Wayne LaPierre, the longtime leader of the National Rifle Association, announced his resignation as chief executive on Friday, days before a corruption trial involving the gun rights group begins in a Manhattan courtroom.

“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA," LaPierre said in a statement released by the NRA.

According to the NRA, the 74-year-old LaPierre cited health reasons for his decision to step down. He has served as the NRA’s chief executive since 1991.

“I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the NRA in August 2020, saying it diverted millions of dollars to fund luxuries for top officials, including travel expenses for LaPierre to several resorts.

  • Nach [Ohio]@midwest.socialEnglish
    18·
    11 months ago

    What’s the over-under on the NRA going back to it’s original mission promoting gun safety and sport shooting?

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      17·
      11 months ago

      For that to happen, rationale people would have to start paying the NRA so they’re eligible to vote on its leadership.

      That’s why stuff like this only tends to go one way.

      Extremists have no qualms joining a normal organization and making it extremist.

      But normal people who join extremist organizations, are just funding extremists.

      It would need a coordinated movement where a shit ton all join right before an election, then immediately cancel memberships if they lose. And it would still end up giving them a lot of money.

      At which point current NRA would just rename themselves and keep doing the same shit as a different group

    • FireTower@lemmy.world
      4·
      11 months ago

      NRA safety instructors have continued to be a thing as many states require a class be taken by an instructor with an approved certification to get a hunting or carry license. The NRA cert for being an instructor is still the largest most recognized one, even if it’s not the highest standard.

      I think realistically we can expect somewhat of a collapse in the NRA. Or at least the branch dedicated to litigation as other groups have stepped up in the past few years as a result of the corruption of the NRA.

      It’d be nice if they expanded back into the educational aspect but I don’t think they’ll be doing much expanding any time soon.