One Million Members Pried from The NRA's Warm, Live Hands

[Ian David]

NRA Misplaces a Million Members
Posted April 24, 2008 | 11:59 AM (EST)

When talking to the news media and policymakers, the National Rifle Association never misses a chance to boast of its membership of four million. From news releases to statements by its leadership, this number, virtually by its very utterance, is offered as validation of the organization's mission.


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Mr. Phillips continues, explaining what a bargain this insurance represents, promising that the NRA has "put together a package of essential support services. All are vital in an emergency. Then, with about 3 million NRA Members 'on our side of the table,' we negotiated a bargain price."

Wait a minute: "about 3 million NRA Members"? What happened to "four million members strong"? Where's the missing million members? Shouldn't the Treasurer and CFO of the NRA know the membership numbers? Unless, of course, the NRA is being less than, uh, forthcoming. This would, however, help explain why an organization that gives every adult member a choice of one of three free magazines with their membership dues has a total circulation for these publications of less than 2.7 million for the six months ending in December 2007 according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Maybe Mr. Phillips' citation of "about 3 million NRA Members" is just an error. Or maybe it's because the underwriter for the plan is in California, and practices forbidden under California's insurance statutes include:

"Making or disseminating or causing to be made or disseminated before the public in this state, in any newspaper or other publication, or any advertising device, or by public outcry or proclamation, or in any other manner or means whatsoever, any statement containing any assertion, representation or statement with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of his or her insurance business, which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading, and which is known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue, deceptive, or misleading."


More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-sugarmann/nra-misplaces-a-million-m_b_98429.html

[islandmkl]

1. charley heston must have been holding a lot of memberships...

[underpants]

2. Didn't Sun Tzu say something about false illusion of size?

Well if he didn't the rightwing got the idea from somewhere. Okay it is a standard marketing ploy but the rightwing has used it as a staple of its attack.

From megachurches to the false impression that all church goers and anyone who has ever been in the military votes Republican fits nicely into the corporate "don't you want to be just like everyone else" strategy. It also makes vote totals sound more plausible

Case in point-here in Va. W didn't lead Kerry by a number outside the margin of error for 6 months before the election. None of the networks could call Va. according to their exit polls (see Warner, Webb, and Kaine recent elections) and no one could understand WHY. Then suddenly right was restored as the massive (uh-huh) vote totals came in from the Shenandoah Valley. Suddenly W wins by 8% and Larry Sabato is on the air calling the Dem chair a "disgrace" and that he is ruined. No one dare question that those good god fearing Republican voters don't exist. BTW-Jerry Kilgore (Repub nominee for Gov. against Kaine) his mother got caught red handed creating fake voters not many but it is indicative of what was surely going on elsewhere.

[tularetom]

3. A well meaning relative gave me a "life membership" years ago

I had a hell of a time getting them to take my name off their rolls.

They are definitely not advocates for the individual firearms owner.