Hawaii Rifle Association and Hawaii Defense Foundation. What are they and why should I join? Do I just get T-shirts or something and then be part of a group?

Hdf takes an active approach to securing our 2a rights through legislative means, rather then a "defensive" role.
Hdf also has range days where they practice practical application and manipulation of firearms.
They also offer firearm education classes to promoted the growth of the 2a community through new shooters.
And probably many more I'm forgetting.

HRA is our lobbying group, and is a part of the NRA
they fight for us through the legislative process
you get a magazine for joining NRA

HDF is fighting for our rights in court, trying to get shall issue concealed carry
currently in US district court on the mainland

HRA has a fun shoot day in conjunction with LIFE most months
HDF has a range day most months

they are 2 separate groups fighting for our 2a rights

Hawaii Rifle Association and Hawaii Defense Foundation. What are they and why should I join? Do I just get T-shirts or something and then be part of a group?

Agreed with above but one clarification.

HRA and NRA are 2 separate organizations, although HRA is the NRA Affiliate in Hawaii. 

Joining HRA is a separate process from joining NRA.  Joining 1 does not join you to the other but I suggest doing both.

HRA - lobbying in Hawaii.  I get the HRA newsletter by joining the HRA.
NRA - lobbying nationally.  I get the NRA magazine and lots of mailers by joining the NRA. 

By joining the groups, how would I benefit the team? I do not know all the legal stuff that they deal with. It's more like why would I join when I have no idea what I'm doing. Besides donating money, what do they expect members to do?

chris (funtimes) is HDF
he can always use volunteer help and donations
some/most of the info on what they do is on the HDF webpage and HDF facebook page

blkdrgn, i suggest you come to a forum pau hana and meet people
there are HDF and HRA members there and you can get a feel for things
HRA funshoot is the sun aug 25 and the HDF range day is sat aug 31
you could also stop by one of those days and check things out
(note- i was viewed kinda suspiciously when i went to watch a HRA funshoot, i think they thought i was media or an anti-gunner
people have experienced bad feelings from HRA when certain individuals made them feel less than welcome while watching
i kinda felt this, but it would not cause me not to join)

By joining the groups, how would I benefit the team? I do not know all the legal stuff that they deal with. It's more like why would I join when I have no idea what I'm doing. Besides donating money, what do they expect members to do?

i am pretty sure that chris will be a the next pau hana

chris (funtimes) is HDF
he can always use volunteer help and donations
some/most of the info on what they do is on the HDF webpage and HDF facebook page

blkdrgn, i suggest you come to a forum pau hana and meet people
there are HDF and HRA members there and you can get a feel for things
HRA funshoot is the sun aug 25 and the HDF range day is sat aug 31
you could also stop by one of those days and check things out
(note- i was viewed kinda suspiciously when i went to watch a HRA funshoot, i think they thought i was media or an anti-gunner
people have experienced bad feelings from HRA when certain individuals made them feel less than welcome while watching
i kinda felt this, but it would not cause me not to join)

chris (funtimes) is HDF
he can always use volunteer help and donations
some/most of the info on what they do is on the HDF webpage and HDF facebook page

blkdrgn, i suggest you come to a forum pau hana and meet people
there are HDF and HRA members there and you can get a feel for things
HRA funshoot is the sun aug 25 and the HDF range day is sat aug 31
you could also stop by one of those days and check things out
(note- i was viewed kinda suspiciously when i went to watch a HRA funshoot, i think they thought i was media or an anti-gunner
people have experienced bad feelings from HRA when certain individuals made them feel less than welcome while watching
i kinda felt this, but it would not cause me not to join)

Did you approach anyone to ask questions?  Or did you remain near the back of the shooting bay and observing?  Either way, it's all good, but if it was the latter, I will say that if someone just hangs out near the back of the shooting bay that I will tend to notice and keep an eye out since there are guns and ammunition out on the range and we want to make sure that everyone is safe.  Unfortunately, there have been numerous reports of guns walking away at Koko Head, so just something we all need to be aware of. 

One thing is that we ask everyone who is shooting to attend a safety brief in the morning and again in the afternoon and sign waivers.  Yes, the HRA Fun Shoots are for HRA members, but we could certainly welcome those interested in attending future shoots to come by, talk story and ask questions.  We want to share the enjoyment of shooting sports with the community and not have any sort of exclusive vibe.  Next time you're in the area, approach someone participating or seek the RSO (it may very well be me) and tell them you're interested in participating and would like to observe. 

yeah ok, that could explain a lot
i didn't think of it that way
there have been a couple of reports in the past on 2ahawaii where people were put off more than i was
i didn't take it personally at all

Did you approach anyone to ask questions?  Or did you remain near the back of the shooting bay and observing?  Either way, it's all good, but if it was the latter, I will say that if someone just hangs out near the back of the shooting bay that I will tend to notice and keep an eye out since there are guns and ammunition out on the range and we want to make sure that everyone is safe.  Unfortunately, there have been numerous reports of guns walking away at Koko Head, so just something we all need to be aware of. 

One thing is that we ask everyone who is shooting to attend a safety brief in the morning and again in the afternoon and sign waivers.  Yes, the HRA Fun Shoots are for HRA members, but we could certainly welcome those interested in attending future shoots to come by, talk story and ask questions.  We want to share the enjoyment of shooting sports with the community and not have any sort of exclusive vibe.  Next time you're in the area, approach someone participating or seek the RSO (it may very well be me) and tell them you're interested in participating and would like to observe.

yeah ok, that could explain a lot
i didn't think of it that way
there have been a couple of reports in the past on 2ahawaii where people were put off more than i was
i didn't take it personally at all

There are some people who just show up and feel that because the description for say the afternoon session includes "open shoot" that means that they can just come by any time with their guns and be allowed to shoot.  When they show up, we have to turn them away because they are usually not HRA members, did not attend the safety brief nor signed the waivers.  No matter how polite you are to them, many times they go away feeling miffed/irritated/mad simply because they had it in their mind that they wanted to shoot and they didn't get their way.  They don't see that there's actually quite a bit of work to setup, take down the tents, put away the chairs, etc.

I'm not saying that those who posted feelings of being "put off" didn't encounter someone who was rude, but most of the people at the HRA/LIFE Fun Shoots are really nice people. 

I've also shot with HDF and Chris is a little more open on people showing up when they can and participating in the open shoot sessions. 

In the end, I would encourage people to take advantage of both opportunities, but to also contribute and support both organizations that make those opportunities to shoot possible.  They are both really valuable organizations in terms of protecting and fighting for our 2A rights. 

yeah, certainly i understand
other people who are less appreciative of other's hard work or have a more entitled mentality have unrealistic expectations of certain situations

i just wanted to see what was expected and how things worked before i committed to the full day experience

and i wholeheartedly support both groups and your closing statement

There are some people who just show up and feel that because the description for say the afternoon session includes "open shoot" that means that they can just come by any time with their guns and be allowed to shoot.  When they show up, we have to turn them away because they are usually not HRA members, did not attend the safety brief nor signed the waivers.  No matter how polite you are to them, many times they go away feeling miffed/irritated/mad simply because they had it in their mind that they wanted to shoot and they didn't get their way.  They don't see that there's actually quite a bit of work to setup, take down the tents, put away the chairs, etc.

I'm not saying that those who posted feelings of being "put off" didn't encounter someone who was rude, but most of the people at the HRA/LIFE Fun Shoots are really nice people. 

I've also shot with HDF and Chris is a little more open on people showing up when they can and participating in the open shoot sessions. 

In the end, I would encourage people to take advantage of both opportunities, but to also contribute and support both organizations that make those opportunities to shoot possible.  They are both really valuable organizations in terms of protecting and fighting for our 2A rights.

BTW drck, are you gonna go to speedtek's?
i think a lot of us would benefit from having an RSO from HRA/LIFE giving us a heads up on what goes on at a fun shoot

yeah, certainly i understand
other people who are less appreciative of other's hard work or have a more entitled mentality have unrealistic expectations of certain situations

i just wanted to see what was expected and how things worked before i committed to the full day experience

and i wholeheartedly support both groups and your closing statement

I for one is a hra member and have attended a life shoot and made the safety brief a little late so... well we all know daniel but learned alot that day i  go pro that day and still watch it and learn from it... also support hdf and attend the range days....  both are very valuable groups in terms of knowledge and gaining experience! what can i say im a trigger whore

BTW drck, are you gonna go to speedtek's?
i think a lot of us would benefit from having an RSO from HRA/LIFE giving us a heads up on what goes on at a fun shoot

Probably not.   

Shoot me a PM next time you think you'll be able to come out for a HRA/LIFE Fun Shoot and see if I'm planning on going. 

I for one is a hra member and have attended a life shoot and made the safety brief a little late so... well we all know daniel but learned alot that day i  go pro that day and still watch it and learn from it... also support hdf and attend the range days....  both are very valuable groups in terms of knowledge and gaining experience! what can i say im a trigger whore

I recently lost one of my training options, so HRA/LIFE Fun Shoots and HDF range days are even more important for me as well.  I don't have a "mini me" to help assist with the camera work though. 

I've seen videos of when I shoot with IPSC/USPSA I will say that it can be a humbling experience.  Sometimes you think things went well or a certain way, but when you watch the video, it's not quite so.  You definitely can learn a LOT from video.   

.

mahalo for the offer, drck
i'll send you a PM
i am more inclined to go check it out this month now that i know more about the "lay of the land"

any other 2ahawaii members going to HRA/LIFE?

Probably not.   

Shoot me a PM next time you think you'll be able to come out for a HRA/LIFE Fun Shoot and see if I'm planning on going. 

I recently lost one of my training options, so HRA/LIFE Fun Shoots and HDF range days are even more important for me as well.  I don't have a "mini me" to help assist with the camera work though. 

I've seen videos of when I shoot with IPSC/USPSA I will say that it can be a humbling experience.  Sometimes you think things went well or a certain way, but when you watch the video, it's not quite so.  You definitely can learn a LOT from video.   

What is LIFE? I can't seem to find what's it's about on their website.

Lessons in Firearm Education

http://lifehawaii.com/Welcome.html

What is LIFE? I can't seem to find what's it's about on their website.

LIFE is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing firearms safety training, primarily to meet the legal requirements to purchase a handgun in Hawaii. Because LIFE is a 501(c)(4), it can do limited political activity related to its primary mission. Initially conceived in the early 80's as "Ladies in Firearms Training" it morphed to "Lessons in Firearms Training" with the passing of legislation mandating specific training before being able to purchase handguns. If not for LIFE, there would have essentially been a ban on handguns as originally (as I have been told...) the only place to get that required training was thru the police, who never had any intention to provide such training, and never has.

LIFE instructors are NRA certified instructors (in order to meet the HRS guidelines) and we welcome those that would like to come out an help, including those that are not yet instructors, but would like to become one.

We put on instructor training intermittently, and had hoped to do anther one this summer, but it looks more likely that it will be toward the end of the year.

We work closely with HRA, HDF and other shooting clubs and organizations to promote firearms awareness and promote legislative initiatives.

Ah I C. Got confused when they said HRA/LIFE so I went to HRA's site but could not find anything about LIFE.