Declaring that the National Rifle Association has been in “a perpetual state of turmoil” recently, the billionaire-backed Everytown for Gun Safety—Michael Bloomberg’s gun prohibition lobbying group—says “NRA is on its heels and we can keep it there” as Virginia lawmakers prepare for Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control special session Tuesday.
Northam’s agenda was detailed by the Virginia Mercury in a Sunday report.
In an email blast to supporters, Everytown posted a compendium of negative news about NRA from the past couple of months. The Bloomberg group told email recipients, “You’ve helped call the NRA to account for its extreme and reckless agenda.”
Everytown seemed cheered by the shutdown of NRA-TV, and other recent developments.
That may come as a surprise to gun owners in Virginia, where the NRA is headquartered, as the GOP-controlled General Assembly prepares for the July 9 session, called in reaction to the May 31 mass shooting in Virginia Beach that left a dozen people dead. The NRA was represented during a town hall meeting last week at which time spokesperson Catherine Mortensen reportedly called the session a political stunt to distract from his own political scandals, according to WCVE News.
On the other hand, an unscientific poll conducted by TheGunFeed shows overwhelming support for the notion that NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre should be forced to resign.
Whether LaPierre stays or goes, Northam will likely have his hands full if he hopes to advance any part of his anti-gun agenda. He wants a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and resurrection of Virginia’s failed “one-handgun-per-month” law that was scrapped seven years ago. Still, Northam calls his proposals “common sense,” which is a stretch of credibility, according to critics.
Virginia may be a first test of the NRA since the eruption of its leadership troubles that began at the group’s annual convention in Indianapolis more than two months ago. Then-President Oliver North abruptly stepped down, there was a contentious members’ meeting over allegations of lavish spending and mismanagement, and LaPierre was re-elected as executive vice president by the Board of Directors.
Last month, chief lobbyist Chris Cox was first suspended from his position as executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, and a week later he resigned.
In addition, there have been lawsuits involving NRA’s longtime public relations firm, Ackerman McQueen, and an investigation of the organization by New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
The gun prohibition lobby is hardly masking its glee at these developments. Everytown’s email, over the name of Rob Wilcox, deputy director of Policy & Strategy, stated, “This is only the beginning.”
But the NRA and its allies in the Second Amendment community are used to fighting from behind circled wagons. They’ve been pretty good at it over the years and despite the reported “turmoil,” the NRA may still have a few surprises, especially heading into the 2020 election cycle.
Will the NRA survive the latest attack from Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown? Will the NRA get its internal house in order? Share your analysis in the comment section.
The Second Amendment Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
Sign up for K-Var’s weekly newsletter and discounts here.
The NRA will hold
Bloomberg had better not hold his breath, but maybe he should, if he does he will effectively commit suicide, Please do it!
Wayne needs to go. End of story. – Life Member
WHY? Please tell me. Is it because some “knowitall” on the internet says so, and can’t explain why, thus getting all the sheeple to follow, not knowing the reason?
Politicians and diapers need to be changed regularly, and for the same reasons…that holds true for our beloved N.R.A.
The NRA will remain a vital organization only if Wayne LaPierre and the current Board of Directors steps down and away from it. The revelations of lavish overspending on things only peripherally pertaining to the organization and rampant cronyism in its upper management have left a sour taste in the mouths of many long-time members who are now not only withholding their donations but also their all-important memberships. Unless Wayne LaPierre wants to preside over the death of the NRA, he must go.
Bring it Bloomberg! We’re ready!
It’s time for change at the top, and accountability for all the frivolous spending. Why doesn’t the NRA get it’s members involved more with petitions and overall awareness of the issues at hand like the NAGR does? Is it beneath them to call on the members of the organization that they seem to be getting rich from for anything but more money? I am not happy at all with how the NRA has handled recent events, They need to get leadership under control. They are giving us a bad name at a time of critical importance, they’re giving the grabbers more ammo at this rate of cover over, and lack of willingness to make critical chages.