
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No one has been more the personification of the National Rifle Association (NRA) than Wayne LaPierre. ; He joined the NRA in 1978 as a legislative aide.  ;He became director in 1986 and vice president and chief executive officer in 1991.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The NRA president’s title has been more or less honorary – serving as a high visibility spokesperson. ; Among the most notable NRA presidents was actor Charlton Heston.  ;He famously held up a rifle and dared anyone to take it from his “cold dead hands.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Former White House official Oliver North served as president of the NRA for six months, from September of 2018 to April of 2019. ; His resignation was the result of a “power struggle” with LaPierre.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">LaPierre insisted on being the face and the voice of the NRA, especially since the death of Heston. ; It was one of the issues for North. ; Earlier, the NRA hired former CPAC President David Keene as its president. ; Keene was considered to be a very effective and persuasive communicator. ; LaPierre never allowed Keene to be out front – which was a bad move for the image and reputation of the NRA.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a Second Amendment advocacy organization, the NRA is bound to be controversial – especially with the rise of an anti-gun lobby and the number of mass shootings. ; LaPierre autocratic style made the NRA more controversial than necessary. ; That was due to his extreme rhetoric and a number of personal scandals.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Anti-gun advocates saw the NRA as a powerful lobby that used political donations to “persuade” legislators. ; It was never the money that gave the NRA so much clout in Washington. ; It was the huge membership and pro-NRA voters in virtually every congressional district. ; Political donations tend to go in support of candidates and incumbents already predisposed to the donor’s issue.  ;It is the voters who elect them.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While the NRA was considered a conservative Republican lobbying group, LaPierre’s policy was to support Republicans and Democrats who supported NRA positions. ; ; LaPierre’s support for Democrat incumbents over Republican pro-gun candidates drew occasional criticism from the GOP.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In more recent years, the political power of the NRA declined – along with donations and membership. Much of that was attributed to LaPierre’s autocratic and opulent lifestyle at the expense of the organization.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">LaPierre has been accused of spending NRA funds on personal expenses, including personal travel on private jets, family trips, lavish dinners and hotel accommodations, luxury items and expensive clothing. ; The misuse of funds and policy differences led to North attempting to oust LaPierre from his position in the NRA. ; When that failed, North resigned.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">New York Attorney General Latitia James filed a suit against the NRA to shut it down for alleged violations of state not-for-profit tax law – claiming the misuse of millions of dollars of NRA money. ; LaPierre resigned on the eve of that case going to trial. ; A co-defendant, Joshua Powell, settled his case by pleading guilty and paying a $100,000 fine.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">LaPierre was said to have resigned due to poor health. ; Neither he nor his attorney would reveal what the health issues were, and none were obvious at this time. ; It is more likely that the NRA Board could no longer tolerate the credible allegations of financial misconduct and the significant decline in NRA membership and contributions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Whatever the reasons, LaPierre’s departure from the NRA is a long overdue good thing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

LaPierre out at National Rifle Association
