NRA membership ~ 4,000,000. Not a big number

[iiibbb]

As often pointed out.

It costs a minimum of $20 to join at their least expensive level (the one they don't even advertise).

DU Membership is 200,000 according to the login screen. Membership is free, and many of those claimed to be RW interlopers if one posts a viewpoint off platform.

When gun controllers discount the NRA representation of the public, and are so quick to throw the posters here into the NRA fold... they should consider that tidbit.

[JoeBlowToo]

1. To compare the two is just silly...

The NRA is a massive lobbying operation mainly representing the aims of the gun manufacturers, which has managed to terrorize politicians into ignoring the wishes of the majority of their constituents. Their "membership" is the beard that they hide behind.

The NRA doesn't even represent the views of its dues paying members--

According to a 2012 poll conducted by GOP pollster Frank Luntz for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, 74 percent of NRA members support mandatory background checks for all gun purchases, a position that the NRA has stridently opposed. “There’s a big difference between the NRA’s rank and file and the NRA’s Washington lobbyists, who live and breathe for a different purpose,” Mark Glaze, the executive director of the gun control group, said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/nra-gun-control-firearms-industry-ties_n_2434142.html

[iiibbb]

5. As pointed out

DU members claim other members are interlopers and hacks.


The fact it is a lobbying arm is a fair point, but the DU is one of the better known progressive forums. It may directly compare, but it is by no means apples to oranges. If anything the lobbying aspect amplifies the disparity.


The NRA is an energized subset. DU is an energized subset. There is more than an order of magnitude difference.

[gejohnston]

12. I find it odd they hired Frank Luntz

spinmiester and propagandist extraordinaire.
http://www.alternet.org/story/153348/conservative_frank_luntz_has_set_a_trap_for_progressives_--_here's_how_to_outsmart_him_and_boost_the_occupy_movement

Plus he was working for MAIG, dishonest and has a higher percentage of criminal convictions than most organizations.

http://www.stopillegalmayors.com/

[JoeBlowToo]

13. You have not refuted my post in any way...just replied with a smear...

Doesn't bolster your credibility in any manner.

[gejohnston]

14. impeaching their credibility

and the NRA isn't the only game in town.

[GreenStormCloud]

37. The NRA does represent its members.

If it didn't, they would quit being members. Further, there is an annual election and the membership have voted to keep the same leaders, thereby indicating that they are satisfied with the leadership and thereby with the organization.

Whatever makes you think that there is a difference between the desires of the membership and the gun manufacturers? If you succeed in restricting the manufacture of guns, then gun buyers will have a reduced selection to buy from, and that will make us unhappy.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Facts? Consider facts? Not when there are DUers to be maligned. It's too easy and

oh! They have -so- much fun. Especially when the juries validate the nasty comments and they can take the findings to Meta as confirmation.

wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!

[Kolesar]

3. You should consider complete sentences.

Your post isn't worth a second read.

[iiibbb]

4. Why would you read it twice anyway

Even if I were not typing from a phone keyboard it is a simple enough concept.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. wasn't worth a read BUT was worth replying.

go figure.

[Kolesar]

7. That's not what I said, Mr. Profoundly unhappy...eom

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. oh excuse me. wasn't worth reading *twice* btw, water is wet.

[Kolesar]

9. Sulky boy! ... eom

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. ~

[jimmy the one]

11. inside the nra, the shakespearean stutterer

iiibbb: DU Membership is 200,000 according to the login screen. Membership is free, and many of those claimed to be RW interlopers if one posts a viewpoint off platform

A ridiculous comparison. Using your thread premise & reasoning I suppose DU members should worship the nra when they post? or what do you want by your suggestion that RW trolls on DU should be forgiven(?) so as not to offend the 4 million gun owners in the nra? your premise is so laughably obtuse I can't even put it in proper terms after reading it thru several times. You ostensibly are trying to give NRA credibility & esteem.

Instead, compare the NRA's own posting forum on the nra website & find out their interactive membership, for a proper study (but really, don't, who cares?).
How many democrats belong to other bona fide groups in america, like sierra club, or pro choice NARAL, or even AARP, where liberals are more involved? That, would be a more apt comparison, than 200,000 users on an interactive internet forum, which generally involves a daily to weekly commitment rather than just pasting a decal on one's bumper.

wiki: .. estimated 201.5 million U.S. citizens age 18+ eligible to vote .. about 55 million registered Republicans.. 72 million registered Democrats.. 42 million are registered as independents, under some other minor party or with a "No Party" designation.'

iiibbb: NRA membership ~ 4,000,000. Not a big number As often pointed out. It costs a minimum of $20 to join at their least expensive level...

This hasn't stopped wayno from referring to the nra at times as representing 'all' gun owners, or most etc.
Presuming near 100 million gun owners, 4 million is 4%. Total gun owners a more proper comparsion to the 72 million democrats, overlapping btw.
Then let's compare how many dems voted last election, dunno really say 42 million dems voted, about 60%. Compare how many nra members voted nationally would be interesting, but when you consider only about 5% nra members vote in their very own nra elections, a meaningless comparison, as yours. (jack anderson-Inside the NRA, Armed & Dangerous, 1996).

DU members claim other members are interlopers and hacks.

Within reason yes; but your wording is biased prejudiced & intentionally meant to misrepresent the truth, for DU claims rightwing TROLLS or extreme disruptors are interlopers, & thus banned.
You should join the NRA, iiibbb, it's YOU, baby.

(please mods, enough with the hearts already).

[iiibbb]

15. Jimmy, you should know I don't read your posts because they are illegible...

You seem like you have something to say but between your unreadable longwinded posts out of sync with the quote locations, and you conceit, I just can't get through them.

[oldhippie]

16. +1. Very hard to read and discover the point. nt

nt

[jimmy the one]

24. igiiilllelljmnlihojas;fjkl

iiibbb: Jimmy, you should know I don't read your posts because they are illegible..

My posts are quite legible, readable & understandable; as well, there's an educational prerequisite for proper comprehension, for sure; (sometimes my titles are problematic, I forget to put one down, come back & get all flustered)
.. blowing smoke doesnt' really cut it, mr bbb. Oh hey, good time to ask, when you thought up your screen name 'iiibbb', were you accidentally on sticky keys?

iiibbb: You seem like you have something to say but between your unreadable longwinded posts out of sync with the quote locations, and you conceit, I just can't get through them.

My 'unreadable longwinded posts out of sync..', aw shucks, bet you can beat me at checkers any ol' day.

Before you get upset about my RKBA views-- consider that I think Bush is the worst president in history, I'm pro choice, pro environment, pro gay marriage,

Uh huh, could you post a link on DU where you've actually gone to bat for any of these liberal values? At a bit over 1,000 posts you're relatively new & could be clever clandestine, and you post mostly here in gunny gungeon supporting rw gun values, so you know, ya never know ya know?

oldhippie to iiibbb: +1. Very hard to read and discover the point. nt

... you could try enlarging the type font, old hippie; click on at bottom right hand corner of this page, try first 125%, then up it to 150% etc..

[iiibbb]

25. You are hard to read and not concise

I'm just saying you are hard to read, I even suggested a way for you to make your posts more readable, but you told me you would do as you wished. I more or less quit reading you then. I'm just saying you don't need to waste time responding to me. Not sure why you got personal about it.

My reading comprehension is fine, your writing sucks.

wrt the last time I went to bat on DU... Well, I lurk in places where I agree, I tend to post more in places where I think there is a conversation to be had. I especially like my back and forths with JMG257 even though he and I are disagreeing at times.

Here are 2 posts.... One a mere half hour before yours obnoxious attempt to discredit me, lol

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=99508

or

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=98701


you have a bad attitude, which make your posts even less worth the effort

[jimmy the one]

27. no cigar

iiibbb: wrt the last time I went to bat on DU...
... Here are 2 posts.... One a mere half hour before yours obnoxious attempt to discredit me, lol
1 Public education only increases this country's success by providing a means for as much talent as possible to reach it's potential. If we restricted education only to those who could pay for it the country would not have had the successes it has had. All of those "I built this" couldn't happen without access to a large educated workforce. Those people who think they shouldn't pay into other peoples' education fail to grasp the direct benefit education has on everyone's lives. That does not mean that the best opportunities will find their way to everyone, but public education certainly should provide the springboard for anyone to try, and we all benefit in the end.

2 Aside from the being gay part, I can relate. At some point you have to decide to be strong and get through it. People can give you all kinds of pep talks, but at the end of the day you've got to own it and not care what other people think about you... because their opinions about you are meaningless; you have to learn to filter bad stuff or you'll just be saddled by it. Don't carry it around. Any negative thing said to you about the way you are isn't worth a second thought. If the people in your life don't make your life better... find other people. If you are being abused, get out of the situation. Do not harm yourself.

This is what you post to back up these comments of yours?: Before you get upset about my RKBA views-- consider that I think Bush is the worst president in history, I'm pro choice, pro environment, pro gay marriage,

You get a few points interspersed, but your above two paragraphs do not back up your being pro choice or pro gay marriage or pro environment, they just provide politically correct talking points which any neutral voter might provide.

[iiibbb]

28. You asked me to post proof... I posted proof

Uh huh, could you post a link on DU where you've actually gone to bat for any of these liberal values? At a bit over 1,000 posts you're relatively new & could be clever clandestine, and you post mostly here in gunny gungeon supporting rw gun values, so you know, ya never know ya know?

I fulfilled your request and now "no cigar". I don't need your cigar. I graciously gave you twice what you asked for. I could go find more on this and other websites but you aren't worth my time.

Thanks for reconfirming why I don't bother reading your posts.

[jimmy the one]

32. you use braille then?

IIIBBB: You asked me to post proof... I posted proof

No you did not.
What transpired:

1 iiibbb: Before you get upset about my RKBA views-- consider that I think Bush is the worst president in history, I'm pro choice, pro environment, pro gay marriage,
2 jimmy: Uh huh, could you post a link on DU where you've actually gone to bat for any of these liberal values?
3 iiibbb produced 2 past posts which did not address in any way any of the 3 concerns.
4 iiibbb: I fulfilled your request and now "no cigar". I don't need your cigar. I graciously gave you twice what you asked for. I could go find more on this and other websites but you aren't worth my time.

You 'graciously' gave me proof? who are you, some high minded sultan with a swelled head?
You lied, you blew smoke, & now you won't produce any posts on DU where you 'went to bat' for pro choice, pro gay marriage, or pro environment, on the pretext that 'jimmy the one' isn't worth your time.
It's becoming transparently clear it's what you do very well, obfuscate & tapdance. Blow smoke.

Thanks for reconfirming why I don't bother reading your posts.

You don't see how this makes you a liar? .. unless you use braille you've had no problems reading the last several posts by me on this thread. You rely heavily on weird logic, as well as being boorish & self possessed with your own importance.
And by the way, I don't read much of your posts, just skim for lies & half truths, they tend to be boring & one sided or gunnutted, junk science in my book.

[iiibbb]

33. I'm not sure I would boast about the fact that your longwinded responses are based on skimming posts

lol.

You claim to be intelligent?

lol.

all right sparky.

I don't respond to your posts because I don't read them. That's a lot better than responding to posts you half-read. lol.

[jimmy the one]

34. another fabrication

iiibbb: I'm not sure I would boast about the fact that your longwinded responses are based on skimming posts lol.

You're kidding right? didn't think anyone could be so dense.

all right sparky. I don't respond to your posts because I don't read them. That's a lot better than responding to posts you half-read. lol.

Cheese, you're kidding? ok bring everyone else in your kindergarten class around. I skim some posts to see if there's anything of interest, or apparent lies or half truths. Then if I do see some, I read more in depth. Clear now?
.. You mean you really thought I just skimmed thru your posts which I reply to, without reading them fully? Can't stop laughing! No, wrong, it's most of your posts, the ones I don't reply to, I just skim thru.
This is just a juvenile attempt by you at ad hominem, dredging up some phantom policy you created.

You claim to be intelligent? lol.

i b smarter than you or francis marion will ever b b b b b b b b b b... l o l.

[iiibbb]

35. You really are delusional... aren't you.

[Eleanors38]

30. Reads like the first 3 X 5 draft of a bad MA thesis. Long, too.

[CokeMachine]

38. TLDR

Is this how you talk to people in the general population. I tried reading a couple of your posts in the past but never made it more than half way through them.

[iiibbb]

39. ...reminds me of...

[CokeMachine]

42. Yep!

This one is -- nevermind.

Have a good night!!

[jimmy the one]

40. is that really your user name? coke machine?

green storm cloud: The NRA does represent its members. If it didn't, they would quit being members. Further, there is an annual election and the membership have voted to keep the same leaders, thereby indicating that they are satisfied with the leadership and thereby with the organization.

In his fine book 'Inside the NRA, Armed & Dangerous', Jack Anderson revealed that nra members vote in their own nra elections only to the extent of about 5%, that is only one in 20 nra members vote in their own elections. The book was 1996 so a bit dated, I doubt the 5% figure changed much.
So nra members don't really have that much say in who their members are; and any voting bloc which elected & reelects Ted Nugent, can't have much upstairs to begin with.

Whatever makes you think that there is a difference between the desires of the membership and the gun manufacturers?

Who's making the profits & who's providing the cash? your comment is sophomoric & naive.

If you succeed in restricting the manufacture of guns, then gun buyers will have a reduced selection to buy from, and that will make us unhappy.

.. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee; as if gunnuts were the only people in the world.

CokeMachine wrote: Is this how you talk to people in the general population. I tried reading a couple of your posts in the past but never made it more than half way through them

You might wanna stop drinking coke, before you read.
Or switch to diet, sugar & all that.

[CokeMachine]

41. MNSDR --

That's all and more than you deserve for most of your gibberish. What does 'jimmy the one' mean? Are you really that full of yourself that you believe you are "THE ONE". BTW -- I prefer water. Lay off the energy drinks and maybe you can communicate better -- just a thought.

Take Care and get some sleep -- looks like you need it. Just Sayin'

[gejohnston]

43. slang for an XO

in the British Royal Navy

[CokeMachine]

44. OK -- now it all makes sense!!

Take Care

[rdharma]

17. NRA membership ~ 4,000,000. RIIIIIIGHT!

The NRA inflates their membership numbers by about 25%.

A substantial number of the group’s 1 million Life Members are dead. There just isn’t that much incentive for them to go find out when someone passes away. Especially when the cost of maintaining (a dead member) is minimal and it inflates their membership numbers.

The NRA also fudges its numbers is by requiring someone to become a member in order to practice shooting at their local range or enter certain types of competition shooting. Many ranges and shooting clubs require NRA membership so that they can qualify for grant money from the NRA.

WHY does the NRA lie about their numbers? To make themselves look like they've got more political clout than they really do.

They're a paper tiger.

How many NRA endorsed candidates won their elections last November. 5%? Not much of a bang for the lobbying buck, eh? (Pun intended)

[iiibbb]

18. Okay.. if we taket your ~3,000,000

Still an order of magnitude larger chief.

Do you ever feel weird about having a Guy Fawkes avatar while being anti gun?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes


You seem lost.... Fetishes... conflicting emotions... weird hero worship.

[rdharma]

19. I'm not "anti-gun"..........

Just anti-gun crazy!

So no ...... I don't feel weird about having a Guy Fawkes avatar.

[iiibbb]

20. very well

I'm anti crazy too.

If you really want to prod crazy people, you're not in very deep water here.

[rdharma]

21. If you really want to prod crazy people.....

True dat! Exhibit A - the number of NRA trolls on a progressive website. They're attracted here like flies to sh...... errr... fly paper.

[iiibbb]

22. This is a kiddie pool comparatively speaking.

to several other major firearms forums.

[rdharma]

23. DU compared to major firearms forums.

Another "true dat"!

I haven't received any death threats here yet.

[Eleanors38]

31. Got that right.

[Buzz Clik]

26. Sierra Club membership is about 1.4 million

[bubbayugga]

36. that's probably larger than all the armies of Europe combined actually.

not an insignificant number of armed individuals.

[CharlieVicker]

45. How many politically oriented nonprofits with membership fees have more than 4 million members?