<p>The National Rifle Association announced Monday it had selected retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North to replace Pete Brownell as president of the organization. The announcement comes alongside Brownell&rsquo;s decision to exit the NRA in order to focus on his family business.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This is the most exciting news for our members since Charlton Heston became President of our Association,&rdquo; said NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre. &ldquo;Oliver North is a legendary warrior for American freedom, a gifted communicator, and skilled leader. In these times, I can think of no one better suited to serve as our president.&rdquo;</p>
<p>North&rsquo;s appointment was announced at a meeting in Dallas, where President Trump promised not to tighten firearms laws despite suggestions earlier his year that he would oppose the NRA after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.</p>
<p>North, 74, is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, best-selling author, and former Fox News analyst whose role in the 1980&rsquo;s Iran-Contra weapons deal earned him a somewhat infamous reputation. ;</p>
<p>North was indicted on 16 felony counts in 1989 after participating in the deal and then lying about it to investigators. At the time, he was working as a National Security Council aide to President Reagan. North was sentenced to three years in prison, but a judge dismissed the charge in 1991.</p>
<p>North, who is the closest thing the NRA has to a celebrity, says he is &ldquo;honored to have been selected&rdquo; and is &ldquo;eager to hit the ground running as the new NRA president.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>North will assume leadership of the NRA at a time of unprecedented support for gun legislation prompted by the shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland.</p>
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&#8221;Oliver North&rsquo;s very name is synonymous with corruption and disgrace,&#8221; said Kris Brown, who leads the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The man is a &#8220;walking lightning rod.&#8221;</p>