Just got my AR in, and NRA is pushing a huge nascar giveaway to increase membership to 5 mil.  The question is, what good will it do if the membership is basically bribed into belonging?  I have trouble getting folks to join because A. apathy, or B. misinformation(why that bunch of wingnuts  wants a gun in every school locker) C. expense (it is too expensive I could use those $35) and the apparent freedom to use our money in NOT defending the 2nd.  Just look at all the money spend on raising funds, but never spent on educating the average gunowner on what the 2nd is REALLY about.  The ignorant don't know what they are losing, they never even know they had it!  We all do our darnest, but we are preaching to the choir, and our national voice does not want to offend the soccer moms!  Rant finished let me see about upgrading (and paying) to life member.

The NRA is a for-profit business, a political animal, and a boondoggle.  I have serious doubts about the core beliefs and principles of the upper ranks.

That having been said:

It is, unfortunately, OUR boondoggle, and the only close-to-effective one we have.

The fact that it even needs to exist is in and of itself a sad statement.