What have you done for me lately?

[SevenSixTwo]

I'm about to go for a BASC membership but wanted to know...

What has your particular shooting association physically done to assist you personally with your sport? Have they helped you with any legal issues? Have they supported you personally with any local issues?

I realise the 'strategic/political' benefit of membership but I'm not one for wearing daft badges, collecting car stickers and for buying 'xxxx' branded items from a 'free' catalogue I'm paying for!

Any anecdotes?

:)

[IainWR]

Am I allowed to say that the NRA has supported five appeals against refusal of renewal / revocation this year? We tend not to shout about the details because they all get a bit personal, but we have won two, have two in progress with Counsel indicating good prospect of success, and one (the way we would prefer) with the police reconsidering.

Now that is only 0.08% of our membership asking sign85 , but if you are one of the unfortunate 0.08% ... smile2

Iain
NRA Firearms Liaison

[Sim G]

What has your particular shooting association physically done to assist you personally with your sport?

Good question.....

As I look in my cabinets, I no longer have my Colt AR15 Delta H-Bar or my H&K 91. My original Colt Lightning pump rifle is no longer there either. I have a Remington 870 that now has it's tube crimped to hold no more than two rounds and has a six inch extended tube braized to the barrel....

Missing also are my little .22 Bernadelli, Browning, Colt, S&W, Ruger and H&K pistols and revolvers. But included in my cabinet and FAC variations are a couple of air pistols that use an air cartridge. These are utterly worthless and I only keep them as I refuse to surrender them for destruction.

All of the above is due to legislation introduced over the last 24 years. The associayions couldn't stop it. And in certain cases, the associations actually caused some of it, allegedly.

But, credit where credit is due. A little while ago the military came up with a super-douper computer program that effectively banned civilians from the military ranges. The NRA fought a sterling battle. We all now have to have little extra pieces of paper from the club chairman, but at least we can still shoot on particular ranges...

Individually you may benefit from one aspect of assistance or another, depending on circumstances...

[Scotsgun]

Really can't fault the SGA and BASC still represent my intersts (just). The NRA as ever have done absolutely bugger all for me and i resent the renewal.

[Quarters]

I am a member of the NRA and have been for about 8 years. I live very close to Bisley, Bisley is my local range so to speak, so you will have to judge what I say in that context. But in answer to the question “What have the NRA done for me?” here is my response:
They organised the Open Day that got me into shooting in the first place.
They have organised many more Open Days that have given many of my friends and relatives a fantastic day out.
They ran the course that trained me in the use of firearms.
They run courses that have helped many of my friends get instructor and RCO status – me too this year.
They provide a safe place to store my firearms and ammunition.
They were very efficient and helpful last year when my FAC was up for renewal – the NRA is my main club.
They run the Imperial, which has become the highlight of my shooting year.
The staff in the range office, particularly Iain and Fred (am I allowed to name them on this site?) have provided me with helpful answers to just about any question I have in relation to shooting, firearms and firearms law.
They come out to the range and clear jams if my rifle has a problem.
They have helped my club with our probationary course.

I know many of these things only apply if you can get to Bisley, but for me the NRA is good value at 17p a day.

[Dangermouse]

You could ask "what have the fire brigade done for me"? Hopefully you have never needed to call on them but you have paid all your adult life for them to be standing by just in case you do.

The NRA has been reasonably open with its members about the financial difficulties it is currently battling. In looking to the future I do have a a feeling that as far as the NRA is concerned, it may be more a question of "what can I do for it"? The new NRA has a lot that it wants to do, but needs more members and income from whatever appropriate sources it can.

DM

[Gaz]

The NRA provides the range I shoot fullbore on. OK, the camp is pretty run-down but at least they're starting to tidy it up a bit. And, thanks to people like Heather and Iain (and Karen, before her enforced departure) getting onto FBUK and engaging with regular range users like muggins here, I now know a lot more about getting my money's worth on a range day, keeping myself safe legally, as well as new stuff available to try out and/or sign up for.

Which in itself is tempting me to sign up as an NRA member.

[M99]

I've on occasion given the NRA a hard time on here and by E-mail direct - even on the phone too, yet I am a full member and will continue to be. I've also been a BASC member for over 20 years now. Without our support in membership, they will not have the funds to do anything. So like DM I would argue it is a two way street - so you need to ask what can you do for them?

You have a pop at BASC somewhere about only protecting pheasant, maybe you should do a little more research and see who was the first and only ones to speak up after the recent UK shootings.

I've spoken to both BASC and the NRA for advice on a few things - in future my first port of call for such questions will be Iain at the NRA, that is nothing against BASC but I just found Iain's response to me more tailored to my actual requests.

I will stay a member of both organisations.

[SevenSixTwo]

You have a pop at BASC somewhere about only protecting pheasant, maybe you should do a little more research and see who was the first and only ones to speak up after the recent UK shootings.

I was just leg-pulling with that. However, they do come across on their site as 'country sport' heavy. It's something they badly need to address if, as you say, they support target shooting as much; they may get more members.

I joined them this week for what that's worth and will join NRA when I'm back in the motherland.

[M99]

You have a pop at BASC somewhere about only protecting pheasant, maybe you should do a little more research and see who was the first and only ones to speak up after the recent UK shootings.

I was just leg-pulling with that. However, they do come across on their site as 'country sport' heavy. It's something they badly need to address if, as you say, they support target shooting as much; they may get more members.

I joined them this week for what that's worth and will join NRA when I'm back in the motherland.

LOL

They have 130k+ members as opposed to NRA 6.5k members.