d-bone20917

The public land issue is why I wouldn't go to Texas either. I'd be looking at Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, or Montana. Alaska is on my list too, but the wife said no way (but not that nicely). My wife's family lives in Oklahoma so she would love to get closer to them as well. When I was in college in OK we used to go down to Texas occasionally and the best part was they had no open container law. It was perfectly legal to drive around while drinking a beer, provided the driver wasn't impaired. That may have changed by now though.

I'm not sure Texas is where I would like to go, but for guns and taxes it is definitely better than NY.

Check Ebay. That is where I get all of my reloading equipment. You can usually find stuff cheaper than anywhere else too.

Oh please. They should grow a set and stay involved in the discussions. What good does walking away do?

I don't get it. What did they do that has people saying "good for them"? They showed up to meeting to talk about how to reduce gun violence, then they are shocked that that actually included a discussion on potential new gun laws, so they put out a silly statement then took their ball and went home. What did I miss?

Yeah I hear you. My kids are 3 and 6 so it is hard to get away, but I got the go ahead from my wife this year so me and 3 other guys are heading to Colorado for 2 weeks of archery elk hunting. We are going on the cheap though... DIY on public land. We are also camping on forest service land which doesn't cost anything. Now I just have to get my fat ass in shape for the mountains.

Woofer, that was in the news this past summer ever before the Sandy Hook shooting. I got that from the Houston Chronicle site, but if you do a google search for "GOP NRA poll" or something like that you will get several hits on the same report. It was done by a "GOP pollster" but I believe the info was released by some "mayors against illegal guns" or something similar.

According to my American Hunter magazine I'm paid up until September of this year, but I'm sure I'll get over a hundred letters between now and then reminding me. So I have time to save up. Come on ants, 30 round clips are everywhere... haven't you been watching the news?

Ok... I'm done now. That is officially my last NRA bashing post. I need to get back to loading my 30 round clips.

Exactly Mr VJP. People need to get involved and that means more than just mailing a check. The NRA should be doing far more with the money they get than they are too. Time for LaPierre to step aside and make room for some new blood. From Forbes: If you’re a transparency fan like me, you appreciate knowing what kind of skin public people have in the game during episodes like this. So what did the NRA pay Lapierre to say that the best way to stop school shootings is to have the government put every mentally ill person in the nation on a watch list and arm school personnel to defend schools like banks? Just under a million bucks. That’s according to the most recent NRA filings with the IRS. The numbers are a bit out of date. The last filing of a Form 990 from the NRA was in 2010. Still, if you’re interested in the numbers behind America’s most powerful gun lobby, it makes for interesting reading. The organization’s mission is simply stated, right at the top: “To protect and defend the U.S. Constitution.” To accomplish this, in 2010 the NRA reported that it had 781 full time employees, 125,000 volunteers and generated revenues of $227.8 million. Where does all that come from? In 2010, $71 million came from contributions and grants, $100 million from membership fees and $46 million from other revenue sources, like ad sales ($20 million) royalties, rents and subscriptions. In 2010 that wasn’t enough to cover expenses. In total, they spent $243.5 million, leaving a $15 million shortfall, at least that year, which was cushioned by assets of $37.5 million. Where did all the money go? About $33 million went to salaries and wages (not including the top brass), $28 million went to advertising and promotions. By far the biggest items were membership outreach: $57 million for membership communications, $24 million for printing and shipping, $16 million for educational programs. Just about $10 million went to the NRA’s lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action. More than $12.7 million went to Akron-Ohio based InfoCision, a huge telemarketing company that lists a broad spectrum of blue chip non-profits as clients– including Smile Train, the American Diabetes Association, Easter Seals and Unicef—as well as the College Republican National Committee and companies like Time Warner and AT&T. As for salaries, fifty-six people in the organization earned more than $100,000 in 2010—and 10 made more than $250,000. Lapierre does not top the list. Kayne B. Robinson, the executive director of general operations does. He was paid just over $1 million. Lapierre was second, pulling in $970,000 in reportable and estimated comp. Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the group’s lobbying efforts, was third. He earned just over $666,000. The whole thing is here.

That's a pretty safe bet.

If you want to hunt elk why not just head out west and buy an OTC tag and hunt DIY? That way you don't need to wait to hit the PA elk lottery. We own many many millions of acres out there so you should take advantage of it.

I never used to but I've been getting them since my first child was born because of the concern with having the flu around a newborn baby. I've been getting them ever since (7 years). We get them free at work so it's tough to pass up.

The just want your money, not your opinion. From the Houston Chronicle. "On some issues, there is little dissent: 87 percent of NRA members say they believe enforcing Second Amendment rights coincides with keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals. The majority of NRA rank-and-file members (71 percent) say they support the barring of people on terror watch lists from purchasing firearms, and a slightly smaller majority (65 percent) believe gun owners should be required by law to alert the police in the event their gun is lost or stolen. However, the NRA’s Washington office opposes both of these efforts."

That response was to genesee_mohican above yours. Happy New Year to you too.

I knew you had follow-up comments. Actually ants, if I didn't live in such an anti-gun state such as NY, I doubt I would be.

Good response GM, and I guess that is why I continue to join also. It is when I review the finances and see what they are doing with my money that pi**es me off. And the fact that they focus more on lobbying for the gun manufacturers when they are funded by members doesn't sit well with me either. If they want to by an industry lobbying group they should be funded by the industry. And they need to stay out of land management issues. If they would just focus on protecting our 2nd amendment rights I would quit complaining. Oh well... it's been fun stirring things up, I need to get back to the football game.

Good point hunter. The truth is there is a lot you can do that is probably more helpful then sending the NRA $35. Those that simply write a check to the NRA and kick back fat, dumb, and happy really aren't helping either.

What does your membership in the NRA do to protect your 2nd amendment rights?

So it's obvious you have no idea where the NRA stands on hunting and conservation issues. The reason a lot of hunters will not join the NRA is because of these issues. Now personally I don't think the NRA should get involved in hunting issues because I think they should be strictly focused on our second amendment rights, which has nothing to do with hunting. I was just pointing out the facts that the NRA is not a pro-hunting group and it shows. Now it is obvious you are a NRA leg humper who drank the kool-aid and thinks they can do no wrong. I like to hold the organizations I belong to accountable to make sure they are doing what they said they would do when I pay my dues. And when I join for 3 years quit calling me at 10:00 PM and sending me junk mail everyday to re-up. They have way more money then they need.

On the contrary, I believe they prefer members who haven't got a clue.

I feel sorry for them having to work in this shack. I also heard their gourmet coffee fund was running low so why not help out where I can.

Exactly. I knew you'd understand.

I constantly ask myself that same question. I guess because it's not that expensive and I like the idea of what they should be doing. I sign up for the 3 year memberships every time I renew. That locks me in for a period of time or else I may not be a member right now. I'm sure you have a follow up question or comment?

The NRA is not a pro hunting organization. In fact a lot of the stances they take have been anti-hunting, especially out west. And don't kid yourself, the NRA is a lobbying group to protect the gun manufacturers, they could really care less about the citizens. Regardless I continue to join, but it is pretty obvious they don't need any additional members the way they piss money away. And that is the only reason there is to join right? To give them more money?