The real face of the gun lobby

[AndyS]

For three decades, Wayne LaPierre has existed in the public eye as a one-dimensional right-wing hero, railing at the out-of-touch “elites” who oppose freedom, self-reliance, and the unfettered right to protect yourself with a gun. His ability to effectively solicit contributions for the National Rifle Association has depended on donors viewing him as an authentic leader and even a mirror image of themselves.

But over the last six years, as I’ve reported on the gun lobby, sources have routinely raised questions about LaPierre’s persona, suggesting a chasm between the projected everyman image and the man himself — a coddled executive who is clumsy with a firearm, and fearful of the violent political climate he has helped create. Those sources believe that NRA members have been sold a bill of goods, their hard-earned money enriching LaPierre and other insiders instead of flowing toward the frontlines of the cause.

As my previous reporting showed, and as the NRA’s current bankruptcy trial further confirms, the organization has indeed been beset by self-dealing for almost the entirety of LaPierre’s tenure as the gun group’s executive vice president. But what until recently remained an open question was this matter of the NRA leader’s authenticity. When I obtained secret footage of LaPierre’s 2013 botched elephant hunt in Botswana, as well as newly uncovered legal records, I finally found some answers.

https://www.thetrace.org/2019/04/nra-financial-misconduct-ackerman-mcqueen/

The NRA is struggling to justify it's existence as a non-profit organization to the Bankruptcy Court in Texas. Unless the court is convinced that the organization is a legitimate candidate for debt relief there is an excellent chance the NY DOJ will disband the organization entirely like it did to the Trump 'charity'.

The above excerpt is from The Trace newsletter with a link to the original article. I have known since the '70s that LaPierre had no interest or knowledge of guns, gun rights or the culture that was once the NRA. Early on one of the other board members was quoted as saying 'the most dangerous place to be is in the same county as LaPierre holding a gun . . .' He has never been anything but a lobbyist and a money raiser and that is exactly what he turned the NRA into, a cash cow to be exploited for his own benefit.

If you haven't seen he video mentioned above I can't recommend it. It is horrific. The entire 'hunting' trip was planned as a fund raising tool. LaPierre was able to shoot the poor beast and immobilize it. As it lay there is agony the guide brought LaPierre to within 30 feet or so, walked to the elephant put his finger on the spot that would end it's life and said 'shoot it here, you can do that, right?' It turns out LaPierre couldn't after three tries until the guide looked past him in disgust and ordered the bearer to end it.

That is what LaPierre has turned the NRA into along with most of the other gun rights supporters. Yet it is still the most feared lobby in Washington.

What will it take for the 90% of voters to become more feared than the NRA and 10% it represents?

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. Wayne ThePeter is one of the most putrid excuses for a human ever.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. What it will take: Knowledge, widely spread, of the dichotomy between him and his "beliefs."

He has to be shown as the ultimate hypocrite, in other words.

Shouldn't be too hard.

[AndyS]

3. It will also take a longer attention span. In the last seven days there have been at least nine

mass shootings; four or more people shot not counting the shooter. How many have we heard about?

What was the last mass shooting that got national attention? How long did it stay in the press?

Thoughts and prayers.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

We need to get mad. Really MAD as is sick and tired of repeated death and ruin.

What will it take be be outraged for more than 24 hours?

[JohnnyRingo]

4. Even Ollie North saw it.

He blew the whistle on LaPierre and others for their self dealing and was dismissed as president for it.

When the NRA is too corrupt for Oliver North, they have a problem.

[pandr32]

5. What you said

[appalachiablue]

6. +1 Didn't know that

[JohnnyRingo]

12. I'm surprised the OP says North is president of the NRA

He was forced to resign a couple years ago after complaining about LaPierre and others using dues money for a lavish lifestyle:

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/440952-nra-president-oliver-north-announced-he-will-not-run-for-reelection

[stopdiggin]

8. the NRA was hijacked by extremists

That's the plain and simple truth. It went in a short time from an organization revolving around responsible gun sport and ownership (gun safety, sensible regulation, hunting with and embrace of conservation ideals) -- to an organization intent on promoting extreme political views and the dismantling of regulation.

And in doing so they promoted and cultivated a new breed of "gun lover" -- and left a lot of responsible gun owners behind.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-23-2021

Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American, March 23, 2021 -
-snip- By the 1920s, rifle shooting was a popular American sport. “Riflemen” competed in the Olympics, in colleges and in local, state and national tournaments organized by the NRA. Being a good marksman was a source of pride, mentioned in public biographies, like being a good golfer. In 1925, when the secretary of the NRA apparently took money from ammunitions and arms manufacturers, the organization tossed him out and sued him.

NRA officers insisted on the right of citizens to own rifles and handguns, but worked hard to distinguish between law-abiding citizens who should have access to guns for hunting and target shooting and protection, and criminals and mentally ill people, who should not. In 1931, amid fears of bootlegger gangs, the NRA backed federal legislation to limit concealed weapons, prevent possession by criminals, the mentally ill and children, to require all dealers to be licensed, and to require background checks before delivery. It backed the 1934 National Firearms Act, and parts of the 1968 Gun Control Act, designed to stop what seemed to be America’s hurtle toward violence in that turbulent decade.

But in the mid-1970s, a faction in the NRA forced the organization away from sports and toward opposing “gun control.” It formed a political action committee (PAC) in 1975, and two years later elected an organization president who abandoned sporting culture and focused instead on “gun rights.”

Edit: While it's quite true that a lot of 'regulation' and thought about who should and should not possess guns was significantly based on class and racist construct in the NRA -- just like every social and legal train of thought during much of our history -- that's also significantly separate and apart from the recent radical push to re-imagine the 2nd Amend, and a thrust toward complete deregulation.

[JohnnyRingo]

13. I'm convinced the NRA has become an arm of the GOP.

This was confirmed several years ago when we had a gubernatorial race here in Ohio.

On one side was Ted Strickland, a democratic sportsman known for his love of outdoors and hunting. He was endorsed by the Buckeye Gun Owners Assn, and as a US congressman even voted against the Assault Rifle Ban.

On the other side of the ticket was John Kasich who as a Congressman at the same time, sponsored and helped craft the bill.

Guess who the NRA endorsed. You saw it coming. Wayne LaPierre used the same GOP blinders that republican voters wear when they enter the booth and instructed members to vote Kasich.

[lastlib]

7. LaPeeError is a threat to MY rights---

particularly ny right to live my life without fear of being murdered by an industrial-strength killing machine.

[smirkymonkey]

9. I really fucking hate that guy.

And anyone who supports him. I hope they all burn in hell for eternity.

[Duppers]

10. Same here!

The description of the video above is sickening.

Like to see ole Wayne lying in agony.

[Corgigal]

11. I'm kind of surprised

that a family member hasn’t targeted him. Bet he’s surprised too.