Are most gun owners members of the NRA or not?

LCpl Mark Lefler — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:21:33 -0400

I was reading an article by a gun owner who claims most gun owners are not NRA members, I was wondering if this was true.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 1:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:22:32 -0400

I'm not. Also not interested in joining NRA.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 29 at 2015 1:23 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:23:32 -0400

Not even close. I own two guns and have never been an NRA member.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jun 29 at 2015 1:26 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:26:18 -0400

There are an estimated 70-80 million gun owners in the United States but only around 5 million NRA members. So only about about 1 in 15 gun owners are NRA members.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Jun 29 at 2015 1:26 PM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:26:43 -0400

Own guns. Not an NRA member. They were a little too far off the right-wing platform for me.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 29 at 2015 1:27 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:27:32 -0400

It's estimated that 20-25% of Americans own at least 1 gun (average is approximate 4~). That would give us about 64-80 MILLION Gun owners inside the US. NRA Membership is approximate 5 Million.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 29 at 2015 1:29 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:29:01 -0400

I'm a gun owner and not a member of the NRA. Then again, I only have one weapon for self-defense, Walther PPK.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jun 29 at 2015 1:33 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:33:12 -0400

I was a member in my youth, I even won an NRA sponsored shooting event (the National Law Enforcement Explorer firearms competition) However, in the interest of full disclosure, I was also once a member of the Sierra Club and Ducks Unlimited.

Response by SPC David S. made Jun 29 at 2015 1:33 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:33:49 -0400

LTC Yinon Weiss is on the money with this one. Here is a site that gives some details on the facts.

https://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp

Gun Control - Just Facts

Learn more about guns and gun control through studies, statistics, and published facts.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jun 29 at 2015 1:45 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:45:38 -0400

I got a boatload of guns, my fave is my Sig 229, .357 sig. HELL NO TO THE NRA.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jun 29 at 2015 2:23 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:23:40 -0400

I own guns. Not a member....same reason that I own a Harley Davidson Motorcycle and am not affiliated with any riding club/organization.... I am my own person and will do my own thing when I want, how I want, IF I want..... as long it is within the spirit of the law.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 2:31 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:31:46 -0400

Some of us remember: This is your Weapon, this is your GUN. This is for fighting, this is for FUN....
We presume by "Gun" you mean firearms..(hand guns, rifles, shotguns, etc)one would have to know exactly how many people "own" or otherwise possess a firearm, no matter how old the weapon or how legal the possession--which is why we'll never know the true number. Not everyone joins or can afford memberships nor wants to be identified. Thus, while NRA likely does have a large number of dues paying members, it's anyone's guess whether that number represents 50% or more of people in the US who possess firearms. A more interesting set of data would be handguns and "assault' rifles--a term some people see as an odd propagandist misnomer; all rifles could become offensive weapons.

Response by SSgt Scott Schwerman made Jun 29 at 2015 2:45 PM

SSgt Scott Schwerman — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:45:31 -0400

I was at one point but never renewed

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 29 at 2015 3:12 PM

SSG John Erny — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:12:25 -0400

I am a Benifactor Life Member. I do not agree with every thing they do but, but they do keep the spot light on laws that would diminish our 2A rights

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 29 at 2015 3:17 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:17:10 -0400

I'd bet most aren't. I am not on principle.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 29 at 2015 3:43 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:43:19 -0400

Well, I'm not, for one.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 29 at 2015 3:43 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:43:39 -0400

I am a NRA member.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jun 29 at 2015 3:50 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:50:04 -0400

I own a few weapons. I am a member of the NRA. My father was a member of the NRA, so I have a life long perspective of the NRA, nearly 60 years, since I was Jr. NRA and shooting in competitions when I was 6 years old. (The range OIC said, hey, he's too young. My dad said, hey, look at his target. So they let me keep shooting.) Anyway, what I'm getting to is, I have watched the NRA move from a "shooting and hunting club" to a fully staffed activist group with an influential lobby in D.C. AND, I don't have the research, but just speaking' of the top of my head, the activist stand has been a reaction to the anti-gun crowd, who, it seems to me, think they know what's best for you in spite of the fact that they are curbing freedoms and going against the expressed right in the constitution, 2A. In short, the NRA is not evil, the NRA does what it does because the anti-gun lobby does what it does.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jun 29 at 2015 4:30 PM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:30:01 -0400

LCpl Mark Lefler Gun owner, not NRA. Concur with MAJ Weiss stats. I don't belong to many national orgs, I have honestly never looked too hard at joining.
I think the influence of the NRA is overstated by the left, but the tendency in liberals is not to have a marketplace of ideas. It is to shut down any opposing opinion. Maybe I will sign up...

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 29 at 2015 4:43 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:43:20 -0400

Nope - don't tell anybody, but I haven't had my shotgun registered with the NRA!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 6:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:00:46 -0400

I own guns, I am not a NRA member.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 6:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:43:14 -0400

Unfortunately out of the 70 million gun owners in America only 5 million are NRA members. Many gun owners don't vote either. And every one of them have more excuses than a pregnant teenager why they don't. And that my friend is why the American gun owners allow our rights to be continuously eroded year by year. Politicians lay in wait for a high profile horrific shooting tragedy to exploit and push more meaningless gun laws. there were two Vietnam Veterans who explained to me that I needed to vote and join the NRA when I was in my 30s. A late bloomer I guess but better late than never. I hope this helps in answering your question. Semper Fi

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 6:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:53:11 -0400

I am a gun owner and have been a NRA member off and on. I am sometimes not happy with the NRAs position on certian issues, but plan on returning to the fold soon. Thinking about a lifetime membership.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jun 29 at 2015 6:53 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:53:52 -0400

Most gin owners are NOT NRA members. It is estimated that 45-50% of households have guns. There are only about 5 million NRA members. Clearly only a small fraction of gun owners are NRA members.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 29 at 2015 8:08 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 20:08:25 -0400

No I am not

Response by GySgt Curtis L Leetch made Jun 29 at 2015 9:23 PM

GySgt Curtis L Leetch — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 21:23:17 -0400

Sad. So very Sad, but true.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 10:05 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:05:00 -0400

There are a few other gun rights organizations besides the NRA as well, the two main ones I'm aware of, if much smaller competitors are Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, and Gun Owners of America. Both organizations tend to be right of the NRA. JPFO despite it's name does not require you to be jewish to join.
In past years I have been an NRA member, and I certainly agree with 95% or more of their platform. I appreciate what the NRA does for firearms owners, however I got sick and tired of their inflammatory rhetoric. In spite of this I probably will renew my membership one of these days.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Jun 29 at 2015 10:17 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:17:52 -0400

4 million ish member, 30 + million registered firearms.... Right now most owners are not NRA. Kinda like golf, there are those who shoot 2-3 a year, versus 2-3 a week or month. Casual shooters probably won't spend the money.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 29 at 2015 10:20 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:20:15 -0400

I can't speak for all gun owners, only myself. I am a life member of the NRA.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Jun 30 at 2015 12:52 PM

SSG Keith Cashion — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:52:47 -0400

I have several guns, grew up around guns my entire life. Not a member of the NRA, but I read every now and then what they have to say. I carry a concealed too, but not everyday, just when I am on long rides (HD).

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 30 at 2015 6:35 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:35:26 -0400

I bet there are more outlaws with guns than non-NRA gun owners.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 1 at 2015 10:08 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:08:05 -0400

If you look at the membership of the NRA you will find that most of the money comes from the gun manufacturers and the big retailers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 5:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:18:46 -0400

LCpl. Lefler if you don't mind me asking, are you? I hope so.
If not, Click the link below to save $10 when you Join NRA, or Renew your NRA membership!
http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XI016990

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 3:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 15:11:14 -0400

True most are not. That increases the burden of those of us who are in our ongoing efforts to defend the 2nd Amendment against the constant attacks of our media, elected politicians and a poorly informed general population of American citizens (including gun owners themselves) my rad some of the comments on this thread, soldiers practically bragging about how they own guns and are proud that they take no action to help preserve that right that they take for granted.

Response by CPT Alan W. made Jul 5 at 2015 10:18 PM

CPT Alan W. — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 22:18:35 -0400

I'm a gun owner and have been Lifetime Member of the NRA since was around 19. I was able to get myself off of most of their mailing lists.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made Jul 7 at 2015 6:40 AM

SGT Jimmy Carpenter — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 06:40:55 -0400

I'm a member. I think it's good to be a member because I can't always be in DC so my voice can be heard.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 5 at 2015 8:34 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 08:34:03 -0400

There are A LOT of gun owners in the US (between 20-25%, estimate). There are A LOT of guns in the US (88.8 per 100 residents). There is a small number of NRA members (4.5M~). So, here's the breakdown:

320M US population
64-80M Gun owners in US, owning 285M~ firearms.
4.5M NRA Members
5-7%~ of firearms owners are NRA Members

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 8:53 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 08:53:14 -0400

nope, absolutely not. There are many different pro-gun organization out there. Believe it or not, there is even a liberal pro-gun organization too.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 9:59 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:59:18 -0400

LCpl Mark Lefler I am a gun owner and NRA member (have been for many years). Some gun clubs and ranges have even required that you be an NRA member to be a member at their club/range.

Response by MSgt Neil Greenfield made Jun 19 at 2020 11:19 AM

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 11:19:19 -0400

I have 4 rifles and 3 handguns. Some I inherited, 2 were gifts, and 1 that I purchased from a friend.
When I was young, my Dad took me and my younger brother to a local Rod and Gun Club, went through the NRA marksmanship program and still have the badges I earned. Back then, the NRA was more of a shooting education and safety organization, and it was fun.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the NRA transformed into a lobbying group, lost its primary mission (IMHO), and became right-wing radical.
I am not a NRA member and I, for one, do not believe the 2nd Amendment is under siege and I doubt if it will ever be rescinded. It shouldn’t be. If a politician stated as one of their goals is to abolish it, I would withhold my vote from them or vote for their opponent.
I do believe in common sense gun control and education, and to be quite honest about it, there are some people who should not possess a firearm.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Jun 19 at 2020 2:56 PM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:56:06 -0400

Membership numbers would be much higher if every gun owner was a member.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2023 3:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:15:47 -0500

I don't think that most gun owners are NRA members, like, most citizens, are not voters.