NRA RESPONSE

[Johnnu2]

The latest copy of the American Rifleman said it was changing "with the times". We are asked to select how we/I wanted to receive my future copies of the magazine. Being "anti-technology" the only option that would be close to my liking would be: digital monthly with a quarterly print version. I didn't want a monthly DIGITAL (anything) sent to me, but I had no choice. So, I selected the least annoying to me; and then I sent them an email and requested NOTHING digital (if possible). Surprisingly, they responded within a week or two and said that they would send me only the quarterly print version. THANK YOU NRA.... you listened.

J.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yeah, I saw that. I'm considering just going ahead and receiving the print quarterly as well as the monthly digital issues. I figure I can always change my mind later.

I'm not at all surprised by this development, considering the recent changes at GUNS magazine.

 

[Johnnu2]

I just thought I would at least let them know that I would have preferred to have "print only" as an option...... They didn't disappoint me (as I had expected they would've)...
J.

 

[Johnnu2]

BTW, in approx. 2 - 3 years, I'm sure the next shoe will drop and they will change "to keep up with the times" and delete the quarterly offering. I'm good with that method of saving money for the annual executive bonus.

J.

 

[GypsmJim]

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?

 

[rugerguy]

yes, a very sad situation, as I have every months issue , for the past 78 years and have noted the changes and this to me is an insult another slap in the face of true Americana, and to any of us that are still in the old ways of doing things,,,yes sad, I have my recently passed sons' android phone sitting here he got from verizon, but is no longer a customer of theirs, bought minutes when he had money?? and of course it's "locked" and unable to get in it so needless to say "screw technology", shove it where the sun don't shine and my "digital", American Rifleman will be right behind it they let me down too, AGAIN.....

 

[contender]

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.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Apparently the problem with income from advertising is that if they raise the ad fees the advertisers will just point out that magazines aren't popular with the current crop of customers and drop advertising in magazines. Then the paper magazines will disappear. It's gonna happen, guys . . . just matter of how soon.

No, I don't like it, but I believe the writing is on the wall.

 

[Larryburford]

I have been a Life member for over 30 years and have been a Life Benefactor member for several years. As for the digital copy that can stick that! The magazine had gotten about 1/4 the thickness as usual over the last year or so and I figured this would happen. I will opt for the quarterly printed magazine and then when they decide to get rid of that they can just cut all communications with me including all the letters begging for money that I usually donate a little to. Since we will only have 4 issues a year they can keep the ugly plastic guns off the cover too.

 

[Justice B. Swift]

I was just having this conversation with my pal AJ GUNNER a few days ago. He and have been cutting advertisements and feature articles from our magazines for years. No more! The printed versions continue to dry up, leaving us to grope the internet for our favorite authors and features. I find it painful and it feels like they're turning a blind eye to "mature readers" who seem to avoid the computer when possible. I, for one, doubt that I'll be taking to laptop into the "Library" after dinner. It's called the library because that's where the books and magazines are found. Welcome to the PAPERLESS future. Sheeesh! Is there nothing sacred? This is how I escaped my wife's chit-chat for a little quiet time.

 

[Jeepnik]

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.

Of course we are. I'd bet if you looked at the average of the staff of the NRA it's be in their twenties or thirties.

 

[EBCC1`]

I dropped any subscription that went digital. I never read them. I hate it.

 

[tazbigdog]

The magazine, as well as the organization, has gone downhill. Trim the fat and get back to the original, and less bloated, organization.

 

[contender]

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.

 

[brucew44guns]

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?

No doubt they want to save where they can--glad LaPierre's salary finally got saved--maybe if they only sent half the begs for bucks they could save some more on postage. I've been a Benefactor Life Memeber a long time--contrtibuted a lot for years, bought young people I know thru the years a year membership in hopes of inspiring them. But La Pierre needed about a million in pay to do his job--they finally just sort of tapped me out, now they can't even print a magazine monthly for the ones making it all possible.

 

[DGW1949]

I think it all started back when Sears and Roebuck stopped sending out their yearly catalog. Up until then, there was never a shortage of toilet paper. Or maybe I should say, out house paper....Anyhow, what with all of the old magazines disappearing, I guess those who are lucky enough to not have to crap inside the same house that they cook and sleep in will soon have to join the rest of America and start buying the stuff that comes on rolls....which will undoubtedly cause an even greater shortage the next time bad weather strikes....which could possibly lead to even more disgruntled NRA members.....
As far as them needing to save the money though, I honestly don't think that there's anything there to worry about. From what we've seen over the past couple of years, they seem to have plenty to throw around..LOL.

DGW

 

[Johnnu2]

I've adopted the attitude that the new world belongs to the young folks who will be running it. I know, that when I was young and running the world, I surely didn't want to hear some old fart telling me how it was in the good old days. Who really cared old guy? That being said, I still fear (and consequently hate) technology; however, I'm fairly certain that I will be able to run-out my last 20+ years without it having a large impact upon me directly (my SMART home is entirely 'run' by me . I don't read much, so I won't miss the monthly magazines (I only read the Armed Citizen and looked at the pictures). I'll keep sending them my annual dues (annually) and hope they continue to try and do things for us.
p.s. rugerguy, do you really have 78 yrs of old magazines laying around; do you go back and refer to them often? Do you catalog articles in them? (sincerely curious)
J.

 

[Cholo]

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.

 

[bobski]

i dropped nra in dec 2024.
so....i wont be getting anything. lol.

 

[Cholo]

↑ I knew that was coming from someone, right-on-cue! Some people just never miss a chance

 

[Tenbore]

I prefer sitting in my easy chair and reading a REAL book or magazine.

 

[MagnaHombre]

I prefer sitting in my easy chair and reading a REAL book or magazine.

Can the American Rifleman be accessed from the internet? I am looking to go that way. Even if next birthday will be 80. I also like reading paper so I can make notes.

 

[Yaworski]

I surely didn't want to hear some old fart telling me how it was in the good old days. Who really cared old guy?

I listened because I found the stories interesting and the music was good too.

 

[Jack Ryan]

The magazine was getting pretty lame any way.

 

[Yaworski]

I read an interesting article a few years back. His premise was that if something happened to our technology, we couldn't recreate it because all of the information on how to make the stuff is stored digitally. We could easily be thrown back into the 1800s if not the iron age.

 

[model70man]

No doubt they want to save where they can--glad LaPierre's salary finally got saved--maybe if they only sent half the begs for bucks they could save some more on postage. I've been a Benefactor Life Memeber a long time--contrtibuted a lot for years, bought young people I know thru the years a year membership in hopes of inspiring them. But La Pierre needed about a million in pay to do his job--they finally just sort of tapped me out, now they can't even print a magazine monthly for the ones making it all possible.

I agree. I'm 77 and a Benefactor Member, which I attained the old way, through giving them hard-earned money from working for 60 years. I made each of my three grandchildren a Life Member right after each was born. What bothers me is that for many years, LaPiere was allowed to live such a lavish lifestyle while our NRA Board Members did nothing about it. I "think" we have about 76 NRA Board Members. What have they been doing for all these years? IMO, the number of Board members should be reduced to no more than 12. Did all of our Board members ever question LaPierre's actions?

Something sure stinks here. And...I think they should continue cleaning up the NRA headquarters and the mob of Board members before they start sending us online magazines to save money. How much could they save if they didn't feed and house all those board members who seem never to accomplish anything? Thank you.

 

[Yaworski]

IMO, the number of Board members should be reduced to no more than 12.

There was a discussion about that recently and it was brought up that the board members are needed to head up committees for the plethora of programs that NRA runs.

Did all of our Board members ever question LaPierre's actions?

Wayne would go after anyone who opposed him. My personal dealings with him lead me to the conclusion that he is a petty lying sack of yugo.

 

[el caminero]

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?

Been thin for years, some have been thicker, but all magazines of whatever ilk have been fat and thin over their runs, its not always an economical thing because fat mags always seemed to be fat with ads

 

[Yaworski]

Been thin for years, some have been thicker, but all magazines of whatever ilk have been fat and thin over their runs, its not always an economical thing because fat mags always seemed to be fat with ads

I used to subscribe to a few car mags. I dropped the subscription to one (I think that it was Car & Driver) when I realized that over 50% of the magazine was full page ads or full page equivalents. I went through an issue and tore out all of the full or half page ads. Two halves counted as a full page in my system. I know that ads pay for the magazine but there is a level of ridiculousness.

I cancelled Automobile magazine when an issue was a blatant ad for Chrysler (if memory serves). All the ads were for Chrysler and all the articles were about Chrysler. They billed it as a "special issue" but it just cheesed me off.

 

[model70man]

There was a discussion about that recently and it was brought up that the board members are needed to head up committees for the plethora of programs that NRA runs.


Wayne would go after anyone who opposed him. My personal dealings with him lead me to the conclusion that he is a petty lying sack of yugo.

I agree with you on Wayne. I also understand your comment on the committees. But...I would really like to see electronic updates, which the NRA is suddenly wanting to go online only, for the Board's activities. They have some great Board members, but we have one locally who is a complete phony, stating in his bio that he goes on the radio and newspaper defending our gun rights and promoting the Eddie Eagle programs. Still, in fact, I have never seen him do one single thing locally. He is like a narcissist and is probably the head of his own fan club. These are the Board members with whom I have a problem. I have no problem with notable and celebrity members. The ones I don't trust are the ones in my area, and who knows elsewhere in our country. Thank you, Sir, for your input!