I joined the NRA in 1970, became a life member in 1974, and an Endowment member sometime in the '90s. (As I said somewhere else, I joined when I was a year and a half old. ha ha)
I've watched all the controversies unfold, and remember the little revolution in Cincinnati in 1977 very well. I know some people are unhappy with the NRA at times because they think they compromise too much. There have been times when I have agreed with that sentiment. But the fact is, NRA has more clout than anybody else. I always tell disgruntled nonmembers if you don't like what the NRA is doing, join up and make your voice heard. You can't do anything from the outside.