Joe, let's be clear. My mind is not closed to renewing my longtime membership in the NRA, but my statement that "I have no plans" to renew does mean what it says, especially after the last telemarketing call I got from the NRA ended in a hangup from the other end after I politely but firmly stated for the third time that I wasn't going to renew right then.
I recognize the good work the NRA has done in the past, especially as part of the 1994 Republican Revolution, which was unfortunately stillborn. For example, the NRA was front and center in putting the late Mike Synar, (D-Oklahoma, Lord rest his soul), out of work after his critical vote in passing the Clinton "assault weapon" ban.
These days, I really don't think I need to enumerate the cases of the NRA's duplicity, treating gun owners the same way the Republican party treats conservatives, i.e. as if they have nowhere else to go.
Some of the anger and name-calling from fellow freepers who don't quite see things the same way some of the rest of us do, particularly those of us who have been paying attention to events in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, hasn't gone a long ways to make me think otherwise, either.
If this deal with Reid turns out to be as if it appears, (and there are pictures and a puff piece in "America's First Freedom" to support the assertion), the onus isn't on me to prove my loyalty to the NRA. My loyalty is to my rights as recognized by the 2nd amendment. The onus is on the NRA to reaffirm their loyalty to those same rights. Too many Toomey/Specter, Coburn/Rice, Angle/Reid situations to pass the credibility test for me. All these good pro-2a candidates have been undermined by the NRA just trying to make some sort of point to the beltway crowd about "bipartisanship".
The next time you harangue the folks at the NRA, tell them that you know at least one person who'd really like to see the NRA doing some of the same good work it's done in the past and who will consider renewing his membership when they do if the next telemarketing call isn't as rude as the last one was. I really miss The American Rifleman magazine if nothing else.
/rant
The NRA has become in large part a political organization and, like such, can develop a disconnect with those it represents. Which is why we all must harangue together, lest we harangue separately. $;-)
Great post OK - couldn’t have said it better. Take care.