It seems like everyone just thinks the NRA only fights for gun rights legislation and promotes political candidates.  But it is a very small part of what the NRA does.  Without looking at the NRA website or other references, name all of the NRA programs and things they do that you can think of and put a brief description.  Ill compile a list here so you don't have to duplicate.

Ready set GO!

Eddie Eagle - Teaches gun safety to children.
NRA Firearms Museum - Archives historic American firearms and educates the public
Insurance - Insurance for Life, Guns, Concealed carry (Inspector)
Member offers - Credit Card, Life Lock Discount, Wine and Cigar Club, NRA Precious Metals (Inspector)
NRA Magazines to Members (Inspector)
Law Enforcement Training (Inspector)
Training for firearms trainers, and Range Safety Officers (Inspector)
NRA branded Checks (Dustoff003)
Instructors insurance - for NRA instructors to cover incidents during NRA and non-NRA classes.

I'll add another example.

NRA Firearms Museum - Archives historic American firearms and educates the public. They also help to identify antique firearms. They have it at the NRA HQ in Fairfax, VA and it's free to the public. There's also museums in Raton, NM and Springfield, MO. Their webpage (http://www.nramuseum.com/guns/the-galleries.aspx) has their gallery of guns online.

Arranges for special offers for members:

Credit card
Life Insurance
Gun Insurance
Concealed Carry Insurance
Wine Club
Cigar Club
Precious Metals
Life Lock Discount for first year

I have personally purchased life insurance through the special offer arranged by the NRA. I shopped the Internet and what I got was the best deal by far.

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Magazines to members

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Provides training to LEO
Promotes gun safety
Provides training for RO's, RSO's, Firearms Trainers

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NRA-ILA

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Merchandise such as backpacks, gun care kits, knives, clothing, caps, limited edition firearms

That's all I can think of at this moment.

There is something that I got from the NRA recently, https://nra.dsa-direct.com/line.aspx?lineid=20721
now every bill I pay by check or write locally people can see what I am about and it advertises for the NRA.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is something that I got from the NRA recently, https://nra.dsa-direct.com/line.aspx?lineid=20721
now every bill I pay by check or write locally people can see what I am about and it advertises for the NRA.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Check? What's a check? 

I have not written a check in at least a couple of years. Those are nice looking checks though. 

It seems like everyone just thinks the NRA only fights for gun rights legislation and promotes political candidates.  But it is a very small part of what the NRA does.  Without looking at the NRA website or other references, name all of the NRA programs and things they do that you can think of and put a brief description.  Ill compile a list here so you don't have to duplicate.

Ready set GO!

Eddie Eagle - Teaches gun safety to children.
NRA Firearms Museum - Archives historic American firearms and educates the public

tons of emails and calls trying to get donations

tons of emails and calls trying to get donations

$85 million will get you a LOT of emails and calls.

"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."

(From 2012, so I'd imagine the amounts spent are greater now.)

$85 million will get you a LOT of emails and calls.

"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."

(From 2012, so I'd imagine the amounts spent are greater now.)

...Without looking at the NRA website or other references, ...

Focus 

Arranges for special offers for members:
Wine Club
Cigar Club
------------
Provides training to LEO
Promotes gun safety
Provides training for RO's, RSO's, Firearms Trainers

Learned something new, never heard of an official NRA wine and cigar club, guess I'm not sophisticated enough.

A lot of people aren't aware of the NRA training programs out there.  Most police departments (including HPD) train under the NRA LE curriculum and they provide support in the event of officer shootings(http://le.nra.org/).  There's also the Law Enforcement national competition in New Mexico where a team from Hawaii flies up to compete.  (https://lecompetitions.nra.org/)

NRA has a lot of civilian training programs too, to include the Basic Pistol Course that most of us took.  There's also a lot of other NRA courses most people don't know about.  Concealed carry, shotgun, rifle, reloading, coaching, air rifle.  I took the NRA Personal Protection Outside of the Home, a 2 day class for concealed carry and it was very good.  https://firearmtraining.nra.org/.  I believe any organization that runs the range at Koko Head has to be NRA Range Safety Officer qualified.

I believe any organization that runs the range at Koko Head has to be NRA Range Safety Officer qualified.

You are kidding, right?

$85 million will get you a LOT of emails and calls.

"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."

(From 2012, so I'd imagine the amounts spent are greater now.)

When I first joined the NRA, I was disappointed that my donations and dues were going toward spam mail.  I told the NRA to stop sending me stuff and I haven't received the junk mail since. 

I got the tour of NRA HQ in Fairfax, VA and they explained that everyone thinks the NRA is well funded and a huge organization whereas in reality it's actually quite small.  What makes the NRA powerful is it's membership who have voting power and can decide elections (well maybe not in Hawaii).  The NRA HQ building looks huge but NRA only occupies 25% of the building.  They bought the building in a bankruptcy sale and lease out the remainder of the office space.

You are kidding, right?

I taught the DLNR the NRA RSO course which they said was required.  Some of the other clubs said they had to be NRA RSO's to signout the range.  Maybe a newer requirement?

I taught the DLNR the NRA RSO course which they said was required.  Some of the other clubs said they had to be NRA RSO's to signout the range.  Maybe a newer requirement?

Unless I misunderstood or I was told something that was not true, two of the RSO's have told me they are not certified.

Unless I misunderstood or I was told something that was not true, two of the RSO's have told me they are not certified.

============
If they are not, they should be.

BTW I am contemplating upgrading my membership to Patron level.
They offered the installment payment plan to make it easy.

BUT, I'm not thrilled with their performance on the matter of the RAPBACK legislation.
Just because of that, I may decide not to give them any more money.

============
If they are not, they should be.

BTW I am contemplating upgrading my membership to Patron level.
They offered the installment payment plan to make it easy.

BUT, I'm not thrilled with their performance on the matter of the RAPBACK legislation.
Just because of that, I may decide not to give them any more money.

I'd be surprised if the RSO employees aren't NRA RSO certified, or certified by a different agency.

London808 checked with all of the gun organizations and none will take it knowing they'll lose on 2a grounds and they are reluctant to take cases under the 9th appeals court.  Because of limited budgets, they only jump in when they have a strong case.  We're going to try again under a different interpretation.

I have personally purchased life insurance through the special offer arranged by the NRA. I shopped the Internet and what I got was the best deal by far.

I have the NRA instructors insurance.  Not sure how good it is, hope I never have to find out.

============
If they are not, they should be.

BTW I am contemplating upgrading my membership to Patron level.
They offered the installment payment plan to make it easy.

BUT, I'm not thrilled with their performance on the matter of the RAPBACK legislation.
Just because of that, I may decide not to give them any more money.

Agreed. I think they should be. Maybe there is an in-house training program? Certification?

I upgraded to Patron level for the election. I did the installment plan. I won't be paying for the Benefactor level. They have enough of my money.

tons of emails and calls trying to get donations

That's what I was going to say.

Inspector already covered most.  (show off)

Insurance (guns, life, others)
NRA Training courses
Publications
They appear to support shows and publications

I always find it interesting that NRA courses always focuses on safety, safety, safety.  Rightfully so.  But that I see lots of stuff on shows like American Rifleman (the Official Journal of the NRA) that violate safety rules.  Having completed numerous NRA courses, they always have "the NRA way", which frankly sometimes I disagree with, but you have to do their way to get the certification.

I wasn't aware that one needed to be NRA RSOs to be ROs at Koko Head.  Maybe one needs to be there, but I know a few ROs that work there that aren't NRA RSOs. 

============
If they are not, they should be.

BTW I am contemplating upgrading my membership to Patron level.
They offered the installment payment plan to make it easy.

BUT, I'm not thrilled with their performance on the matter of the RAPBACK legislation.
Just because of that, I may decide not to give them any more money.

+1
And with "$57 million for membership communications," you'd think they'd know not to call me for membership when I just upped it !

Just received my Patron Life  Membership "kit" this week after paying the discounted rate a couple of weeks ago.  Whatever the promotional gift was (backpack?) will be arriving in 6-8 weeks.   

I don't see much difference in the various lifetime membership levels other than you get higher limits in the free life insurance and firearms coverage amounts.

My kit came with the new NRA card, a couple of decals, a lapel pin, and a member's certificate suitable for framing.  One of the inserts is an ad to sell NRA-custom frames for your certificates.   

I look at the life membership levels as opportunities to make contributions when I'm able and to get more than a thank you letter for renewing my membership every year.