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Gun ownership has fallen sharply from 54 percent of U.S. households in 1977 to 32 percent in 2011, according to the University of Chicago's General Social Survey. In that context - and amid calls for new restrictions on guns - it's important for the NRA to show that its membership is rising, said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group.

"It's in the NRA's interest to show that although gun ownership is decreasing, their membership is rising. They can't in any way be interpreted as a fading movement in a political context," Sugarmann said.

The NRA did not respond to several requests for comment.

baldeagle wrote:The comments from the bozo with VPC were particularly hilarious.

Gun ownership has fallen sharply from 54 percent of U.S. households in 1977 to 32 percent in 2011, according to the University of Chicago's General Social Survey. In that context - and amid calls for new restrictions on guns - it's important for the NRA to show that its membership is rising, said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group.

"It's in the NRA's interest to show that although gun ownership is decreasing, their membership is rising. They can't in any way be interpreted as a fading movement in a political context," Sugarmann said.

The NRA did not respond to several requests for comment.

That's because Sugarmann's comments weren't worthy of a response. We're in the midst of a massive buying spree of guns and ammo, and this bozo want's us to believe the gun ownership is declining?

The 32 percent number is an outright lie. Looking at the latest Gallup poll - http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self- ... -1993.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - household gun ownership is down 3% from 1991 and has risen 7% since Obama took office. The lowest it's been since 1991 is 40%, not 32%.

NRA membership? Heh. If responses on this board are any indication, membership is clearly growing. And why wouldn't it? When the 2nd Amendment is being so clearly threatened, people are not put off by the media's description of the NRA as a hard core anti-gun control activist group.

O6nop wrote:

baldeagle wrote:The comments from the bozo with VPC were particularly hilarious.

Gun ownership has fallen sharply from 54 percent of U.S. households in 1977 to 32 percent in 2011, according to the University of Chicago's General Social Survey. In that context - and amid calls for new restrictions on guns - it's important for the NRA to show that its membership is rising, said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group.

"It's in the NRA's interest to show that although gun ownership is decreasing, their membership is rising. They can't in any way be interpreted as a fading movement in a political context," Sugarmann said.

The NRA did not respond to several requests for comment.

That's because Sugarmann's comments weren't worthy of a response. We're in the midst of a massive buying spree of guns and ammo, and this bozo want's us to believe the gun ownership is declining?

The 32 percent number is an outright lie. Looking at the latest Gallup poll - http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self- ... -1993.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - household gun ownership is down 3% from 1991 and has risen 7% since Obama took office. The lowest it's been since 1991 is 40%, not 32%.

NRA membership? Heh. If responses on this board are any indication, membership is clearly growing. And why wouldn't it? When the 2nd Amendment is being so clearly threatened, people are not put off by the media's description of the NRA as a hard core anti-gun control activist group.

I don't know how legit the findings are, but judging by some posts I've seen on this forum, many gun owners are making claims that they no longer own guns for the purposes of not being harrassed by government or nosey reporters or neighbors, etc. I know it's mostly sarcastic but a lot of gun owners seem to have lost their guns in boating mishaps and various other accidents.
Is it possible that people are becoming more wary of being outspoken about owning guns? I, for one, am usually careful about who I tell about my possessions. I surely wouldn't freely offer that to some pollster or survey taker.

Andrew wrote:http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... 8320130203
Have you been denied membership in a club due to your refusal to join the NRA? I've been a member since '74, wasn't aware that this was a membership "tactic".

anygunanywhere wrote:So does PSC.

The requirement to be an NRA member is spot on.

Anygunanywhere

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Andrew wrote:http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... 8320130203
Have you been denied membership in a club due to your refusal to join the NRA? I've been a member since '74, wasn't aware that this was a membership "tactic".

What "tactic" and by whom?

PSC Shooting Club, Inc. is a 100% NRA club meaning all Members must be NRA Members. We even make sure their NRA Membership runs through the entire PSC Membership year (July 1st through June 30th). We had less than 10 people refuse to join or renew because of the Club's policy and we haven't missed them a bit.

This is our Club's policy, not something the NRA could or did mandate.

Chas.

Andrew wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Andrew wrote:http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... 8320130203
Have you been denied membership in a club due to your refusal to join the NRA? I've been a member since '74, wasn't aware that this was a membership "tactic".

What "tactic" and by whom?

PSC Shooting Club, Inc. is a 100% NRA club meaning all Members must be NRA Members. We even make sure their NRA Membership runs through the entire PSC Membership year (July 1st through June 30th). We had less than 10 people refuse to join or renew because of the Club's policy and we haven't missed them a bit.

This is our Club's policy, not something the NRA could or did mandate.

Chas.

The article implies that the NRA uses incentives to gun clubs to coerce their members into joining the NRA. Let me restate my question, "Is NRA membership an issue for anyone?" It's not an issue for me(long time member) and I wasn't aware that requiring NRA membership was an issue for others.

O6nop wrote:One of the clubs I am a member of is Austin Rifle Club. They do not require a NRA membership to join. They are a private non-profit [/i. Also, despite that, if I'm not mistaken, I do believe they regularly host NRA sanctioned events and competitions, and are NRA approved for safety requirements for range construction, so I don't think that is a requirement. Their basic requirement is that you must have a background check to join. So, if you can own a gun you can join.
ARC would hate to see the lost revenue, if any, by imposing a requirement like NRA membership.

anygunanywhere wrote:So does PSC.

The requirement to be an NRA member is spot on.

Anygunanywhere

Just out of curiosity, what would be the advantage of requiring a NRA membership over just a policy to encourage it?

ETA - quote

Charles L. Cotton wrote:
The benefit we see is supporting the NRA so we can continue to own and use firearms.

Chas.