NRA RESPONSE

[protoolman]

As I was headed toward retirement I finally thought to myself I needed to pony up for the life memberships. I figured I wouldn't be able to afford to get all my gun mags In the future, but at least Am. Rifleman would keep me up to date free forever. So I paid for 2 life memberships for me and my son. Glad now I didnt buy one for my other 2 relatives I was thinking of. Without the mag coming every month to remind us of the fight for the second amendment I'm betting the number of annual members and life members who no longer contribute will drop rather precipitously. No one reads online magazines that I know. Super bad decision for the NRA in my opinion.

 

[neilin]

I too feel as if us older folks who prefer a printed magazine are being ignored in favor of "new" technology, and the attitudes that "it's the way things are going" attitude.

I understand the need to save money.
I understand the costs have risen to print magazines.

But if they get advertising $$ with all of the ads in their magazines, AND still aren't making a REASONABLE profit,, then just raise the costs to the advertisers, & even a modest amount to the subscribers. And they can also do other things to reduce expenses.
In the case of the NRA,, which has been printing (4) different magazines,, I feel they could drop the two they are planning on stopping,, AND make ONE magazine,, combining Rifleman & Hunter into monthly issue.

I've enjoyed magazine subscriptions for decades. And I have always gotten deeply discounted offers to subscribe to dozens of them. Stop offering such deep discounts and charge a fair price for a subscription.

But,, as an old fogey,, with the younger types starting to run things,, where PROFITS over everything else rule,, they do not seem to care.

Maybe one day,, they will lose their jobs or things they like in favor of "new" technology.

Deeply discounted magazines make money. They make it from the advertisers. The more discounted magazines there are, the more subscribers, the more subscribers, the more advertisers will use them because they reach more people. So, the discounted magazines are making money from the ads, and the subscription costs primarily cover their mailing fees.

 

[el caminero]

Deeply discounted magazines make money. They make it from the advertisers. The more discounted magazines there are, the more subscribers, the more subscribers, the more advertisers will use them because they reach more people. So, the discounted magazines are making money from the ads, and the subscription costs primarily cover their mailing fees.

Yeah, they were fatter before they split up into several ad-filled siblings.

 

[BSA1]

It is not just the NRA. I received notice that the AMERICAN HANDGUNNER and GUNS magazines are going digital only. I really enjoy reading the AMERICAN HANDGUNNER especially when in the throne room.

I don’t consider the NRA going quarterly with THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine as being bad decision at least until I see what it’s contents are.

I am finding it humorous that those that want the NRA to continue to publish a print magazine are using the digital website to complain.

FYI I am a NRA Endowment member.

 

[NH Rugerman]

I applaud the NRA for what they are doing to streamline and eliminate waste and excess cost out of the organization so that they can focus on better serving their member programs and increase the focus on protecting the second amendment.

Those of you who like to beat up on the NRA based on the past should rejoin and keep up on the current leadership’s efforts, I, for one, am quite happy with what they are doing to make sure another LaPierre can never happen again!!

 

[Sam Summey]

While this thread is about the magazine changes,, a couple of comments have been more about the NRA & the recent issues.

Look at the fact that many of the Old Guard on the BOD have been voted out. There are changes in how the NRA operates & who is doing what. It can not, and will not happen immediately or overnight.
But I do see changes. FOR THE BETTER!!!!!!!

It's sad to see gun owners fight amongst themselves. The anti-gunners love that. It's the "Divide & conquer" they wish for.
Give the NRA & it's newer BOD members time to fix a lot of things.

We need to stand together & give the anti-gunner types more reasons to worry.

Yes,, I too dislike the way the magazines are going to be. I too hate digital reading. If I were to use every "app" or "link" or digital whatever,, to do the things I enjoy,, I'd never leave the computer. I'd never get anything done.

In the last month (30 days) 7 of the "Old Guard" have resigned. This opens up BOD slots that weren't planned for when the "slate of candidates" was conceived for the 2026 election. With these resignations, many of the candidates will be elected to fill their empty slots, "vote wisely."

 

[Jeepnik]

It is not just the NRA. I received notice that the AMERICAN HANDGUNNER and GUNS magazines are going digital only. I really enjoy reading the AMERICAN HANDGUNNER especially when in the throne room.

I don’t consider the NRA going quarterly with THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine as being bad decision at least until I see what it’s contents are.

I am finding it humorous that those that want the NRA to continue to publish a print magazine are using the digital website to complain.

FYI I am a NRA Endowment member.

Well, they just lost a bunch of sales, from me at least. I don't subscribe to any gun rags. I tend to buy them off the rack if I see an article that interests me. So, I will obviously won't be seeing them on the rack.

But I have to admit, I haven't bought an American Handgunner in decades. When it started it was touted as not taking bribes (advertising) to post fluff articles. They published articles about firearms, warts and all. But eventually they started to change and now like every other gun rag the articles are all hype paid for (directly or indirectly) by the firearms manufacturer.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

Well...Because I'm fully capable of navigating both the old AND new, I'll still be getting my twelve monthly issues. While those of you hopelessly stuck in the past, will only get four!

 

[Johnnu2]

Well...Because I'm fully capable of navigating both the old AND new, I'll still be getting my twelve monthly issues. While those of you hopelessly stuck in the past, will only get four!
View attachment 91422

I don't think it's a matter of "capability" rather than PREFERENCE.
Most of us here are capable of greatness (just read our posts about ourselves).

J.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

Magazine (print) publishers make money from the advertisers.

But...do those advertisers make money by advertising in print publications? I suspect they don't. And if they don't, then I strongly suspect those advertisers are aggressively negotiating to reduce (substantially? dramatically?) the amount of money they pay to the print publishers for those ads.

Either way, print publications are in a death spiral. All types of print publications. Magazines, newspapers, flyers. All of them.

 

[neilin]

I applaud the NRA for what they are doing to streamline and eliminate waste and excess cost out of the organization so that they can focus on better serving their member programs and increase the focus on protecting the second amendment.

Those of you who like to beat up on the NRA based on the past should rejoin and keep up on the current leadership’s efforts, I, for one, am quite happy with what they are doing to make sure another LaPierre can never happen again!!

Hopefully, you are correct in a turn around of the NRA. My disgust started with them when they endorsed the unconstitutional background checks. I am still in Gun Owners of America, and will watch to see what happens with the NRA. Thanks for your post!

 

[neilin]

Magazine (print) publishers make money from the advertisers.

But...do those advertisers make money by advertising in print publications? I suspect they don't. And if they don't, then I strongly suspect those advertisers are aggressively negotiating to reduce (substantially? dramatically?) the amount of money they pay to the print publishers for those ads.

Either way, print publications are in a death spiral. All types of print publications. Magazines, newspapers, flyers. All of them.

There is truth to what you say. However, as long as an advertiser makes money in a print publication, they will continue to advertise in them. When their revenue from that goes too low, they will quit. I hate to see the prints go.

 

[neilin]

Well...Because I'm fully capable of navigating both the old AND new, I'll still be getting my twelve monthly issues. While those of you hopelessly stuck in the past, will only get four!
View attachment 91422

I tried that for a while but I kept having download problems. I am just not techy, I guess.

 

[xtratoy]

The magazine was getting pretty lame any way.

True, close to 50% ads for unaffordable items.

 

[Buffalo Red]

Life member since late 80's I finally told them 5 or 6 years ago that I was done till Wayne was out

 

[Tenbore]

Most magazines are now owned by the same mega publishers. They were much better when there was competition between them.

 

[Jakeintexas]

Sign of the times. Unfortunately printed mags are going more and more digital.

I really liked AH and Guns. But the advertising money is drying up and can’t keep up with the costs of writing and printing the mags.

I don’t mind digital; I’ve got a kindle reader which is much easier than toting a bunch of books around. Just my iPad mini or phone.

What I hope though is whatever digital form is as easy to read as anything else might be. I’ve been going to the Guns and AH website but it doesn’t seem to read as easily as the print mags. Hopefully they’ll have a digital product that’s as well laid out as the mags were.

Don’t necessarily like it but it’s one of those things that’s going to happen regardless. And embraced by the current generations.

 

[Jeepnik]

So, I went to the NRA website, and I'll be darned if I can find the area where you make you choice known. Did I miss something. I do still have my December 2025 issue, so maybe I'll look there.

Which brings up a question I've always wondered. Why do magazines hit the stand and your mailbox two months before the month on the cover?

 

[el caminero]

There is truth to what you say. However, as long as an advertiser makes money in a print publication, they will continue to advertise in them. When their revenue from that goes too low, they will quit. I hate to see the prints go.

Telephone will be the end of the telegraph.
Radio will kill the telephone.
Movies will kill all interest in reading.
Tv will kill-off the movies.
Tv news will kill off the newspapers.
Cable will mean the end of broadcast tv.
Video killed the radio star.

 

[blume357]

I applaud the NRA for what they are doing to streamline and eliminate waste and excess cost out of the organization so that they can focus on better serving their member programs and increase the focus on protecting the second amendment.

Those of you who like to beat up on the NRA based on the past should rejoin and keep up on the current leadership’s efforts, I, for one, am quite happy with what they are doing to make sure another LaPierre can never happen again!!

How about they take back the house we bought and built for Wayne and resell it?
Probably could continue with the monthly print version for a good number of more years with the couple of million from that.
I'm a lifetime endowment member for what ever that it or I'm worth.

 

[NH Rugerman]

How about they take back the house we bought and built for Wayne and resell it?
Probably could continue with the monthly print version for a good number of more years with the couple of million from that.
I'm a lifetime endowment member for what ever that I worth.

The NRA is suing LaPierre for to get back monies that he improperly used….

 

[Yaworski]

Telephone will be the end of the telegraph.
Radio will kill the telephone. Cell phones are radios
Movies will kill all interest in reading.
Tv will kill-off the movies.
Tv news will kill off the newspapers. Except it was internet videos
Cable will mean the end of broadcast tv.
Video killed the radio star.

 

[Elder User]

I'd never have known about this change if it hadn't been posted on the RF.

I've been an NRA member since '76 and not once ever have I ever read those articles by the NRA brass in the first few pages of American Rifleman. ASFIC, it's a 4 page magazine that gets thrown out in about 10 minutes.

I guess I'll just check out The Armed Citizen online in about 3 minutes.

I used to belong to the NRA. I was a shooter, hunter and gun collector in those days so the information in the American Rifleman and American Hunter was very informative and useful to me. However, I think it was in the 1970s when they lost interest in those things and began writing about nothing but AR style rifles and which of the new pistol calibers was better at shooting through car doors and killing people. There was nothing left in it for me so I dropped my membership.

 

[el caminero]

Simply pulling predictions from history. Dont believe evrything the people/pundits say.The telegraph is still in use, but western union shut theirs down a coupla years back.
We were also supposed to have whole-house robotics and flying cars.

 

[wproct]

Personally, I won't thank them for anything.

I have a smart home and I'm up on all of the new technology. It's all good. HOWEVER, the one old school thing that I still like is the ability to take a printed magazine out to my patio with a beer and read it comfortably. I CAN do digital, but I WON"T sit in my office staring at a computer screen.

I'll put up with it for now, but when/if they stop the quarterlies too there is going to be some serious considering going on.

And another thought.......do y'all notice that the magazine keeps getting thinner and thinner?

This reminds me of, I had purchased a couple of Taylor Guitars and they would put out a really nice perodical magazine that was really nice, lots of pictures and articles on their manufacturing of instruments and articles written by other players. I looked forward to getting them and would file them in my bathroom for reading material. I had been amazed because they didn't come with a wrapper of any kind but usually they weren't badly damaged. Well, they finally discontinued the magazines due to cost and now you can log on to their website to see them but I seldom do, it just isn't the same.

 

[old 41]

The problems run much deeper than WLP

Life member since late 80's I finally told them 5 or 6 years ago that I was done till Wayne was out

 

[vito]

I'm not happy about the change but there are far worse things happening in the world. I wonder how long it will be before ALL printed magazines become a relic of the past. I used to get 7 motorcycle magazines and one by one they disappeared in recent years. "Rider" is still around, but the renewal rate for the print magazine was $54 if I recall, while the digital "subscription" was $4. Since only a small part of each issue was really of interest to me I switched to the digital version. As an NRA Life Member I don't have to send a dime to the organization, so whatever communication I receive is at no cost to me. If I get fed up with the "new" NRA I can always direct my donations to GOA or the 2nd Amendment Foundation instead of the NRA-ILA.

 

[DGW1949]

The problems run much deeper than WLP

Agreed....Some can see it, some can't, some make excuses for it, and some would rather demonize those who speak out than admit that when one supports something, they become a party to the things it does....
That's just how it has been, that's how it is today, and that's likely how it's going to stay. There's really not much use in fighting over it.

DGW

 

[blume357]

I understand the basic 'logic' is it is all about the cost of printing and especially mailing the magazine but I firmly believe it is also about the new generation of young marketing geniuses (I'm being flippant here) who think everything is about the internet and that is the way, the only way, to get people to buy.

My 'local' newspaper The Greenville News a year or so back stopped printing the Saturday edition... which made no sense to me... the Monday edition was usually a joke it was so small so why not get rid of that one? .... something seemed off. then they stopped delivery and if you wanted the printed paper they mailed it to you...Our mail arrives after 3:00 and so the morning paper is always late, and which also meant you really did not get a Sunday paper and what they now do is mail you the "Sunday" paper on Saturday ... which is not a Sunday paper because it was printed on Friday night. I would at least rename it the 'Weekend Edition". They've pretty much lost the idea of current news... in addition to this , often in reading an article and I'm sure the electric version is the same you realize the article was written a week or so before and not updated....

 

[bisleyfan41]

Several different things happening at the same time.

There is the general shift from print anything to digital versions. More people today are consuming info this way, young and old, for better or worse.

Gun mag articles have been dropping in quality for years. NRA mags havent been worth reading for quite awhile, no big loss here.

Good authors like John Taffin Mike Venturino, etc. have died. We're left with people who may have a journalism degree, but little real firearm experience or knowledge.

Manufacturers used to send examples of their products to gun writers to be evaluated and published.

They still do, only today's "authors" are influencers on various digital platforms. More people consume digital content; it only makes sense that manufacturers "advertise" there.

BTW, for those who still think gun rags propped up crap guns because companies paid them to, some of that may have happened.

Reputable authors sent junk guns back to their manufacturer and no article was written. That's why all gun reviews were positive; junk guns got no articles.

I treasure my hard copy books and hope we'll have that option for years. But the mags disappearing dont bother me all that much.