NRA vs. GOA

[lovemachine]

Which is the better one to join? The NRA or the GOA? Was talking to my uncle last night, and he said the NRA isn't doing their job anymore, and that the GOA is the only one fighting for us to keep our weapons. I was curious what your thoughts are to the 2.

 

[kingnereli]

Both are admirable organizations. However, GOA just doesn't yet have the manpower or girth to do much. It is the NRA that is the proverbial elephant in the room to the law makers in Washington. They hold influence based on their numbers. The more members the NRA has the more influential they can be. Every signature on on the petition they plop on a congressman's desk counts.

 

[ocsdor]

Join both.

 

[furbymac]

this is the first i have ever heard of the goa

 

[Eddie]

Join both.

This. If you have the funds then support the NRA, the GOA, INGO and as many other pro-gun organizations as you can.

 

[longbarrel]

Do GOA. The NRA has a voice in Wahington I know, but they seem to have lost their focus. All they want is money. Get mad, I don't care, it's the truth. For $35 you get a shirt with a flag, bald eagle, and the word freedom. All made in Nicaragua How are you going to do this? Better yet, why would you support this? Or, if you don't have $35 you can give just $10 and still have the most important thing....your voice will be heard in D.C. After you give just $10 you will be continuosly asked for more.

 

[360]

Do GOA. The NRA has a voice in Wahington I know, but they seem to have lost their focus. All they want is money. Get mad, I don't care, it's the truth. For $35 you get a shirt with a flag, bald eagle, and the word freedom. All made in Nicaragua How are you going to do this? Better yet, why would you support this? Or, if you don't have $35 you can give just $10 and still have the most important thing....your voice will be heard in D.C. After you give just $10 you will be continuosly asked for more.

That's the impression I get too.

 

[FordMan08]

For $35 you get a shirt with a flag, bald eagle, and the word freedom. All made in Nicaragu.

I thought it was made in China?

 

[antsi]

Join both.

This is makes the most sense.

People moan about the shortcomings of the NRA, and about 10% of the time they actually have a point. However, the NRA is the most effective organization in the business right now and supporting them makes sense. I guarantee you, fence sitters in Congress aren't trembling in their boots worrying about whether the GOA is going to support or oppose them next time they stand for re-election.

At the same time, there is some value to having fringe groups that push a more "ideologically pure" agenda. So yes, support both.

Look at the gun control side. They have groups like the American Hunters and Shooters Association, so they can have a "reasonable" face when that suits their agenda. They also have the more hard core "ban everything" groups to step forward when that best serves their purposes. This is smart politics, people. I obviously don't agree with their agenda, but they are definitely tactically smarter than our side is. You don't see the anti gunners getting in to useless fights between the "pragmatic" gun control groups and the "purist" groups.

You can howl and moan all you want about "playing politics," but politics is the name of the game when it comes to legislation and enforcement. If the bad guys do a better job playing politics than we do, then they win.

All they want is money.

This makes no sense. If you want an effective political lobbying organization, they are going to have to raise money.

 

[melensdad]

Do GOA. The NRA has a voice in Wahington I know, but they seem to have lost their focus. . .

I'd have to disagree.

While the NRA is not perfect, and is slow to act in some cases, the GOA is only the mouse that squeeks in the corner.

I'm a member of BOTH and believe that others should be as well. My logic is that the GOA, while only a pipsqeek in comparison, it does stir the pot, so to speak. Sometimes that is a very good thing and it stands as an organization that criticizes the NRA (sometimes by dragging up 30 year old junk, but sometimes for very valid reasons). So the GOA tends to be the 'check' in the system that keeps the NRA from straying too far off course. But the GOA is not respected by most members of congress and is not heard by many either, that is why we need to NRA and we need to keep them focused.

So join both.

Another organization worth joining is the JEWS FOR PRESERVATION OF FIREARMS OWNERSHIP. You don't have to be Jewish to join, they take all faiths (and non-faiths). They come at the rights of gun ownership from a different perspective, one that is sometimes shrill, but one that is difficult to argue with. They can make claims that other groups cannot, and still be politically correct

 

[antsi]

My logic is that the GOA, while only a pipsqeek in comparison, it does stir the pot, so to speak. Sometimes that is a very good thing

This.

criticizes the NRA (sometimes by dragging up 30 year old junk, but sometimes for very valid reasons).

In addition to the 30 year old junk, there is also an awful lot of outright misrepresntation. For example, all the wailing about the so-called "veterans disarmament act" is pure propaganda and deliberately misleading about the effects of the bill.

While I do agree with GOA's criticism of the NRA at times - yes, they do occasionally have a real point - they seem to spend more time fighting the NRA than they do fighting the gun ban crowd.

 

[BE Mike]

The NRA ain't perfect, but they are the big kid on the block. They have my money and support. I'm not knocking the GOA. They have a place. Hoosiers should also belong to the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Assn.

The problem I have with some folks is that they use their criticisms to justify not joining or donating to pro-gun groups. These pro-gun groups give us a louder voice than we as pro-gun individuals will ever have. Join any group, but join.

 

[fastwally]

NRA, they were fighting for our gun rights long...long before you ever heard of the GOA. So the NRA asks for more money, you only have to give if you want. Join both for no more than they cost.

 

[Regionnus Rattis]

Join both.

We need as many voices as we can get in front of Washington lawmakers. Not everyone is perfect...look at us bunch of guys here....but getting the voice out and the message through as many channels as we can, that is what can make a difference.

 

[minuteman32]

I became a life member of GOA because they are the most consistently Constitutional voice in DC, as well as several states (Larry Pratt, the Exec. Director, actually came to IN to support us when the Gov. signed the lifetime permit & Castle laws!! It took the NRA almost a year to even acknowlege the permit law existed!).

I became a life member of the NRA because I'm an NRA instructor & they are the biggest (plus I figure it gives me griping rights if they don't persue legislation I think they should). I also got a "good deal", otherwise I would have only stayed an annual member.

I have been, intermitently, a member of SAF & JPFO, too. I would become a life member of both of them, but have not had the financial ability for awhile.

I am also a member of th ISRPA, too.

I would (and do) join all that you can afford.

 

[LotsofGlocks]

Join both if you can.

 

[JohnP82]

Why not join both? Personally I have always been a fan of GOA and have been a member for several years now. Both are great organizations and help to fight for our rights, I just have not got around to joining the NRA yet but plan to soon.

 

[Lanser]

Both are admirable organizations. However, GOA just doesn't yet have the manpower or girth to do much. It is the NRA that is the proverbial elephant in the room to the law makers in Washington. They hold influence based on their numbers. The more members the NRA has the more influential they can be. Every signature on on the petition they plop on a congressman's desk counts.

Speaking as a Political Science major, I agree with this guy. Membership is the single biggest source of power for such an organization, followed by convincing info/data, and money coming dead last (there are limits -- low ones -- to campaign contribution). The NRA has tons of all three. If you get and read their newsletters and alerts, you will also find that they are still quite aggressive in their defense of gun rights. It's true that they want money as well, but that is how they keep the organization running smoothly, especially when it has to juggle such a huge membership (and such a huge task).

I don't know that much about the GOA, but I know that for the time being the NRA is still "where it's at." In fact, every time my PSCI professors talk about interest groups, the NRA is always brought up as the example of a big voice on the Hill.

 

[kwelz]

I agree with the Join both Crowd. But if you can only pick one then make it the NRA.

 

[John Galt]

I agree with the both crowd, hedge your bets instead of choosing between the two. Given the fact that the gun decisions finally seem to be going our way lately, sombody's doing something right in DC.

"Never, never, never give up!" - Winston Churchill