Mixed emotions on this one...

[Selena]

http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20180328/sburg-rifle-team-gets-thousands-in-donations

When the Stroudsburg School Board recently voted 6-2 against a $4,730 grant offered to update the rifle team's equipment, because that grant came from the National Rifle Association, Primrose and others expressed disappointment. Viewed by many as opposing gun control, the NRA has been at the center of controversy in the wake of the February fatal mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Vilification of any group without just cause troubles me yet local citizens are the ones that should support the extracurricular activities of local schools. Still I can't help but wonder how many of the locals that donated the funds are members of the NRA who had their funds deemed "inappropriate." You see in my mind... if even one dollar came from an NRA member then the school board is teaching hypocrisy accepting any of it. Further- I wonder how many of the competitions that teams participates in are NRA sanctioned on one level or another? And last but not least... what would be the most effective way to point out that NRA members are likely as not contributors of a portion of the funds to turn the board's stand into a show of stupidity?

 

[contender]

I too find this action absurd.
As a Chairman for a FoNRA Chapter, who works hard at raising funds to help local youth shooting activities, AND who sits on the board that distributes the money annually to qualified grants,,, I have a more direct involvement of these things.

I would say that only about 30% (give or take 10%) of the attendees to MY event are actual NRA members. MANY, MANY of the attendees are business people with an interest in supporting the educational aspects of shooting, as well as supporting the local youth groups. At my grant fund workshop, I have seen members of the board get VERY emotional & all when desiring funds for their area,,, and one of their strong arguments is; "We raise XYZ amount of money & the locals who support us will not be happy if we don't take XYZ amount back!"
Attendees to the fundraiser are often spouses, friends, business associates, etc. who are not members, but do support, at least to some degree, the programs we are raising the money for.
So, if a school board opposes Freedom & the Second Amendment, then they should not accept any money from any organization that is exactly opposite to that. BUT,,, at the same time,,, they should come out & tell the families of those kids who are on the rifle teams, or Hunter Safety Teams, or ANY pro-freedom group that their activities will be stopped. THEN,,,,, THEN,,,,, The LOCAL families can decide how to deal with their school board. That, AND the local businesses who work to support such activities should be informed of the school boards activities, and the suspension of these teams, and point out how they are discriminating against a different point of view, which is not teaching freedom of speech & activities.
Once the local businesses who do support these shooting sports start seeing these things, then the schools may see a drop in financial support to OTHER programs as well.

 

[Mus408]

What would you expect from any public school board. They follow the lead....sheep!
Surprised they still allow a rifle team in the school activities.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I would ask them to read the information in the following link.
https://home.nra.org/about-the-nra/
Then ask them to discuss WHAT, in all of that information, is against the
United States, public safety, or personal safety.

In refusing money from any organization, they seem to be saying THEY
are against what said organization stands for. You might ask WHY they
are against the United States, personal, or public safety.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I would ask them to read the information in the following link.
https://home.nra.org/about-the-nra/

Hi,

The "Who started NRA?" and "Why?" questions popped up before even seeing your link, Pat. Maybe we should be a bit more attentive to tossing the answers to those two questions into our discussions with those uninformed about "OUR" purpose.

Rick C

 

[Pat-inCO]

Maybe we should be a bit more attentive to tossing the answers
to those two questions into our discussions with those
uninformed about "OUR" purpose.

Sorry, I didn't realize you also went by Selena.

Secondly, I said . . . I . . . would do that.
If I can no longer have my own opinion . . . . . .

 

[Selena]

Sorry, I didn't realize you also went by Selena.

Secondly, I said . . . I . . . would do that.
If I can no longer have my own opinion . . . . . .

FWIW- I found the information and the suggestion helpful. Thank you

 

[contender]

Apparently it has backfired upon the school. I just read a short clip that the team got the money they needed,, and from the local community! EXCELLENT!!!!!!

 

[Selena]

Apparently it has backfired upon the school. I just read a short clip that the team got the money they needed,, and from the local community! EXCELLENT!!!!!!

Yes, the rifle team was donated something like six thousand dollars by local people. I would still like to hear the school board's explanation that if even one of those people that donated was a member of the NRA how his money would be any different from that of the NRA itself? If anything, the fact that the school board accepted the local donations but not that of the national organization is saying they are playing politics with the very children they are supposed to be serving.

Now if you will, imagine the benefit to the rifle team if the funds from the NRA were available in addition to the local donations. 10,000+ dollars would buy a lot of twenty-two rimfire ammunition.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Sorry, I didn't realize you also went by Selena.

Hi,

Sorry you feel it necessary to argue with someone who's supporting your position... would you rather just see a "+1" or "Ditto?" I CAN do that. Though I won't.

As for Selena, she's her own person.

Rick C

 

[Pps1980]

Ironically some of the least informed and most poorly educated people I have ever dealt with are elected to school boards. These folks aren't even among the worst when it comes to the combination of stupidity and hypocrisy. Do you actually know who any of your school board members are locally? Do you care? Typically its a position for locals that are just busybodies and like the limelight.