Whooda thunk it?

[AKA-Spook]

interesting read:

https://www.ammoland.com/2019/04/nras-future-only-two-options-can-the-bod-save-us/#axzz5luw8e6VS

[Circuits]

Of late, I'm not sure whether the NRA will factor in at all, in any way, for what ultimately saves the republic - if the republic is actually saved.

I've thrown a lot of good money after 'other' money to the NRA over the years, in either hope or ignorance. If that was 'good money after bad' or not remains to be seen.

[AKA-Spook]

the plot thickens..... https://www.ammoland.com/2019/04/oliver-north-resigns-as-nra-president-video/#axzz5mJonPfvL

[Bailey Guns]

Yeah... It seems ole Ollie didn't have a lot of support from the BoD to 86 LaPierre. I think his plan backfired and bit him in the ass this time. Just like another operation he was involved in.

[Gman]

Another article: NRA ousts president Oliver North after alleged extortion scheme against chief executive (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nra-ousts-president-oliver-north-after-alleged-extortion-scheme-against-chief-executive/ar-BBWkYCB)

National Rifle Association President Oliver North has been ousted after an alleged extortion scheme within the group?s highest-ranking officials came to light on Friday. In a statement, North told the organization he was ?informed? he would not be nominated for reelection. North?s term ends Monday.

The NRA?s chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, wrote a letter to the board Thursday accusing North of plotting to remove him from the group by threatening to release to the board ?damaging? information about LaPierre. He claimed North, a former Marine Corps lieutenant colonel perhaps best known for his role in the Iran-contra affair, was pressuring him to resign over alleged financial transgressions.

?Delivered by a member of our Board on behalf of his employer, the exhortation was simple: resign or there will be destructive allegations made against me and the NRA,? LaPierre wrote in the letter, which was published Friday by the Wall Street Journal.

?I believe our Board and devoted members will see this for what it is: a threat meant to intimidate me and divide us,? he continued. ?I choose to stand and fight, and hope to bring 5 million members with me.?

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LaPierre, the NRA?s executive vice president, who has been with the organization for decades, said he refused to comply with the threat, adding that he was ?alarmed and disgusted? by the situation.

On Saturday, at the NRA?s annual meeting in Indianapolis, Richard Childress, a vice president at the NRA, read what amounted to a resignation letter from North that announced and explained his departure.

?Please know I hoped to be with you today as NRA president endorsed for reelection,? North wrote. ?I?m now informed that will not happen.?

North continued his resignation letter by saying he believes the NRA should establish a committee to review the organization?s finances, which he said constitute a ?clear crisis? that ?needs to be dealt with? if the NRA wants to continue to be a viable organization.

The NRA?s board, comprising 76 members, is scheduled to meet Monday.

North?s departure and the circumstances surrounding it cast a public light on the apparent discord within the influential gun rights group.

The Wall Street Journal reported that North, who became NRA president last year, defended himself in a letter to the board Thursday, indicating his actions were ?for the good of the NRA.? North previously wrote a longer letter to the board?s executive committee, alleging LaPierre had made more than $200,000 of wardrobe purchases and charged them to a vendor.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Journal that LaPierre?s Thursday letter was an ?angry reaction? to North.

The back-and-forth is apparently fueled by a growing rift in a decades-long (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/business/nra-wayne-lapierre-oliver-north.html) relationship between the NRA and the advertising agency Ackerman McQueen, according to the Journal. The NRA filed a lawsuit against Ackerman McQueen this month in Virginia alleging the firm had not been transparent in justifying its billings (https://www.wsj.com/articles/nra-files-suit-against-ad-agency-in-rift-with-key-partner-11555320601?mod=article_inline). In a statement to the Journal, Ackerman McQueen argued it was complying and called the lawsuit ?frivolous, inaccurate and intended to cause harm to the reputation of our company.?

The suit specifically mentions a contract between Ackerman McQueen and North, the Journal reports, who was hired by the agency last year to host an NRATV documentary program, which LaPierre says nets him ?millions of dollars annually.?

LaPierre detailed a phone call between one of his staff members and North that took place Wednesday, in which North allegedly suggested Ackerman McQueen was prepared to release an ?allegedly damaging letter to the entire NRA board.?

?The letter would contain a devastating account for our financial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses,? LaPierre wrote. ?But then, Col. North explained the letter would not be sent ? if I were to promptly resign as your Executive Vice President. And, if I supported Col. North?s continued tenure as president, he stated he could ?negotiate? an ?excellent retirement? for me.?

The NRA did not respond to a request for comment.

LaPierre wrote that after the call, he was informed by others he ?needed to withdraw the NRA lawsuit against [Ackerman McQueen] or be smeared.? An Ackerman McQueen spokesman declined to comment to the Journal.

LaPierre went on to assert the claims made by the advertising firm were ?conveniently? fabricated and brought up amid the lawsuit and demands from the NRA for accurate books and records.

The turmoil was publicized on the same day President Trump (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-expected-to-distance-itself-from-global-arms-treaty/2019/04/26/82e19736-f0ee-4cfe-b086-a6b5d89c1ec8_story.html?utm_term=.fd61acf2bcd7) spoke at the NRA?s annual meeting in Indianapolis.

[FoxtArt]

Throwing North under the bus to protect the status quo perhaps? I don't doubt the NRA is rife with corruption simply because of its size and age.

It's fascinating to me, but I think of large organizations (governments, companies, etc.) as organisms. Any threat against the status quo - internal or external - is dealt with no different than a biological systems immune response - or auto-immune response. Even if proper "whistleblowers" of whatever form, might be best for both the longevity and public interest; it will always end badly for those opposing the "quo". I'm also of a belief that corruption is an ingrained aspect of human sociology on an organizational scale. Logic would seem to make you think that entities -including governments, law enforcement departments, lobbying orgs, large churches, etc. would regularly purge their corruption as it almost always would serve the future interests of both that entity and the public. YET, you never, ever see that happen, because insidious corruption seems to be a natural aspect of our sociology that despite it's adverse effects, in large scale we unwittingly, but reliably, will always defend it from within. Even those that do not want to be participants, still seem to reliably defend entity-level corruption, and you can pretty much guarantee it's existence in any organization of sufficient size.

Now, if Wayne was purged would it resolve the problem? Probably not. The NRA has been around for so long, and with the massive influx of money (and theoretical purpose of putting itself out of business), its all but a guarantee that if not already corrupt; it will be. On top of that, it will never be motivated to cut itself off from the revenue stream... e.g. the NRA requires drama (has been plenty for a few years) but it will foster it if necessary - because without controversy, you can't get a $200k wardrobe.

I wish it (sociology - entity level corruption) was better studied.

[Zundfolge]

Can someone explain to me what is so bad about Wayne? And do so without stupid hyperbole or conspiracy bullshit (like 'he's as bad as Bloomberg" or "the NRA wants gun control to keep the money flooding in" or "The NRA has sold us out over X").

[Jamnanc]

no. No one can. Or explain how we like to eat our own.

[Bailey Guns]

Can someone explain to me what is so bad about Wayne? And do so without stupid hyperbole or conspiracy bullshit (like 'he's as bad as Bloomberg" or "the NRA wants gun control to keep the money flooding in" or "The NRA has sold us out over X").

I think he's been pretty effective myself. Most of the time. When he's not throwing gun owners under the bus like with his bump-stock bullshit. He was riding pretty high after the "good guy with a gun" thing and goes and says it would be a good idea for the ATF to take another look at the legality of bump stocks.

But I think North was trying to railroad him on this deal and LaPierre has just a little too much juice for that bullshit.

[FoxtArt]

I think he's been pretty effective myself. Most of the time. When he's not throwing gun owners under the bus like with his bump-stock bullshit. He was riding pretty high after the "good guy with a gun" thing and goes and says it would be a good idea for the ATF to take another look at the legality of bump stocks.

But I think North was trying to railroad him on this deal and LaPierre has just a little too much juice for that bullshit.

Yeah, not arguing ineffective or effective myself; and agree on North railroading + LaPierre having plenty of influence. I just think it's silly for any of us to think you wouldn't have those issues in an organization this old... and likewise, it's also silly to think we wouldn't have the same issues with North, or any other leadership. Not that it's justified, but it's inevitable. Some are worse than others, of course. You don't get that far without being a member of one good ol' boy club or another. North included.

It's also not "conspiracy" to observe that the NRA will never work itself out of a job, and it never has tried to. It's an observation of politics. Anyone would have to be quite silly... or more appropriately, naive, to think conservatives are immune from the influence of money, or immune from being shysters, simply because they are conservatives. Every "type" of person seems to believe that their "type" are the good guys, and never do that stuff. [Kick3]

[DenverGP]

I don't understand the details, but I think there were allegations of misuse of funds, overpaying some vendors that he (LaPierre) had a personal business relation with, etc.

[Gman]

I read something about Ollie trying to influence Wayne under pressure of leaking that Wayne took $200k from vendors for his wardrobe.

[Bailey Guns]

Yeah, not arguing ineffective or effective myself; and agree on North railroading + LaPierre having plenty of influence. I just think it's silly for any of us to think you wouldn't have those issues in an organization this old... and likewise, it's also silly to think we wouldn't have the same issues with North, or any other leadership. Not that it's justified, but it's inevitable. Some are worse than others, of course. You don't get that far without being a member of one good ol' boy club or another. North included.

It's also not "conspiracy" to observe that the NRA will never work itself out of a job, and it never has tried to. It's an observation of politics. Anyone would have to be quite silly... or more appropriately, naive, to think conservatives are immune from the influence of money, or immune from being shysters, simply because they are conservatives. Every "type" of person seems to believe that their "type" are the good guys, and never do that stuff. [Kick3]

I agree. Conservatives seem to have a real problem with stepping on their dicks. And they get crucified for it...usually deservedly so. The real bias is in how it's handled by the media as opposed to how they'd handle the same thing done by a democrat. This situation is no different.

[Skip]

I agree. Conservatives seem to have a real problem with stepping on their dicks. And they get crucified for it...usually deservedly so. The real bias is in how it's handled by the media as opposed to how they'd handle the same thing done by a democrat. This situation is no different.

Sidetrack: Trump has taught a lot of people that the media matters not one bit if you are willing to fight.

Scheduled program: If Lapierre has been part of the problem, gets the boot, and we get a better NRA out of this I'll rejoin and donate. If not, then the NRA's membership goes elsewhere and we get a better gun rights org.

The only downside here is the public knows about this conflict of interest/corruption which isn't a reflection on all gun owners. And should not be something the gun grabbers should celebrate if they were firing on all cylinders because it has held us back. Now that it has been discovered it will have to be resolved. So they can keep celebrating the death of the NRA but the NRA was just a proxy for us.

[Bailey Guns]

You're right about Trump being able to fight the media. On the other hand, not everyone has the bully pulpit the president has.

[Rucker61]

Can someone explain to me what is so bad about Wayne? And do so without stupid hyperbole or conspiracy bullshit (like 'he's as bad as Bloomberg" or "the NRA wants gun control to keep the money flooding in" or "The NRA has sold us out over X").

This just in:

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2019/04/daniel-zimmerman/an-open-letter-to-nra-board-members-from-a-former-employee/?fbclid=IwAR2izX7d8LsVaOp3J2lcjOVTuvsnBGzbxrThfnZ2 YSzPmYzI7XvYb9sWe7w

[Bailey Guns]

Sounds like that letter is pretty much confirming what OxArt was saying about corruption in organizations.

[Zundfolge]

This just in:

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2019/04/daniel-zimmerman/an-open-letter-to-nra-board-members-from-a-former-employee/?fbclid=IwAR2izX7d8LsVaOp3J2lcjOVTuvsnBGzbxrThfnZ2 YSzPmYzI7XvYb9sWe7w

Thanks, that actually answers my questions without all the nonsense.

[Gman]

NRA re-elects Wayne LaPierre as CEO, confirms replacement for Oliver North (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nra-re-elects-wayne-lapierre-as-ceo-confirms-replacement-for-oliver-north/ar-AAAIcGy)

The National Rifle Association re-elected longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre to his leadership position on Monday as it confirmed a replacement for NRA President Oliver North.

The moves on Monday appeared to cap a weekend of controversy for the organization, which saw the opening of an investigation into the group as its top leaders engaged in a struggle for control.

Over the weekend, a dispute between North and LaPierre, NRA CEO and executive vice president, spilled into public view, and North said in a letter read to NRA members on Saturday that he had been "informed" he would not receive a second term as president of the gun rights group.

An NRA official confirmed to CNN on Monday that LaPierre had been re-elected to his post and Carolyn Meadows had been elected president. The official added that the votes for both were unanimous and unopposed.

"United we stand," LaPierre said. "The NRA Board of Directors, our leadership team, and our more than 5 million members will come together as never before in support of our country's constitutional freedoms. The challenges ahead of us are our greatest opportunities -- confronting our adversaries, defending the Association, and continuing our tradition as the greatest civil rights organization in the world."

According to an NRA document from its 2018 annual meeting, Meadows was elected to the board of directors in 2003, among other roles with the NRA, and has a history of positions in the Republican Party.

The NRA named North -- whose name is synonymous with the Reagan-era Iran-Contra scandal -- its president last year as it grappled with a renewed push for gun control in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

But as the group gathered for its annual meeting last Friday, the news broke that LaPierre, a longtime NRA executive and public face of the group, had told the organization's board he was being extorted and pressured to resign by North.

LaPierre said he was refusing to step down, and North, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, told the board he was forming a crisis committee to look at the organization's finances. The Journal reported further that North had told the board's executive committee that LaPierre had charged more than $200,000 in wardrobe purchases to a vendor.

The following day, North told NRA members through a letter read during the annual meeting that he had hoped to be renominated for a second term but had since been "informed that will not happen."

Amid the unfolding controversy, the New York attorney general's office confirmed it had issued subpoenas in an investigation launched into the NRA. On Monday, President Donald Trump sought to punch back at New York for probing the NRA and accused the office and New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of illegally trying to take down the gun rights group. Cuomo dismissed Trump's claim in a statement and said the state was "not afraid to stand up to the NRA."

[Bailey Guns]

This is beginning to sound like it belongs under the "WTF Were They Thinking" thread.

[Gman]

NRA ad agency says gun group's CEO charged $240K for travel expenses (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nra-ad-agency-says-gun-groups-ceo-charged-dollar240k-for-travel-expenses/ar-AAAOSa5)

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre charged the group's longtime ad agency for nearly a quarter million dollars in expenses related to his travel to Italy, Hungary, the Bahamas and other destinations, the agency told NRA officials in a letter last week.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Ackerman McQueen executives penned a letter to the NRA's board detailing $240,000 in expenses LaPierre charged to the agency over a period of several years for which he reportedly provided inadequate documentation.

NRA officials reportedly reimbursed Ackerman McQueen for the expenses, the Journal reports, though the letter represents a falling-out between the two organizations that multiple news reports have indicated resulted from LaPierre's excessive spending habits for travel and other purposes. The NRA is now suing the ad agency, claiming that Ackerman McQueen has refused to provide adequate explanation for the billings.

The letter, dated April 22 according to the Journal, has raised new questions within the gun rights group as to whether LaPierre has improperly benefited from various agencies partnered with the NRA.

The "vast majority of travel involved donor outreach, fundraising and stakeholder engagement," an outside attorney representing the NRA told the Journal. "The board is aware of the allegations and has taken them under review."

An NRA spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill regarding the letter. Reports of LaPierre's travel spending come days after the group's president, Oliver North, was ousted from the group following conflict with LaPierre over similar spending issues.