Does anyone have opinions on GOA they would like to voice? I'm a member of the NRA and they seem to be more of a junk mail organization, then they are a gun rights group.

I've read some criticism of GOA just being around to support a guy's machine gun collection in Wisconsin.

Thanks....

GOA is a good organization. They don't compromise.

However, I see half of their efforts as swipes at the NRA. I wish they'd stop that. We're all on the same side.

Also keep in mind, the NRA is the LARGEST Lobby group in the Country possibly the world. They have alot of pull in DC.

Correct me if I am wrong. Didn't the NRA support the 1986 automatic firearms ban? If that is true, I do not want the NRA using their pull to influence DC on that topic.

I think they did, however, where was the GOA for the residents of NOL after Katrina?? You have to voice your opinion to your local NRA Reps and give them feedback.

Here in MN Congressional district 6 at least the Rep is Dave Nelson 763-780-1678 is his number.

I am not saying that the NRA is bad. I am saying that the GOA is closer to my views on the second amendment. Too many fudds have infiltrated the NRA IMO.

I figure as long as legislators are afraid of the NRA, then they're worthwhile. They tend toward Fudd-minded compromises more than I like, so I approve of the GOA (and the JPFO and others) bitching about it and competing for membership.

So I belong to both.

Not to mention the Brady Assault On Gun Buyers.
The NRA, if I am correct, is the reason that thing passed, and we all are now required to fill out the yellow sheet.

If the NRA had opposed it, there would have been the clout to fight it off and have it fail.

GOA all the way.

Does anyone know about the claim that Larry Pratt was an editor for "United Sovereigns of America"? Supposedly it was a anti-semite publication.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelrep ... sp?pid=365

Then again he seems fairly clear about his stance on racism on GOA:

http://gunowners.org/larryr.htm
http://gunowners.org/nws9603.htm

The NRA sends me solicitations for contributions.

The GOA sends me information on real 2A issues.

I'm getting more and more disillusioned with the NRA every day. I recently sent in my dues, but I'm not sure I'll do that next year. Had I known the NRA was going to sit on their hands for the Holder nomination, they wouldn't have gotten my money this year.

From my perspective, about the only thing the NRA has going for them anymore is their size and history.

I'm a life member of both. You can't deny the NRAs clout; however, they can be sissies on many issues.

A couple examples in the past year are:
Not grading on the Holder nomination
Not backing Heller until late in the process

I think NRA is about "bend but don't break". GOA is "we don't bend"

All very good points, but as you point out they have size and history. That makes them the big elephant in the room. Just their presence makes an impact.

If my dues keeps that elephant alive and my name on their members list makes that elephant a little bigger, I'm happy with that. Whether that elephant can still fight or just nobody wants to piss it off, it's accomplished the same purpose.

Which isn't to say bring say a gun-wielding raging buffalo into the room as well is a bad thing.

The BIG issue I see is that when the NRA is not kept in check and begin liking the clout they will change positions on issues to get them more clout instead of acting in such a way to protect our rights. If you think it wouldn't happen, I would submit that it already has too many times. This is the reason I refuse to become a life member.

The NRA rolled over on the nomination of Eric Holder, a supreme anti-gunner, as Attorney General, in the position to cause the most pain to gun owners.

What the hell?

I have to maintain my NRA membership to stay at my gunclub. If it weren't for that, I'd broom um'. Ignoring Holder? What the hell was that?

My mother died of cancer in 02. She had been fighting it (in various incantations) since the mid 70s. She always loathed the American Cancer Society. She believed that it had a vested interest in NOT curing cancer and, in fact, stood in the way of possible cures. I don't know if she was right or not. I have no expertise or opinion on that issue. Being interested in the protection of our 2A rights, and seeing how the NRA has acted in the last couple of years, I can see a tremendous parallel to the way my mom felt about the ACS. Staying out of Heller for so long, saying nothing about Holder, keeping Jackson on after his blasphemy... The NRA needs a fight. If the majority of firearms laws in the U.S. died tomorrow, the NRA-ILA would die with them. Think about it.