A sincere question for NRA members

A few weeks ago I was talking to two of my teacher friends about guns, when they both mentioned that they are gun owners. This did not upset me, nor did it even surprise me. While I don't agree with their position, I do understand it. Then they also said that they are both members of the NRA. This caused me to stop talking and wonder how two incredibly nice women whom I like very much could be members of the NRA.

I decided not to say any more about it, but I'm sure I was making "my face." I'm not exactly sure what this face is, but I have been told that I make it. I even said to them: "I'm not going to say anything. I'm just going to make this face." And I pointed at it.

I haven't brought this topic up with them again, because, as I said, they are both incredibly nice women whom I like very much, and it seems there's no way to say anything more without seeming antagonistic. BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS.

So instead, I've decided to write this post and ask one sincere question for any NRA members out there who would like to answer it for me. I am honestly asking this: no sarcasm, no irony, no intention to provoke or pick on anyone. It's a question I just can't seem to answer myself. Here it is:

What is the NRA doing with your membership money that pleases you?

I've tried to come up with answers. Here are some guesses.

1. I think some people honestly think that Obama is trying to become a dictator, so citizens need their own militia to prevent this. They think the NRA unites them in this cause. I don't understand how they think that Obama could get the U.S. military to act on his tyrannical behalf against its own citizens. I'm pretty sure that's impossible.

2. I think some people believe that left-wing liberals want to make all gun ownership illegal in this country. They think that if the NRA doesn't lobby against the liberals that everyone will either have to give up their guns or go to jail. This, too, I think is impossible. The U.S. opened up Pandora's gun cabinet a long, long time ago, and there's no way all those guns are getting shoved back in there.

3. Maybe some people join the NRA because they view it as an interest group the same way someone who plays tennis joins the USTA. It's a hobby or sport, and the NRA links them with others who enjoy the same thing. They don't really think about whatever advocacy the NRA may be doing as relates to armor-piercing bullets or those other kind of bullets that shred a person's insides as they go through, etc. I don't see how this type of advocacy can be ignored.

So there it is: my question, my guess-answers. If anyone wants to help me out with better answers, please comment here (or on my Facebook link, where most people seem to comment instead of here). I promise I'll do my best not to make my face.