Like a lot of people, I felt the NRA let us down during the I594 campaign. I wrote them and let them know how I felt. This is their reply:

Thank you for contacting the NRA-ILA regarding Initiative 594 in Washington State.

The NRA strongly opposed I-594, a comprehensive and very well-funded attempt to restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Washington State.  While we were disappointed that a majority of Washington voters decided to vote in favor of I-594, NRA was very actively involved in defeating the measure:

•         NRA spent more than $500,000 on the campaign to defeat I-594.
•         NRA formed a separate political action committee (PAC) -- National Rifle Association of America Washingtonians Opposed to 594 -- to defeat I-594.
•          NRA launched a website --Vote No 594 -- specifically to defeat I-594.
•         NRA led the outreach effort to Washington law enforcement, garnering the support of 27 of the 39 County Sheriffs and virtually all rank-and-file law enforcement in opposition to I-594.
•         NRA released articles in our magazines and websites regarding I-594, and the cover story in the September issue of America's 1st Freedom was an article on I-594, which informed every member in the state of Washington about the initiative.
•          NRA included a "VOTE NO 594" flyer and bumper sticker in the October issue of NRA members' magazines that were sent to every member in the state of Washington.
•         NRA sent mailers and made phone calls to hundreds of thousands of targeted non-member voters in the state of Washington, asking them to "VOTE NO 594".
•         NRA bought billboard messages in key areas around the state.
•         NRA had an aggressive social media outreach effort.
•         NRA ran hundreds of thousands of dollars of targeted digital media advertising for several months (see videos here, here, and here).

In addition to the regular staff who coordinate our efforts in Washington State, the NRA hired two, full-time Campaign Field Representatives whose sole charge was to educate gun owners and Second Amendment supporters of the threat I-594 posed to their rights and to ensure they voted against the initiative.

Our field staff accomplished the following in support of our cause in Washington:

•         Signed up tens of thousands of supporters and encouraged them to vote against I-594
•         Distributed 60,000 flyers
•         Printed and disseminated 8,000 yard signs, 30,000 door hangers, 10,000 bumper stickers, buttons and other items
•         Knocked 18,000 doors
•         Made 7,000 phone calls
•         Attended hundreds of events
•         Conducted three Grassroots Workshops
•         Signed up nearly 900 new FrontLines™ Volunteers to help us in our campaign to defeat I-594
•         Recruited more than 20 new Second Amendment Activist Centers
•         More than doubled our number of Election Volunteer Coordinators

Please also bear in mind that, in our fight to defeat I-594, NRA faced unprecedented spending by a handful of billionaires and wealthy elitists, who gave the anti-gun lobby over $10 million to spend in support of I-594.  And, while we were fighting in Washington State, we were simultaneously engaged in battles on multiple fronts, in all 50 states, requiring NRA resources to be spread over a vast political landscape.

NRA was fighting battles in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, in thousands of state legislative races, and in numerous gubernatorial and attorney general races.   In the end, we were successful in achieving a number of very significant victories in elections all across the country, most notably electing a pro-gun U.S. Senate, which will pay dividends for gun owners nationwide (for more information on some of our victories, please click here).

Further, NRA was fully engaged in Washington state legislative races.  We won virtually every critical race and will be aided by a philosophically supportive majority in Olympia.

Moving forward, NRA will continue to focus public awareness on the ineffectiveness of I-594 to stem violence or prevent determined criminals from getting guns.  We will also expose gun control supporters’ attempts to transform the federal and state background check systems into registries of gun transfers and, ultimately, registries of gun possession.

Obviously, we are disappointed in the outcome of I-594 and are committed to doing everything we can to mitigate the damage caused to our members in Washington State. We are already in discussions about legislative remedies to the most onerous provisions. As always, we will continue to work in whatever arena is realistic – legislative, legal or political – to address the concerns of our members.

Best Regards,

Alex H
NRA-ILA Grassroots
800-392-8683

it's fine to tell them you're not happy, but WA gun owners should be organizing and getting ready for the next battles that will be coming.

the NRA needs a comprehensive strategy to combat initiatives, not just in WA state but in all states with initiatives (approx. 24 of them).

the NRA also needs to start coordinating closely with established gun rights groups such as the SAF. combined resources and effort will be much more effective than going it alone separately.

NRA members need to write and call the NRAILA and tell them this.

Not a fan of the NRA.

 ?

More members involved would be more effective, I think.
I'm getting more involved this year since the 'vote'.
I upped my contributions and will be making more calls TO the NRA than they make to me.
Hell, I might even invest in some stamps and send THEM a shit-ton of mail...!  

It is my sincere hope that more of us will actually join the NRA and make our voices heard to get some serious action.
I'm sure the outcome was foreseen, now it's time to put the money where it will be effective.

JOIN THE NRA.

this. the NRA needs to hear from members. and not just complaints. tell them what you want them to do in the future.



it's amazing how many gun owners believe the liberal lie that the NRA is only an industry mouthpiece that gets the majority of their money from manufacturers. a quick check of the NRA's tax filings prove that is not the case. the vast majority of the NRA's money comes from individual memberships.

the NRA would be stupid to ignore feedback from the majority of their revenue base -- individual members.

The NRA definitely has its share of problems but they are better now than they were before the AWB.

The problem in this case wasn't a lack of action on the NRAs part as much as a state infested with mindless, socialist, liberal, drones combined with a bunch of worthless FSA leeches that either don't vote and if they did, they couldn't read a voters pamphlet to make an informed decision if there life depended on it. WA. is swirling down the toilet.

Actually, my membership does not expire until 2017.  Joined 7/31/2012.

I don't like the mailings at all, I didn't see a strong enough involvement of them to have any desire to contribute to them any further.

Instead, "Ungh we get against the elitists!  Give us more money!" as a blue colored envelope arrives telling me the UN wants my guns.  No thanks.

And another quick check shows where the ILA and PAC get their money from....
Do you work for the NRA by any chance?



 

what billboards and tv ads....i saw neater of each, i live in tacoma. and where were the vote no signs? my was hard to get a hold of.

I to missed all the ads, lawn signs, and all the other stuff the NRA refers to in their letter.  I'm not saying they are being untruthful, I'm just wondering if anyone else saw any of the stuff they referred to?

If the NRA has an underlying credibility problem with members, that is a very big issue that they may want to deal with.  When members begin thinking that they are supporting luxury meals, (and similar perks) for lobbyists, that entity has to work very hard to convince the basic members that spending their money on things like luxury meals is really the way to go.  Otherwise, it looks like those who get the jobs as lobbyists are merely feathering their nest at the expense of the members.

Well there was a giant billboard right outside of Tacoma, there were plenty of No on 594 ads put up in laws that were sponsored by the NRA.

I answered the solicitation calls from the NRA and flat told them I've already upped my donations in addition to being a Life 'Endowment' Member.
When I expressed my particular concerns, I was told to contact the NRA-ILA about that and was fairly promptly dismissed...to which I will address when I DO contact the NRA-ILA.

Yes, there is an underlying disturbance in the force, Luke.
Loyal NRA Members seem to be feeling a little blind-eyed and blind-sided by the phone calls, e-mails and stuff in the mailbox, while present concerns, such as passage of I-594 in Washington State seem to be largely ignored by those we are loyal to.
I will be making my active participation known in that money spent NOW should be to have I-594 challenged and repealed;  that money spent on a losing proposition is understood, but after that battle, it escalates into a war to be won.

From my cold, dead hands.



A radio report today said that a museum with an historical gun collection on loan will be giving the guns back to the owners BECAUSE THE MUSEUM DOES NOT WANT TO HASSLE WITH TRANSFERS.
The first I've heard of how this I-594 is turning into a colossal goatfuck.