Henry Rifle Forums

I have been an NRA life member since 1975. First they said that the Real American Rifleman, print edition would only come out four times a year. Now that seems to have forgotten and all I get is a fine print dictionary sized version along
with a lot of gun ad info. It seems to me that when they could support King Wayne's extravagant life , they had plenty of $$ to send out the print mag every month . Now they have a bunch of excuses . I deleted the trash they sent me today and in the morning I will be making a call.

Me too............They DON"T NEED 76 board of directors........They haven't got any $$$ from me in a long time.

Not untill the poo can the lot of them

I'm also a life member, going back to the early 1980s. Back then, the NRA was the main support for all Olympic shooting, along with all the other international competitions outside of the olympic years. They were the governing body for just about every shooting discipline, and even the local clubs and teams that I was a part of in those days required NRA membership, mostly for the insurance they provided, but the NRA was held in very high regard back then.
It's sure not like that now.

I did not opt for the online version and I think the regular magazine is still not too bad.

I never paid for a life membership but would re-new every year. I did that for most of my adult life, until about three years ago. They still pester me with emails, but I just ignore them now, it's a shame what they've let happen to the association.

I too have been an NRA Life Member for probably forty years, maybe a year or two more than that.

When allegations of misconduct surfaced concerning the Association's spending and worse, corruption, I stopped giving to any NRA solicitation. The allegations of $1,000 or $2,000 suits and such alienated me and I was offended that Association members of moderate means (or humble means in my case) were supporting lifestyles of "The Rich And Famous". Within the last year or two, I have sent two small checks to the NRA ILA with hopes the small contributions would be used wisely. They are the first two contributions I sent the Association in many years.

It seems the Association can produce and distribute solicitations more easily than the American Rifleman.

Actually, I haven't received anything like the small print version that Travlin mentioned in Post #1. That's probably OK tho', if the print is small I may not be able to read it in any event.

Also, 76 Directors on the Board? Mega corporations seem to function well with a third or a fourth of that number but the Association needs 76? I don't understand that but I wonder how many of the present Board members turned a blind eye to past allegations of misconduct.

I began shooting when I retired in 2013. To get a CT pistol permit, the state required applicants to pass the excellent NRA training course.

By that time, however, the NRA's primary mission had radically changed from it's original purpose to become what it is today, a powerful political action organization, one that I could never support (I'm a not so rare liberal gun owner). Nonetheless, for two years after I got my permit, the NRA sent me a free membership card. For those two years, I was counted as an actual NRA member. Among other things, the directors used the size of that membership to raise money to influence political campaigns and to pay themselves large salaries and other luxury benefits. Too bad. I would gladly support the NRA of the early 20th century; not this one.

markiver54 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2026 8:37 am

I never paid for a life membership but would re-new every year. I did that for most of my adult life, until about three years ago. They still pester me with emails, but I just ignore them now, it's a shame what they've let happen to the association.

That’s my story exactly. First joined in the 80’s and was an annual member until 3-4 years ago.

When they started buying politicians back in the 80's I quit them.

I joined in the 70s when I was competing in bullseye and high power matches in the Corps. I stayed in the organization as I moved into Law Enforcement in the 90s, shooting Police Pistol and Glock matches, and attending Firearms Instructor Certification Courses and recert. Great instructors, great support.

Sadly, as a life member, I failed to vote when the organizations policies strayed. I was busy with work, family, and life in general, and couldn't be bothered to vote for new leadership or write to the NRA and let them know how I felt. Okay, too lazy to take the time to do it.

I received an award for recruiting one year. I did write to the NRA and told them the constant begging for money was driving the members I recruited away, preventing a large portion from renewing their memberships. They said they would look into the issue. Nothing changed.

BOM -

I agree with your comments about voting. I never did either but it was partly because I didn't know who to vote for. The blurbs never told you what their positions were, just their life's accomplishments. How was one to know if they turned as blind eye to misconduct or not?

CT_Shooter wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2026 9:14 am

I began shooting when I retired in 2013. To get a CT pistol permit, the state required applicants to pass the excellent NRA training course.

By that time, however, the NRA's primary mission had radically changed from it's original purpose to become what it is today, a powerful political action organization, one that I could never support (I'm a not so rare liberal gun owner). Nonetheless, for two years after I got my permit, the NRA sent me a free membership card. For those two years, I was counted as an actual NRA member. Among other things, the directors used the size of that membership to raise money to influence political campaigns and to pay themselves large salaries and other luxury benefits. Too bad. I would gladly support the NRA of the early 20th century; not this one.

Don't get me started about the NRA circa 2013 in CT. You know how many times we begged for help? GOA, Second Amendment Foundation, both had lawyers on the ground and paid local attorneys to boot. NSSF was there (based in CT), you know who noped the f out of the state? NRA.

I ditto Mark and Hatchdog, it was just a bit longer ago for me.
They ah,
They aren't nearly what they once were, and I'll say no more.

RP

I really appreciated the work they did for competitive shooting, and the fine job they did with teaching. I could not have asked for better instructors for my classes, any NRA classes I took. When I had questions and called, they found answers if they didn't have them right at hand. I ignored the dunning for donations myself, but many of my mentors kept upping their memberships above life member status. LIFE was good enough for me.

I was volunteering in various other local charities, and didn't have free time to donate, or focus on the NRA, so I was lax in following the issues. I am saddened to see an organization that did so much good in so many areas fall so far due to the failure in financial management.

Still a year to year member and satisfied enough to be one. But I do not like the idea of the online version of American Rifleman and told them so by E-mail. I believe I did get an answer back but my one voice didn't seem to matter. I told them I spend enough time on the computer as it is and will not be reading the mag that way. So far, I have not even clicked on one. I'll be also letting them know just that soon. Their advertisers must really hate it and I want them to know it. I did sign up for the 4 printed mags and received my first one last week. In the meantime, I'm just re-reading my old mags in-between. I have a bunch of them and surprised on how interesting they still are.