Bowsite.com

And before anybody whines 'what does the NRA have to do with bowhunting', it doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure how long bowhunting would last if anti-hunting or anti-gun groups were able to stop hunting with guns.

The link is there.

So, what national organization is better at defending the 2nd amendment, than the NRA?

If the answer is an organization that has never made headline news, then I doubt it is more effective than the NRA.

I'm certainly not going to say the NRA is perfect. I have a beef or 3 with them myself. For example, as an Illinois resident, why does the stupid FOID card still exist?

But waiting for a perfect organization is not a good enough reason to do nothing to defend the 2nd amendment.

I hate when I hear someone voice a complaint about the NRA, that basically means that individual supports neither the NRA or any other 2nd amendment organization.

Philosophical support of the 2nd amendment is good, but if you won't put any financial support behind it, then the result is much less than needed.

So what organization do all the NRA basher send their money too?

Tell me, I'd love to join an organization that is more effective than the NRA.

"Jason is a principled leader with tremendous field vision and political savvy. He has a strong campaign background and more than 15 years playing pivotal roles in all the NRA’s legislative accomplishments and victories. Our five million members and America’s gun owners have the strongest ally and the best advocate in Jason," said LaPierre.

On his permanent appointment, Ouimet said, "I thank Wayne and the NRA leadership for entrusting me with a post so crucial to America’s freedom. Backed by millions of patriotic NRA members, NRA-ILA is the foremost defender of our Second Amendment, the safeguard of freedom itself. To every NRA member and gun owner in this country, I pledge that our defense will never waver on my watch."

Ouimet has embraced increasing responsibilities and higher-profile roles during his time with NRA. As director of federal affairs at the NRA-ILA since 2015, Ouimet was responsible for overseeing and implementing the NRA's federal legislative and political agenda. Between 2010 and 2015, Ouimet served as the deputy director of the NRA’s federal affairs department. Ouimet began his career with the NRA in 2005 as a federal affairs lobbyist, where he was responsible for the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New York and New Jersey.

Prior to joining the NRA, Ouimet served as a legislative assistant for Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.

Ouimet also worked as a senior research analyst at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Prior to that, in 1999, Ouimet moved to Washington D.C. for a job at the Republican National Committee where he conducted field research for President George Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

Ouimet earned his Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University in 1999.

The Straw Man Fallacy MISCONCEPTION: When you argue, you try to stick to the facts. TRUTH: In any argument, anger will tempt you to reframe your opponent’s position.

NRA does more that most bow hunters know for hunting" in general.

I will except String Rifles over HSUS "no Hunting any day.

K'

I'm a life member of the NRA. I am 100% in support of them and always will be. Without them, guns will be gone, followed by hunting.

However...

I am not crazy about the leadership of the NRA. I think there's a lot of shenanigans going on. In short, I really don't trust Wayne LaPierre and think there could be more effective leadership. I really liked Chris Cox but he's no longer affiliated. Why? I honestly don't know - maybe someone here does. This past year there was a coup at the NRA - why? Again, I don't know why. But something is not right.

About hunting, I don't think they do a lot of direct action in support of hunting. But I understand why. Their mission is to protect the 2A and I fully support that mission. Now, where I get really pissed off at the NRA is how they pick and choose what hunting issues to get involved in. Why did they put their weight behind a non 2A issue such as Crossbows? But then they don't get behind other issues ballot initiative bans, or some of the lost hunting opportunities in other states. IMO, they need to be consistent.

Again. I am a Life Member. I have supported them my entire life and will always support them. I also support SCI and other major hunting organizations. But I am also smart enough to understand that none of the orgs are perfect.

Then, I came to understand they have to pick and choose the 50m they can effecticate best on. What I mean is they have to take the most deadly bad 2A violations, hunting restrictions and get a good quality outcome with the resources they have.

It maybe time to start a "Save the oldest American Pastime. ORG". People need to understand that this Administration has done more for us hunters by deregulation and EPA Exec Ord's or canceling Terrible Exec Ord's.

K

Is it wrong to put your opponents position into other words that are also true?

I usually make it a point to ask NRA bashers what other organization they support. The normal response is 'nobody' after the usual stammering and excuse making.

So I absolutely stand by my rephrasing of what they typically really mean.

And I'm pretty sure the NRA stance on crossbows is simply that they will support ideas that could be reasonably expected to increase the number of hunters or at least post pone the loss of hunters.

More hunters should lead to more support of the 2nd amendment.

Why wouldn't they support crossbows? The NRA knows full well that you can't make everybody happy. What is best for most?

No one would complain if that is what you did, but it wasn't. People, even NRA members, can complaint about the NRA while still supporting it and the 2nd Amendment.

It is the people who believe they can't provide constructive criticism about organizations they support who are the ones that worry me. Shallow minds.

The problem I have is when ALL a person will do, in regards to the 2nd amendment, is complain about the NRA.

So many would never join the NRA because of crossbows or poor money management or any other reason. But then that same person spends zero of their dollars to support the 2nd amendment in any other way. Pretty much the exact same amount of financial support that a liberal gun hater provides to the 2nd amendment.

Criticism can't be constructive, if the person or entity you intend to help, never hears it. Not sure how good the NRA is at listening to constructive criticism, but that criticism probably has a better chance if it comes from a member.

Embodied Cognition MISCONCEPTION: Your opinions of people and events are based on objective evaluation. TRUTH: You translate your physical world into words, and then believe those words.

To KX500’s point in his last paragraph, he’s right, they need to hear from us, the members. They need to know our outlook on the direction the NRA needs to go, what we like, what we don’t like, and the shenanigans at the leadership level need to be aired out in the open before I can truly respect the organization that I joined as a kid and have given so much to in the past.

The NRA helped tremendously because they added Sunday hunting to the lawmakers' report card. By doing this the Republicans had to support Sunday hunting or else they would get a lower NRA score. The NRA deserves a lot of thanks from Virginia's hunters for giving Sunday hunting a bunch more votes from lawmakers that were needed in 2014.

I DO support and am a member of Firearms Policy Coalition (see link ) Yes, a much smaller organization but I feel my dollars are put to much better use with FPC than NRA.

I truly hope the NRA gets straightened out, we absolutely need them.

To those that are not joining the NRA for whatever reason, ask yourself where we would be without them. Good chance you'd be using your bow for home security.

K

Predeter, I can tell you're a true patriot like so many others on this site so please don't take this as a personal attack. Oviously the Firearms Policy Coalition is a great organization but they certainly don't carry the clout in Congress that the NRA does. God bless all, Gene.

NRA has done plenty to piss me off over the years but they are literally our last defense against the overreach of government. They are like my family. Just like my family, there are times when I'm really pissed off and don't talk to them for a while but eventually I get over it and pick up the phone.

I'm a life member and proud of it. Just like any other grass roots organization, if you don't like what they are doing or how they do it, get involved and try to get them to change.

I've always said, "When socialism takes hold, your right to free speech will be the second thing they take away". First, they have to take away our ability to fight back.

".. when it comes to bowhunting they overstep their mission when supporting the Xbow/gun into the mainstream of bowhunting. We do not need more bow hunters just better bow hunters and the xgun greatly diminishes the dedication that comes with bowhunting, keep to the gun for killing but stay with the bow for the hunt. " This is why I quit the NRA. My extra cash goes to US Sportsmans Alliance the folks who helped author the hunter anti-harassment statutes that now exist in every state. That fellow bowhunters is a true statement something NRA cannot claim.

HSUS are not only anti-hunting but they support domestic terrorism groups and individuals like PeTA, ELF, ALF and the even more radical fringe individuals. The kind who raid mink farms, release lab animals used in disease research and firebomb the University, local homes in my area just because the owner and his collection of mounts were featured in the newspaper.

No 2A means no hunting. PERIOD. On your land or public land. Rifle, muzzleloader, bow, cross bow, spear, hatchet, or rock. Your butt would be setting at home or forced to do it against the law. So, don't kid yourself. Because you aren't fooling anyone else. That is just the truth.

I'm not pleased with some of the misappropriations that have happened at the NRA in some capacity. I don't like that they get involved on some pivot-able issues while setting others out. But, I do understand that our freedoms, our outdoor heritage, OUR country depends on its citizens to obtain the right to bear arms. It sucks that we have to fight our local, state, and federal government to do so. But, we do. And, nobody ever has or, ever will be better at it then the NRA.

Do we need to be out spoken against corruption in the NRA? Yes. But, the NRA is bigger then one guy. Or, one scandal. Our Bill of Rights is under attack daily. And, the severity of it just gains strength with monies from all over the world influencing those attacks.

Support who you want. Its your right to do so. Just remember who got you here. Because the fight for our 2A is just getting started.

The knife as a gift for membership renewal? Piece of junk made in China... handed out during a trade war with them. I wrote them a scathing letter about that one a couple months ago, and threw the knife in the garbage immediately.

Still a member. Still a strong 2nd Amendment supporter.

We need to be outspoken about the corruption of the bastards (read DEMS) that are trying to take the NRA out and our 2A with it!!!!!! And our entire country as we know it... THAT is where you need to put your energy!!!! Not against our own kind. Get real people! Fragmentation will get us just that! The FSA. God Bless (more like damn) the Fragmented States of America. I'm not going down that road. I am an Endowment Life Member and sticking to my guns. Bows. Sling shots. Peashooters. Cold Dead Fingers. There is corruption in everything. Its way bigger on the other side. Take the fight to the enemy, not engage friendly fire. Crikey.