Posted: 12/1/2004 1:39:37 AM EDT
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For a career with the NRA as a lobbyst or a political activist? I can only hope one day I can do the honor for all of us gun owners and stand up for our rights and further our legitimate cause. At 19 years old I have many options ahead of me as a freshman in college. I would like some advice as to what I should focus my major in or direction I can take to make my dreams a reality. I thought of just going for a Judicial degree but thought a BS in History would also help. During the past few months with the AWB expiring and all the frivolous attacks by the Brady Campaign have only fueled that desire for me. Ever since I was a kid I understood the meaning of personal firearm ownership and how it is vital to our democracy. I hope in my older days to say I helped preserve that American tradition and to have my children and grandchildren shooting and utilizing the 2nd amendment the way our forefathers intednted it to be. All advice and comments appreciated 
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I think a degree in Political Science / Communications would be a good start. Normally to be a lobbyist, you'd have to have connections, so that is more of a goal, rather than an entry level position. I'd try to get your foot in the door by becoming a grass roots coordinator, etc. I'm sure if you sent the NRA an email they could point you in the right directions. They also offer internships. Semper Fi |
Pass out money and cottage cheese? |
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Get a Degree in Poli Sci or Int Relations. Get an internship in politics, preferably federal, preferably the Hill. Convert the internship into a paid staff postion on the Hill. Work campaigns during election cycles. Go to law school while working. Steer your law degree to a specialty you'd like to lobby, ie. Maritime Law if you want to lobby for shipping interests. Start asking all those lobbyists you meet on the Hill (you will meet hundreds) for a job. |
| I have over 20 years of lobbying experience, and some good contacts on the Hill. I applied for a lobbying job listed on the NRA website, and they didn't even acknowledge receipt of my resume. I don't remember what their criteria for the job was, but I can't help but think I met it. Oh well, I'd have kicked ass for them. |
Hmm. I know someone who got a paid position with the NRA. He worked his ass off coordinating the fight against I-676 in Washington state about eight years ago. I think he was an unpaid volunteer during the campaign, even though he was pretty much leading the whole thing. Anyone else remember him, I think his name was Kevin? After the election (I-676 lost 71-29, woohoo), he was hired as a staffer. I hope he enjoyed/enjoys the job; he deserved anything he wanted. |
Personally while Im very happy the NRA is around, the mail they send to get you to sign up really pisses me off. In fact had one last night an as usual when ever you read there tripe its always the sky is falling, the sky is falling hysteria to scare you into signing up. I mean come on we have a Republican Congress and Prez and they act like the UN is sending in the Black Helocopters to take our guns away today! Its so frikken transparent that my only conclusion is that they must think all gun owners are idiots!
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Well, if they don't even send cursory responses to job applicants as part of the process, what make you think they'll respond to unsolicited letters? He's better off calling their HR department, and asking 'em if there's anything open. That's what I did, and completed the required application process. At least the person I talked to was friendly...just a cog in the wheel, though. I even asked someone from IWLA here that I shoot with occasionally to ask around...he has a bud who's fairly high up in the NRA hierarchy, but nothing ever came from that either. Knowing how things work around here, I don't think you're gonna just wander in off the street and get a job with the NRA. |