This is kind of just a rant/confessional post. Im not sure if anyone is interested or if I’ll be absolutely flamed (which I deserve- my journey left has been embarrassingly recent). For the last 3 years I was first a summer intern and then a full time employee at NRA ILA working under the lobbyists, mostly bc my dad is involved and got me in. Once I realized my dad wasn’t right about everything and stopped trying to make him happy I had a big political shift to the left. Working here and running in the DC young republican circles while secretly protesting also really radicalized me. I still believe in gun rights but obviously the NRA is a deeply corrupt right wing organization that licks cops boots and should in no way be considered a non profit. I don’t really know why I’m typing this, except that I’ve felt like such a spineless fraud working here and it feels good to finally be able to say fuck Wayne LaPierre, albeit anonymously, without fear of recourse. I have absolutely no plan for the future now and my family is pissed at me but I don’t care. Still working on understanding my experiences on the inside but if anyone’s interested I’m happy to answer questions.
Wait there’s a non-political arm of the NRA? What does the money go on?
Were those headlines about the NRA going bust true?
Was there any concern around Philando Castile?
Do the Black Panthers ever come up?
What’s the internal view of school shootings?
Wait there’s a non-political arm of the NRA? What does the money go on? -Most $ goes to fundraising and recruitment which are separate, there’s also member services and a lot of shooting/hunting programs run by the NRA
Were those headlines about the NRA going bust true? -Yes in that there were financial troubles due to the various lawsuits. If you haven’t read up on all the drama surrounding the NRAs lawsuits I’d encourage it, it’s too much for me to accurately recount but I will say I personally believe the accusations against NRA to be true.
Was there any concern around Philando Castile? -When I asked why we weren’t involved I got told I could lose my job. NRA is ironically very pro cop and doesn’t want to comment on police shootings.
Do the Black Panthers ever come up? -Not really. The level of analysis of history is not very deep. There’s absolutely no concept of pro gun leftists existing or any distinction between the Democratic Party and “radical antifa”, they are seen as the same thing. Minorities/women are used as tokens to argue against democrats
What’s the internal view of school shootings? -teachers should be armed and that democrats weaponize/manipulate children. Among employees when one happens it’s generally just a sentiment that “our jobs are gonna suck for a little while”
Thank you for all your insight here—it’s genuinely appreciated.