky!
          Show me the proof of accusations?
          The NRA did compromise on the GCA of ’68, but due to the political climate and the fact that it was going to get passed if they did not get some changes.
          What is the problem with the “Hughes Amendment”? IT in fact REPEALED a good part The group quoted LaPierre as saying in 1999, “We believe in absolutely gun-free, zero-tolerance, totally safe schools.That means no guns in America’s schools. Period.”

          There are a few angles to consider here.

          Did LaPierre say those words?

          Yes, he did. It was May 1, 1999, 10 days after two teenage boys killed 13 people, wounded more than 20 others and then committed suicide at Columbine High School in Colorado. LaPierre spoke at the NRA’s annual convention and called for a policy banning guns from school.

          But LaPierre said more than what the Everytown group quoted.

          He was talking about guns brought to school by students, not teachers or trained security.

          “Of the 6,000 young people the president acknowledges were caught with a gun at school during the past two years, we believe all of them should have been prosecuted,” LaPierre said. “But the truth is only five were prosecuted in 1997. And just eight were prosecuted in 1988. That’s not zero tolerance.”

          LaPierre made a passing reference to armed guards in schools, referring to “the rare exception of law enforcement officers or trained security personnel.” As for arming teachers, something President Donald Trump has shown a keen interest in, LaPierre said nothing of the GCA ’68.

          Provide proof that The NRA tried to “kill the Heller case” They in fact filed the appeal in the matter.

          As to Bump Sticks: These devices came to national attention in October 2017 after the horrific attack in Las Vegas. As multiple media accounts correctly pointed to at the time, there was overwhelming legislative support for proposals that went far beyond these specific devices and some that could have potentially jeopardized all semiautomatic firearms. Rather than sit back and watch a legislative over-reaction, the NRA asked Congress to let ATF review its prior determinations on bump fire stocks.

          Some have used our October 2017 statement to claim that NRA supports ATF’s final rule, but as NRA-ILA’s Executive Director Chris Cox noted only days after our statement was issued, “We don’t believe that bans have ever worked on anything.”

          We also made this clear in our comments to ATF on the proposed rule earlier this year. In our comments, we further advised that ATF should at a minimum make an amnesty period available to deal with the fundamental inequity imposed on law-abiding gun owners who purchased their bump fire stocks in good faith reliance on prior ATF determinations. We continue to pursue the availability of a period of amnesty with the administration.

          While there can be disagreement on legislative strategy, it’s important to remember that we will soon face a hostile, anti-gun Congress led by Nancy Pelosi. It’s critical that all gun owners unite and prevent the Bloomberg-bought Congress from dismantling our Second Amendment freedom.

          Red Flag Laws? “The NRA did not identify any federal or state red flag laws that it supported, and even after its March 2018 announcement continued to work to defeat or weaken red flag bills introduced in state legislatures”.
          As to gun free zones:

        • “What attributes make Wayne the “best person for the job?”

          We’ll, you’re “in the know”- why don’t you name the person who is.

        • Walter,
          “here was overwhelming legislative support for proposals that went far beyond these specific devices and some that could have potentially jeopardized all semiautomatic firearms.”
          This is simply untrue. Not a single bill was brought to the floor in either the House or Senate that would have accomplished any of that.

        • jwtaylor. It sems you cherry picked. Provide the FULL CONTEXT.

          For your edification bills were introduced.

  2. I’m a little skeptical lately the N.R.A had much to do with pushing the constitutional issue in any of the current states that allow for this carry option.I’m a life member and have become increasingly pessimistic on their involvement on these type of issues.I remember the Mc Closkeys out in Missouri who were charged with gun crimes and the N.R.A did absolutely nothing to help them resolve the issue.I currently believe the G.O.A and Second Amendment Foundation is more actively involved in constitutional carry legislation.I fully support these organizations.

    • Jim I remind you of the matter pending before the Supreme Court. NYSR&PA v Breun Heller and McDonald. These cases don’t just happen in a vacuum.

      • Heller did not deal with “to bear” at all. Bruen has yet to be decided, and although it is a critically important case, more so for the eight hold-out states than any others, it is a CCW case, not a ConCarry case. Yes, both cases are important. But Heller had no effect at all on the states that were already “shall issue” states, and the “may issue” or “no issue” states have done their best to ignore Heller, right down the the analysis it required in 2A cases.

        • Mark N. Heller has opened the door as has MacDonald. That’s is correct Breun is not yet decided but with the Conservatives on the Court the chances are good that it will decide our way, making NY and other states “shall issue” rather than “may issue.” Concealed Carry is an ancillary to Constitutional Carry, would you not agree?
          The fact still remains that Heller and MacDonald are land mark cases which were the direct result of the NRA filing suit on behalf of the plaintiffs. The point you raise does not detract from the FACT that it was the NRA that brought about these landmarks. If it were not for the NRA and the NYSR&PA there would be no Breun case before the Court.

          Now what is the problem?

    • There is ONLY ONE guns rights organization the progs fear – NRA. GAO etc may be great guys but they have little/no political impact.

      • And the NRA has no political impact while their biggest expense is outside lawyers to keep corrupt executives out of jail. If it wasn’t for their self-serving behavior, James wouldn’t have been able to attempt to dissolve the organization.

        • Anymouse, Have you lost your mind? The NRA has a LOT of clout with people. Just not with you rabid anti-gun radicals.

          For your edification, the NYS AG has zero chance of putting any of the NRA executives in jail. She has already been struck down trying to disband the NRA. James could not find a fart in a telephone booth with a fart detector.

      • Walt…… put it this way I started throwing “monie$$$$” into their ammo can before they were trying to fight for lessened restrictions for the upcoming Gun Control Act off 1968 and I continued with funding into Friends of NRA for years and “still am a NRA member” being disgruntled with their actions for several years namely the ho-hun political and legislative strategy, starting with Wayne LaPierre’s strategic continual missteps!

        • ABN LRRP If you believe that WLP has mad “missteps” OK, fine. One thing I have found is that leaders sometimes make mistakes. It’s why we have erasers on pencils. But if it were not for the leadership there would not have been the Heller and MacDonald cases. There would be no Breun case no pending.

          Being a member did you vote for the Board members? What have you personally done to change minds to fit your issues? I don’t see their “political and legislative strategy” as ho-hum at all. Politics is the “art of the possible.” To get our agenda passed as the local, state, and Federal levels, takes more than just you and I.

        • Walt,
          We can vote for all the board members we want, I have, but they cannot unseat wayne.
          He is damaged goods and until he no longer controls the Association there will continue to be a lot of members that won’t donate.
          While he remains in power membership numbers will continue to decline along with the number of new members signing up.
          If wayne really and truly cared about the Association and its stated objectives he would step down or off a cliff.

        • Tired of the bs, Oh yes they can, but the catch is that the ones you voted for have to be in the majority.

          I am not going to address your opinion that he is “damaged goods”, That is your opinion and you are welcome to it. If a member wishes not to donate, that is their prerogative. But they are shooting themselves in the foot.

          For your information, membership in the NRA has INCREASED. IN 2018 the membership was about 4,755,00 million Today the membership is over 5 million. That’s an INCREASE not a “decline” as you allege.

          While it is clear that you have server animus toward Mr LaPierre, and he does have his detractors, it just may not be as justified as you think. There have been a lot of allegations but little substance has backed any of those allegations.

    • ABN LRRP RGR 3 tours RVN:
      Those four acronyms are obviously military jargon, but I can’t translate them for sure. Can you help me out?

  3. Well a portion of Constitutional Carry success can be attributed to those in the NRA who had nothing to do with lining their pockets with member contributions. Obviously the untrustworthy, embarrassing old guard has got to go. The new guard had better understand members will be watching how and where their contributions are disbursed.

    • Debbie W. If you truly believe that, how do you do that from outside the NRA?

      • Walter, comment after comment you state,”you have to do it from within”.
        Please explain how one “gets in”!

        • Hush, It is simple and difficult at the same time. First of all you can’t expect instant results. Second, get involved at the local, and organizational levels. Vote for people for the Board positions who agree with your positions would be an excellent start. Just remember that change will not occur over night. Third, do more than just complain. Complaints without support do nothing but make noise. Noise without support of others gets you no place fast.

      • Don’t send them money.

        And stop acting like Lapierre’s press agent. You’d have to either live under a rock or be a bald faced liar to deny his malfeasance. “Missteps” my a—.

        Which are you?

        • Excuse me, Mr French, but you have proven absolutely not a darn thing other than that you are anti-NRA. Allegations are great but without facts backing them up, they are like a fart. Smell but no substance.

          So which are you? A Fart or…?

          if you don’t want to send the NRA any money that is your prerogative. But at least supply something which is factual to support your claims.

        • I am a long-standing NRA member and previously contributing member. But the sworn testimony from the NY State AG and bankruptcy hearings has left me disgusted. And it should you as well. Are you seriously not affected by the egregious misuse of your contributions?

          No I cannot force an organization to change from the outside, but the courts certainly will.

        • Mr French, I have some news for you. the “testimony of the NYS State AG” is not testimony. It is a complaint in which the NYS Attorney General has made unsubstantiated allegations. It seems that the New York State Supreme Court Justice hearing the case has dismissed her petition to disband the NRA as the Justice has found that she has no authority to make such a request.

          Did you even attend any of the Bankruptcy hearings? Or are you parroting what you have heard?

          What expenditures were “egregious misuse of” my organization? Be specific or move on with the nonsense elsewhere.

          Let me ask you. Do you even own a firearm?

          So much for your allegations.

        • WoW, Mr French. When you can’t counter what someone has said, resort to that age old tactic of ad hominem comment.
          Seems you FAILED to address any of my points. I wonder why that is.

          Again I ask, do you even own a firearm?

  4. Great; meanwhile less ostentatious organizations like SAF are filing lawsuits and winning court battles and not wasting money we send down.

    If the NRA dumps LAPIERRE I’ll consider supporting them again.

    • Mr French, As I have pointed out to others, the NRA is not a single issue organization. It has multiple functions.

      If you want LaPierre gone, you have to do it from withing. Being on the outside serves no purpose.

      • WLP has a lock on the board and committee appointments. Several board members have resigned in frustration because they are unable to foment change from within, and staff members who were supportive of a change were sacked. Getting rid of WLP is as hard as getting rid of any dictator absent a palace coup.

        • Mark N. And that was STUPID on their part. You mean to say that it is perfectly OK that if things don’t go your way, you pickup your marbles and go home?
          There is no “lock” on appointments. The Board is who decides these matters. To say that WLP is the do all and end all is just like picking up your marbles and going home. Where I come from we don’t give up because of a reversal or two. “Who dares, WINS!”

          Nothing worthwhile is easy. The question is are you a quitter or a guy who hangs in there to find a win?

      • WEB3, fat chance… since the bloated BoD consists of LaPutin installed cronies and the likes of Marion the Contrarian, the only practical hope of change from within would be a controlled explosion in the boardroom. Continuing to support the present regime is a fools prayer to Judas… take your pennies and be off with you now !!

        • Pb_fan59 So you accept defeat and just go on home? Did you vote in the last elections for Board members? What have you done except whine and complain on forums like this?

        • Pb_fan59:
          “…the only practical hope of change from within would be a controlled explosion in the boardroom…”
          That just about sums it up. I’m a voting member of NRA, and I’m here to tell you that voting for change in the board is fraught with frustration. So, the best I can do is plunk for a couple of newcomers that seem to not be ineffectual fudds. Nevertheless, I don’t think any newcomers on the board have a snowball’s chance in hell of effecting any change. Basically, the entrenched fudds on the board (and they are fudds) will never change anything. And, if you don’t think they are fudds, just read some of their biographies.

        • Dave G. First, you are assuming that all of the current Board members are in favor of LePierre. To oust LaPierre, we have to have a MAJORITY of the Board voting to oust him. No one is really entrenched. Members of the Board have terms of office. When that term is approaching it’s end they have to be nominated and run again.

  5. Hogwash.

    I’m old enough to remember that NRA did not support private ownership of ARs, AKs, et al. The BoD were mostly FUDDs, former LEOs, and target shooters.

    I’m old enough to remember that NRA did not support private ownership of suppressors, MGs, SBRs, SBS, and AOWs, et al. The BoD were mostly FUDDs, former LEOs, and target shooters.

    I’m old enough to remember that NRA did not support concealed carry, let alone constitutional carry. The BoD were mostly FUDDs, former LEOs, and target shooters.

    • mbogo, Pure Unadulterated HOG WASH! The NRA has NEVER NOT supported private ownership of AR’s, AK’s etc. Here in NYS when the State instituted the “Assault Weapons” ban, the NRA and the NYSR&PA was in the forefront of the law suit to have the law declared the law unconstitutional. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal.

      I for one happen to agree with the ban on MG’s. (You are old enough to remember the NRA not supporting MG’s etc?) It seems that the ban goes back to 1936. I doubt you were born even then?

      As to the NRA not supporting concealed carry, would you can to explain the current suit pending in the Supreme Court entitled NYSR&PA v Breun?

      If you are so bent on the BoD why don’t you run for the position?

      I don’t know what your grudge is with the NRA but it sounds like you are swallowing the anti-NRA propaganda.

      • Walter, your history is weak. NRA was a proponent of the GCA ’68 and weakly opposed AWB ’94.

        The NRA has a been a powerful pro-2A force, but they ain’t God and several other groups SAF and FPC, have accomplished a lot more in recent years.

        • Defens, your history is weaker yet. The NRA may have compromised in the GCA ’68 but it is called getting the best deal you can given the political climate of the time. Half a loaf is sometimes better than no loaf at all? As to the AWB of ’94, the same situation existed. If I recall correctly the NRA had the sunset provision inserted into the AWB of ’94.

          If you are expecting “perfect” you will find that “perfect is the enemy of good”.

          I have never said the NRA is “God” but I believe in what they have done and tried to accomplish. SAF and FPC have accomplished some but they have done so on a “regional” or at the state level. The NRA has a associated organization in each and every state. It is up to those associated organizations to bring the mater to the attention of the NRA as they did in NYSR&PA v Breun. They have no brought any cases before the Supreme Court in which they were the “victors”.

          As I have pointed out, the NRA is not just involved in lobbying and law suits. They are “multi-faceted” in a number of just as important functions such as education, competition, etc.

      • You’re the one ignoring history. The 1977 revolt in Cincinnati was all about moving from FUDDs (Not the term at the time) to a 2A focus. Unfortunately, the bylaw changes they Instituted to stop anti-2A forces from being ejected were used by parasites to secure their positions while plundering the organization from the inside and reward their cronies.

        • Anymouse, “Anti-2nd Amendment forces”? ROFLMAO! I don’t know anything about this so called 1977 Revolt. I do know that any attempt to oust someone from the Board because of their beliefs is unAmerican and should be a violation of the law.

          There is no “Anti-2nd Amendment forces that I know of in the NRA. Please tell us who are the “members” of this “force”?

          You sound like NYS AG James’ propagandist. Maybe you can get a job as her press secretary? She is going no where fast with her suit against the NRA.

    • Not so fast…The happy camper huntin’ wing of the NRA were a little slow about catching on to the fact that their shotguns were seen as riot guns and their deer rifles were seen as sniper rifles which added up to if the AR goes their’s goes next.

      Before taking the podium to pass judgement on everyone from days gone by…The public is knee jerk gullible and they do not bother to see beyond the surface of Gun Control. A gun rights ignorant public can be attributed to ignorant omni-directional whipping boy Gun Owners trying to apologetically explain to the foot tapping media why they own a firearm.

      IMO…a FUDD is a Gun Owner who is so politically inept and history illiterate they simply cannot stand in public and properly define Gun Control by its history of racism and genocide…

      1) The Second Amendment is one thing.

      2) The criminal misuse of firearms, bricks, bats, knives, vehicles, etc. is another thing.

      3) History Confirms Gun Control in any shape, matter or form is a racist and nazi based Thing.

      • Debbie W. No one here is saying that the NRA is perfect, but if you are a one issue gun owner then the NRA may not e for you. I might suggest that you contribute to NRA-IL. The NRA has done yeoman’s work trying to educate the public on guns and gun rights. We all have to be a part of solution or else we are part of the problem.

        You are 100-% correct about “gun control.” But it is up to use gun owners not just the NRA or any other organization to do something about this issue. I for one wrote letters to the editor of the local Daily Sentinel on a multitude of issues including gun control. As I have pointed out, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem.

    • Yes WEB3, I have voted in a large majority of elections over my 50 plus years as a supporting member( i.e. not a life membership), and take offense that you keep defending the current BoD by deriding anyone who dares to speak ill of them. So, lets take a look at who the members had to pick from… Four past NRA presidents, one sitting and a couple three or four retired congressman, a disgraced former US senator, yadda yadda. Who WASN’T on the ballot? Bart Skeleton, any of a number of former assistants, former general operations director, Oliver North, pretty much anyone openly or suspected of disloyalty to the thief in chief Wayne. So all it would take to wrest control of the out of control board would be to hope to get a new blood majority to be both nominated AND elected,. Fat effin’ chance, and you know it. If you want to continue to fund the current junta in control, you do you, but quit deriding others whom have decided to let conscience and logic control their wallets.

  6. NRA hasn’t done shit except OPPOSE Constitutional Carry and support the oppressors (Police) who also oppose Constitutional Carry.

    • busybeef, EXCUSE ME! Oppose Constitutional Carry? When and where? It is NOT the police who oppose Constitutional Carry, It is the Association of Police Chiefs who are opposed and who are basically politicians looing out to protect their jobs from the Leftist politicians.

  7. “Today, every state, and the District of Columbia, provides for the carrying of a firearm for self-defense outside the home in some form.”

    LOL, not in New Jersey. Sure, a process exists to get a carry permit, but New Jersey only issues those permits to professional armed guards (e.g. Brinks armored car drivers), politicians, and their bodyguards, never to ordinary citizens. In other words, the process in New Jersey only serves politicians and the uber-wealthy by allowing their paid bodyguards to be armed. Ask the politicians in Trenton, and they’ll say, “That’s not a bug, it’s a feature! Ordinary serfs and peasants don’t deserve the protection that we politicians enjoy.”

    • If I didn’t grow up close enough Camden and Cherry Hill to know a few people and their experiences with your gun laws (almost everyone ends up going to Targetmaster) I would have trouble believing you are worse off for permits than NY in general (almost rivaling NYC). Hopefully NYSRPA’s case is deciunlocks some of the restrictions for you guys as well.

    • Stuck, Do you expect the NRA to single handedly reverse the political climate in New Jersey? That is up to you residents of New Jersey to reverse the trend, not the NRA alone.

      Tell me, what have you do to reverse the tend of Leftist ideology in your State?

  8. Did the NRA do this?

    It looked an awfull lot like state governors did this. Governors the people voted for.

    • In Georgia, it was not the NRA that substantially contributed to getting Constitutional Carry through the legislature. It was grass roots citizen pressure and the hard work of GeorgiaCarry.org.

  9. NRA and Marion Hammer haven’t even sent out an email to Florida members that a bill was filed lol. That’s how weak and irrelevant they have become.

    • 𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 $200 𝒕𝒐 $300 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒒𝒘𝒆03 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆.
      𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆__________𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒉𝟭.𝒄𝒐𝒎

  10. I remember when Philando Castile, a black man, was murdered by a cop because he was carrying a concealed weapon and the NRA said nothing until they were later shamed into making a tepid response to the murder.

    • dacian, For your further edification the NRA does not get involved in criminal matters. They never have and can’t as they are a PAC type of organization.

      The matter is/was a criminal investigation in which the officer who committed the alleged act was prosecuted. That the officer was not convicted is not the fault of the NRA. This AGAIN, is not a lobbying function. The NRA should not have commented on the incident at all.

      • Walter the Beverly Hillbilly you buffoon the NRA has made plenty of statements in the past that were political and related to crimes committed against gun owners. Its obvious you never belonged to the NRA or if you did you never read the American Rifleman magazine down through the years. I can remember as far back as the 1970’s when Kenny Balloo was gunned down in his bath tube by thugs from the ATF for having a black powder pistol and inert empty grenades. The NRA covered the case extensively. Where were you????

      • dacian the Dunderhead, What part of the NRA does NOT get involved in criminal matters don’t you understand. They are an educational and lobbying organization. Cite any case where the NRA made a statement you allege.

        I’ve been in the NRA for over 45 years as a member who is not a Patriot Endowment Life Member. Clearly you are are a B/S artist. You claim to have read the American Rifleman but apparently have never read the section about citizens using a firearm SUCCESSFULLY against your criminal friends as you “claim” that 90% of the time that the good guy with a gun gets the short end of the stick in a confrontation with the bad guys.

        By the case you cite do you mean Kenny Balew? Would you mind reading an article ? https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/How-the-NRA-became-ATF-s-biggest-enemy-4950703.php

        It seems that this was a NATIONAL issue involving the AFTE which has had a long history of abuse of gun rights. You think that could have been the reason for the NRA making comment?

        In the case you previously cited, it seems that the video is subject to altering and as I cited the officer involved was found NOT GUILTY in the matter although he was terminated by the Police Dept.

        • To Walter the Beverly Hillbilly

          quote—————-dacian, For your further edification the NRA does not get involved in criminal matters. They never have and can’t as they are a PAC type of organization.———–quote

          And your follow up quote that just made a fool of yourself,
          I did not have to do it for you.

          Quote—————–By the case you cite do you mean Kenny Balew? Would you mind reading an article ? https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/How-the-NRA-became-ATF-s-biggest-enemy-4950703.php————-quote

          Boy this one was one of your most laughable screw ups.

        • To Walter the Beverley Hillbilly

          Also as an addendum further proving that your statement about the NRA was pure hogwash.

          To Walter the Beverly Hillbilly

          quote—————-dacian, For your further edification the NRA does not get involved in criminal matters. They never have and can’t as they are a PAC type of organization.———–quote

          And a further addendum refuting your ignorant statement denying NRA history.

          The Ken Ballew raid, and in particular some of the statements made in support of the raid by gun control advocates, radicalized many gun rights advocates in the 1970s. The Ballew raid is also notable because it formed the context of much of the reaction to subsequent federal raids at Ruby Ridge, Idaho (21-31 Aug 1992) against the Weaver family and at Waco, Texas (28 Feb-19 Apr 1993) against the Branch Davidian sect.

          The NRA’s position, previously aligned with government efforts, shifted quickly, condemning the actions of the federal government.[8]
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Ballew_raid

        • dacian, the Dunderhead, ROFLMAO. Speaking of fools, isn’t that your picture in the dictionary along side of the word ?
          Clearly you FAILED again to read the article, give it another try? https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/How-the-NRA-became-ATF-s-biggest-enemy-4950703.php%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94-quote

          As to the rest of your dumbass comments, they are like you. Propaganda. I already saw your wikipedia article and I note that the NRA is not mentioned once in it.

          Try to have a good day.

  11. Alright, you can talk a big game and tell everyone that the NRA “paved the way” but I’m begging you people to SPECIFICALLY state for everyone else reading this…

    WHAT EXACTLY did the NRA actually do? Coerce state governors and state legislatures? Make them fearful of not getting re-elected? WHAT? Because if that’s it, then that doesn’t mean anything. HALF the country still does not have Permitless Carry and too many Americans STILL could not get a license if their life depended on it.

    No b.s.
    Just tell us all what they actually did?

  12. I can tell you for a fact, that the most instrumental group in Oklahoma becoming a Constitutional Carry state is NOT the NRA but the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association and its president and chief lobbyist, Don Spencer. Don works tirelessly every day the Oklahoma legislature is in session to advance the 2nd Amendment rights of all Oklahomans. Thanks to his efforts, not only does Oklahoma enjoy being a Constitutional Carry state, but we are also a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary state and we even have the first (and only) in the nation anti-Red Flag law that prohibits the state and any county or municipality from instituting a Red Flag law.

    If you’re an Oklahoman enjoying your 2nd Amendment rights and you don’t know about OK2A, I invite you to visit their website at OK2A.org or visit their group on Facebook or MeWe. I also encourage you to join, and to attend one of the 44 chapter meetings around the state. Oh, yes–we do appreciate and allow members from out of state, too.

    OK2A is a super PAC, thus allowing us to lobby for the 2A rights of Oklahomans.

  13. Hooray for the NRA .
    Wayne wants seal skin leather on the seats of his private jet.
    Join the NRA and protect your Second Amendment

    • Possum, I think Wayne wants BABY seal skin for the seats in his jet. Its softer for the tushie.

      • Yes I thought about that but figured baby seal skins didn’t quite keep the role off as good as simply seal skins. I should have probably wrote the skins from baby seals, that sounds really bad. One things for certain it certainly goes well with his whooping crane lamps and the pecker light switches from ivory billed woodpecker.

  14. Came here with a comment in mind, read the other comments, and changed my mind about what I wanted to comment on.

    We all know there is such a huge focus on the NRA among the Leftist/fascists that it HAS become a symbol, for them, of guns and gun owners. And has the largest membership (and budget, and let’s not forget we’re talking politics, here). Even if, in a particular example, GOA was “more” instrumental in this latest victory than the NRA, you can bet the GOA will be an ‘also mentioned’ in the lying Leftist press, if it gets mentioned at all.

    Was an NRA member for years. Took MANY of the NRA classes, got certified as an RSO and as instructor in several areas. While there are some great private instruction options out there, they are also expensive and usually location-based. And the NRA was the organization that really took the “early education” ball and ran with it (“Eddie the Eagle”, school programs, etc.). Overall, I would personally opine that the NRA is the pre-eminent gun safety/gun training organization in the country (the world, for that matter). And as many have pointed out, they have a big, red target on their back (which Wayne the Thief simply made bigger and redder).

    Probably no one knows the “real” truth, but it is certainly my impression that the NRA, while GENERALLY supporting 2A rights, the NRA is more akin to the FBI in law enforcement matters – show up after the locals have done the work, hog the credit and the spotlight. Walter, I “get” your point, but the NRA DID support the disastrous mess of the GCA, and only did a half-assed job of opposing the AWB.

    There are many great local organizations, and a few really good national ones, that do yeoman’s work for the 2A cause, and get relatively little credit. Everybody make their own decision, but I echo the thoughts of others on this thread – I quit the NRA (thank God, because I am both a cynic and a cheap bastard, I chose to pass on Life Membership!), and I will ONLY go back under one of two (preferably both) conditions:

    1. The NRA run Wayne the Thief out of town, along with all his friends and cronies, and get a NEW, independent BoD; and/or

    2. The NRA “return to its roots” and start concentrating on 2A education, public outreach and education, gun safety and training programs.

    But put your money, in terms of dues, where it will REALISTICALLY do the most good for the issues you most care about. WHATEVER the reasons, the NRA has, at best, a mediocre record on that in the last ten years. LOTS of money coming in, tiny little results coming out. That the NRA would even try to take credit for the wave of “constitutional carry” victories in states that we’ve had is embarrassing. They’ve “supported” these efforts on paper; in actual contributions to the effort? Not so much.

    • Well now that Lamp has sounded off, can we get the perspective of someone who *isn’t* a hate filled half wit so desperate for respect that he has to pretend to be an attorney?

      • Seeriously, Can you prove that Lamp is not an attorney? Or are you just slinging mud to see what lands? Seems you have a lot of hate built up there yourself.

        • Don’t you hate people who lie about their bona fides, particularly when said person is also a convicted domestic abuser?

        • Seriously, that accusation has been made before is as of yet is totally unproven. You have deftly but stupidly have not proven a darn thing except that you know how to commit slander.

          Now where is is your PROOF!

    • I would like to let all of you know that I, the great PB, have SINGLEHANDEDLY solved “global warming”, and without even hardly trying. See, I accidentally left my garage freezer door partly agape over the weekend, and today I woke up to three inches of snow. I will kindly accept all of your adulation.

      • Ha on you I just burnt a stack of rubber tires. The blaze was glorious once it quit smoking.

        No shit story, in a time long forgotten us river rats used to burn rubber tires on the gravel bar when fishing to keep the mosquitoes down. it really only worked if you stood in the smoke

        • Ha, mosquitos, the Minnesota state bird, although if you drive about 100 mile north of where I’m at in the state, the skeeters all but disappear. Bad news is, that’s because the deerflies, ticks, and black flies ate em all. And now they’re eying up what else is for dinner.

    • RGP, Pure unadulterated Horse Pucky! Constitutional Carry has only been an issue for the past ten or so years. Nice try.

  15. @Walter E. Beverly III. My analogy is directly applicable to humans and even this Nation in particular. Had The Founding Patriots followed your thought process. We would all be speaking British english or more like German. Sometimes the only way is to burn down the rotted house and build anew. The rub is knowing when you’ve reached the point of diminishing gains and having the courage to strike the match. Fortunately for us, the Founding Patriots recognized they had reached that point.

  16. Same old, same old; GOA and state organizations do all of the work, NRA takes the credit. Hey Wayne? GFYS!

  17. Ok, I’m willing to give the NRA an “ATTA BOY” and a pat on the back. They have put some effort and spent money on the permit less carry issue and lobbied in state and federal levels, as well as provided support for several of the lawsuits going on over gun rights and second amendment issues. But, they, like many national organizations, are very dependent on local groups to do much of the grunt work and thankless digging in the trenches, while being happy to step up and claim the victory.
    WLP has been at the helm for more than long enough. As have most of the BOD. if they haven’t stolen enough by now to retire comfortably, they just prove their incompetence even more. And I say the same for all of the long serving politicians who have been around forever. Getting rich on other people’s money and still not getting the job done.

    • oldmaninAL The NRA HAS TO DEPEND on local and state organizations to do the “grunt work.” The NRA does not have the fund to employ locals to do the entire job. The NRA does a provide support for the State and local organizations.

      As to whether or not WLP has been at the help long enough is a matter for the Board of Directors and the membership. You make an accusation of theft by whom? NYS Attorney General tried to make that case and it was thrown out of court.

      You claim incompetence? How so?

  18. The NRA fought constitutional carry in MO tooth and nail, in addition to handing the states gun rights groups their only defeats all while endorsing a far left wing anti gun extremist NRA A+ rated democrat for Governor. They and La Pew can stick it.

    • Erick That is not true and you know it. While they did not go for the “all or nothing” approach of the Missouri organization, they in fact did support Constitutional Carry Nice try but that is anti-NRA propaganda. I challenge you to prove otherwise.

  19. Pathetic how the MSM thug propagandists have succeeded in their objective to divide the NRA. But it does further illustrate where the Russian propagandists have succeeded in planting their BS into heads with their Ukraine narrative.

    I’ve seen many “I don’t believe ANYTHING the MSM says” but then you do. (which is good advice) Yet because some BS has been retwitted enough times you think frequency becomes reality. Truely pathetic.

  20. The NRA supported The National Firearms Act of 1934.
    The NRA supported The Federal Firearms Act of 1938.
    The NRA supported The Gun Control Act of 1968.
    And the NRA let the Hughes Amendment of 1986 to the GCA slide without a fight.
    The NRA supported the gun free zone act.
    The NRA helped write the 1994 Assault weapons ban.
    The NRA Tried to kill the heller case.
    The NRA suggested and supported the bump stock ban.
    The NRA supports red flag laws.

    • dan,
      The NRA did support the NFA of ’34 as a result of the organized crime wave at the time. This is true.
      The NRA did support the FFA of 38. The 1930s crime spree of the Prohibition era, which still summons images of outlaws outfitted with machine guns, prompted President Franklin Roosevelt to make gun control a feature of the New Deal. The NRA assisted Roosevelt in drafting the 1934 National Firearms Act and the 1938 Gun Control Act, the first federal gun control laws. These laws placed heavy taxes and regulation requirements on firearms that were associated with crime, such as machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and silencers. Gun sellers and owners were required to register with the federal government and felons were banned from owning weapons. Not only was the legislation unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court in 1939, but Karl T. Frederick, the president of the NRA, testified before Congress stating, “I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons. I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses.”

      The NRA did lend support to the Gun Control Act of 1968 but did so the gain concessions from Congress on various provisions.It did so because: https://www.history.com/news/black-panthers-gun-control-nra-support-mulford-act

      For your edification, the NRA supported the “Hughes Amendment 1986” it repealed a number of egregious parts of the GCA of ’68. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act

      The NRA did support gun free zones with provisos: See: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2018/feb/23/everytown-gun-safety/did-nras-lapierre-once-call-gun-free-schools/

      That the NRA “supported the Assault Weapons Bas is a LIE! The National Rifle Association (NRA) opposed the ban. In November 1993, NRA spokesman Bill McIntyre said that assault weapons “are used in only 1 percent of all crimes.” The low usage statistic was supported in a 1999 Department of Justice brief.

      The NRA did NOT try to Kill the Heller case; in fact the NRA filled an appeal of the lower court’s decision which appeal was upheld by the Supreme Court. Again, you have lied.

      Bump Stocks? Partly true. These devices came to national attention in October 2017 after the horrific attack in Las Vegas. As multiple media accounts correctly pointed to at the time, there was overwhelming legislative support for proposals that went far beyond these specific devices and some that could have potentially jeopardized all semiautomatic firearms. Rather than sit back and watch a legislative over-reaction, the NRA asked Congress to let ATF review its prior determinations on bump fire stocks.

      Some have used our October 2017 statement to claim that NRA supports ATF’s final rule, but as NRA-ILA’s Executive Director Chris Cox noted only days after our statement was issued, “We don’t believe that bans have ever worked on anything.”

      We also made this clear in our comments to ATF on the proposed rule earlier this year. In our comments, we further advised that ATF should at a minimum make an amnesty period available to deal with the fundamental inequity imposed on law-abiding gun owners who purchased their bump fire stocks in good faith reliance on prior ATF determinations. We continue to pursue the availability of a period of amnesty with the administration.

      While there can be disagreement on legislative strategy, it’s important to remember that we will soon face a hostile, anti-gun Congress led by Nancy Pelosi. It’s critical that all gun owners unite and prevent the Bloomberg-bought Congress from dismantling our Second Amendment freedom.

      As to “Red Flag Laws”: here is the TRUTH which you managed to pervert: The NRA did not identify any federal or state red flag laws that it supported, and even after its March 2018 announcement continued to work to defeat or weaken red flag bills introduced in state legislatures.

      The NRA in fact pushed for due process of confiscation of any firearm using this process. A process which today the NRA opposes as there is NO DUE PROCESS.

      It seems you are trying to spread anti-NRA propaganda? It seems that you are trying to spread half truths which in fact makes your claims to be lies/

      • You didnt address anything I said, just more nra propaganda. How about addressing my points?

  21. And Thank You NRA for helping pass the ban on Open Carry in California in the 1960’s. They also lost many lawsuits in California in the last 6 years. What about the anti 2A laws the NRA was neutral on that just passed the U.S. Senate and became law. Don’t believe the NRA!

    I stopped my membership years ago. Until they change out the good old boy network, I will trust and support the other 2A groups.

  22. Interesting. I have read on another forum that the Executive Director essentially controls all the NRA Board except for one that is elected. Although I am a Life member of the NRA (and other 2nd amendment organizations), I do not know if that is true. If it is, then that seems like something that needs changed. Can anyone tell me how the elections work?

  23. For all this discussion and pulling back and forth of how things have changed from doing things 80 years ago to what they did just a few years ago, I still have NOT heard anything at all as to what they did.

    What exactly did they do?

    You can tell me how good or how bad they are but I expect straight answers here if the expectation or desire is to join.

    Many pro-NRA people seem to miss the idea that there is a lack of transparency keeping MANY people away and MANY donations withheld. If I’m missing something here then fine, explain this to me. What I’m reading here says nothing to me. But it’s obvious it isn’t changing other peoples’ minds either.

    I completely understand the concept that change happens from within. I also understand that I should be seeing more that defensive lawsuits and news articles of regular wins for various NRA efforts.

    Just answer the question.

  24. Any pro-NRA member:
    Within the context of this article, sell me on the worthiness of joining. Explain to me why it’s worth being a member because this is the one organization that can give this nation Permitless Carry.

    It’s kinda hard for me to congratulate someone when I have no idea what they did.

    Sell me on this. Give me your best pitch. Just be honest.

    • Prndll, I have made my case for the NRA repeatedly on this thread. I suggest you scroll up and take a good look, then get back to me.

      • Ok…I went back through everything and I certainly do feel like I was given a sales pitch. That is what I asked for. I just did not see in anything you said that answers the question of what the NRA. There is much defending their actions and that’s fine. There is however one item that sticks out.

        “We believe in absolutely gun-free, zero-tolerance, totally safe schools.That means no guns in America’s schools. Period.”

        You say Wayne actually did say that. That is very interesting to me.

        Gun free zones don’t keep anyone safe. It is the exact opposite. If this is the personal belief of the NRA and its BoD then I see nothing that separates them from the Democrat Party where politics is concerned.

        Nice effort though. But you have failed to sell me on this product.

        • Prndll, While I agree that “gun free zones” don’t protect anyone, when he said that it was said in the moment.

          If you want to call my posts a “sale pitch”, so be it. it is what I believe. While in the past WLP did say that it is the position of the NRA today that they are AGAINST gun free zones” I submit: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/403736-nra-spokeswoman-calls-for-end-to-gun-free-zones-after-jacksonville/

          https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-for-end-to-gun-free-zones/
          While Mr LaPierre did say that at one time, it does not apply today. Many things are said at one time which look great at that moment that they have to back track or retract latter one.

          I am not trying to sell you anything, but I do suggest that you do THROUGH research on this subject matter.

        • @Walter E Beverly III
          All that does is make the NRA look wishy washy. Something that definitely doesn’t convince me. Give me a moment to put my finger in the air to check wind direction.

          As for me, I am not in favor of gun free zones and haven’t been since I started to understand just what they were. They get people killed and that is proven on an all too frequent basis.

          I am a TSRA member though.

          Of course your trying to sell it. So are everyone else here. From Debbie and her gun control is racist (which I agree with) to Dacian an his socialist lunacy on through the article being posted on this site to start with. Even me. Its OK. Thats what humans do. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.

        • Prndll, I can see that you are what some might call an absolutist. You want all of nothing. Well, my “friend” the world does not work that way in politics. Someday you are going to realize that.

          Excuse me but I have never heard of a “TSRA” organization, but if it makes you happy more power to you.

          If you want to call my posts “trying to sell you”, that is your take. I have presented facts. If the facts bother you, I am sorry about that. (Well, not too much).

      • Walter Walter Walter you really need to stick with your process serving and bail jumper business. Considering all the thing the NRA hasn’t done for New Yorker’s like you. I can’t imagine your blind love the WLP.

        • Darkman, Darkman, Darkman, it seems that the NRA is bankrolling the NYSR&PA v Breun matter no pending before SCOTUS.
          I have nothing to do with bail jumpers. Nice try.
          Incidentally, have a good day.

        • Darkman, again, you are lying. My FACEBOOK page says ZERO about my doing any business with bail jumping. Not to mention there is no licensing for process servers in NYS. You really ought to do something about your Pinocchio nose. Get a grip, boy!

  25. Mr. Beverly, I admire your courage to do battle with many here; you’re a good man, clearly stating your beliefs. I’m an NRA member (whatever the level is below Benefactor) and agree with you that the best way to affect change is from within. I’ve met several of the Board members over the years, even gotten candid BoD voting advice from a few but this year there was only one independent person up for a vote; very tough to affect change with odds like that. I remain a member because the organization has done much more good than bad for the cause, and can do so again, but I strongly believe that WLP should leave for the good of the organization. That said, I still proudly wear my NRA jacket around town (Albany, NY) for it’s still, by far, the best known pro 2A brand and upsets the lefties. Be well.

    • Cannon, Then I guess we have to work harder? That there was “only one independent person up for a vote” is one thing, but how many people already on the board are “independent” ? I personally have no opinion as to whether or not LaPierre should step down. I see where he has done a lot of good in spite of the bad publicity he has gotten, much of it allegations without and real substantiation.

      We are birds of a feather. I also proudly wear my NRA jacket here in Central NY. No organization is “perfect” to everyone. Is LaPierre the bast man for the job. I remain open to that, but who do we have to replace him with his stature? I agree that the NRA is by far the best current proponent of the 2nd Amendment. There are other organizations but they do not have the clout or the reach of the NRA.

      I guess I am the kind of guy who will stand up for what he believes in, come what may.

    • For the lack of anything more credible, I would accept Rand’s findings on this. But it renders it down to a matter of belief. A he-said-she-said kinda thing where nothing said on either side means much of anything outside of the emotional aspects of it. If this is to be the take-away then the only reasonable position to take is that all this does not justify the effort or the action. Emotional distress is a poor foundation for building law. That moves people into vengeance, vigilanteism, and ultimately lawlessness. I think this is part of what happened to David Hogg. Fueled by people with money enough to take it to very dangerous levels.

      My position remains the same. It is not necessary to arm teachers. What is required is to stop disarming them. Dissolving gun free zones is part of that.

  26. WLP’s guilt or innocence is yet to be determined. However, living the life of a foreign dignitary by flying 1st Class, staying in 5 Star hotels, wearing $5000 suits, and providing $4500-a-month apartments for a shapely, young, “intern” casts a suspicious light. Federal level politicians have been taken to task for much lower levels of alleged impropriety, and they resigned to spare their organization the expense and bad publicity of having theirs, and by extension everyone connected to them, lives dissected and examined.

  27. Again.. still… support of the current NRA is nothing more than “battered wife syndrome”.

    Come on…you are supporting an organization that just last week went out of their way to publicly support a Florida politician that was actively working to destroy the free exercise of its citizen’s rights.

    I’m just not able to take those of you who continue to support this organization seriously anymore.

  28. Astounding that people let the NRA take credit for Heller, which they actively tried to stop.

    • It’s the same strategy used by Liberal and Progressive Democrat before an election. For Democrats its called ALAR Act Like A Republican. For the NRA its SGRATW Support Gun Rights After The Win

  29. I’m curious how much $$$$$ wayne is paying walter e the 3rd ? walt if you didn’t get a 10k suit and a 24 year old a “assistant ” you got ripped off.

    • Well, Mr Baker, apparently you have not heard of NYSR&PA v Breun? What are you looking for? A revolt?

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