For the record, because I’ve been accused of “NRA bashing” by more than one paid staffer, I’d like to share part of an email I sent to one a few years back. Bottom line—I don’t bash the NRA—I AM the NRA. My beef is with current association management, and the directors and members who give it carte blanche, branding anyone who dissents an enemy.
"Based on your history" is the second time you have accused me of being anti-NRA, without ever giving me one concrete example-- although I realize you regard public disagreement over policy as an "attack". I am a Life Member. I was a Golden Eagle for several years. I am a long-time Members Council activist and former officer-- for years. I single-handedly produced and distributed (and paid for out of my own pocket more times than not) the Council's newsletter-- for years. On my own initiative I created the Council's first fundraiser-- designed, produced and sold T-shirts that netted the small organization thousands of dollars. I sat outside of gun stores and ranges recruiting members, putting up with harassment from antis in passing cars. I marched with the Council at public events, again enduring no small amount of harassment. I manned the booth at events. I worked political campaigns supported by the NRA-- everything from manning phones to walking precincts.
That is my "history"--question someone else's loyalty. I have done more raw volunteer work for the organization than 99% of your members ever have or will. The fact is that institutional arrogance from employees like yourself led me to conclude that my contributions to 2A would be best achieved pursuing my own, as you put it, "agenda." The (small) part of that agenda that involves NRA is motivated by a desire to see the organization reformed. It's certainly no secret that many hard core gun activists are fed up with the Association-- or more precisely, its management. Unlike them, I don't advocate leaving it-- I advocate holding its officers accountable to a constructionist interpretation of the Second Amendment and the Association Bylaws-- something we hardly see when Wayne comes out endorsing "gun free schools", and calling on the government to "enforce existing gun laws" and the like.
