USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- The executive vice president of the National Rifle Association is the person who runs the organization at the pleasure of the board, someone like a prime minister who wields power under the figurehead king. Since 1991, that office has been filled by Wayne LaPierre, for good and for ill. There is talk that he is considering stepping down, and it’s worth considering what kind of person should succeed him.
I am not a member of the NRA, and LaPierre is a part of the reason why—more about that in a moment. My purpose in this article is to offer some friendly advice from a supporter of gun rights who ideally would like to join, but at the very least wants success for the goals that we share.
First off, a new executive vice president needs to be able to devise strategy and tactics that will achieve victories. Being right is important, but so is winning. This would mean not being for something before turning against it, as LaPierre did on the question of universal background checks, for example. It also means leading the charge, rather than grousing from the sidelines. If things had been left to the NRA, the Heller case wouldn’t have been fought. Especially given the direction of the courts, we should see a lot more cases challenging state and federal infringements on gun rights, and the NRA needs a leader who will ask the director of the Institute for Legislative Action daily what the group’s lawyers are doing to make that happen.
It is right to say that the NRA has won a lot of battles in elections on the state and federal levels. And while gains such as the expansion of shall-issue carry licensing and constitutional carry are important, we also have to acknowledge that the evidence of Russian attempts to infiltrate the organization and more generally the mounting opposition to the flood of cash that is used to buy politicians suggest that the NRA is going to have to come up with new approaches. Whatever the actual effect of campaign donations is, the public perception of them is less and less favorable.
The problem is more than just a question of money in politics. The NRA at present is seen by roughly half of Americans as bad for the country. For decades, Wayne LaPierre has been the consistent public figure of the organization. Association Presidents come and go, while the executive vice president remains, and that person has to be someone who can draw in new people to the cause of gun rights. As I have said before, the NRA already has made a divisive choice of presidents, making someone who appeals to those who are not traditional—or stereotypical—gun owners is that much more important.
As I indicated above, I’m not an NRA member, and that gets at what I’m talking about here. Under LaPierre’s leadership, the NRA has consistently identified with the elements of the Republican Party that drive people on the left away. I am precisely the kind of person who the NRA needs, a liberal and a progressive who values gun rights. Yes, support for those is far stronger among Republicans, but in a nation that is divided often fifty-fifty plus or minus one, winning over the percentage of Democrats who are on the side of gun rights is essential if we want the law to protect them.
As if all this isn’t enough, the executive vice president also has to be a good manager and has to be someone who can handle a budget. Is all of this too much to ask? Perhaps. Institutions have inertia, and shifting them takes a lot of work. And genius is hard to pull off the shelf. But if we aim low, we inevitably hit the ground not too far from our own feet.
What leadership change at the NRA would inspire you to join or rejoin?
About Greg Camp
Greg Camp has taught English composition and literature since 1998 and is the author of six books, including a western, The Willing Spirit, and Each One, Teach One, with Ranjit Singh on gun politics in America. His books can be found on Amazon. He tweets @gregcampnc.
@Greg Camp Still hoping to hear back from you after I responded to your Initial response. I’m sorry if it got lost in everyone else wanting to dogpile onto you but I wanted to get my point across to you. The only way forward is by the constitution. Unless that becomes the starting point of any conversation between Right and Left then this country will descend into another civil war, of which we are already trading opening jabs. The idea that All men are created equal and should have protection against the desires of others is something that was lost… Read more »
Since my opening comment received a lot of attention for questioning Mr Camp, I’d like to clarify some things in light of some other comments that have popped up in response. I am not a Member of the NRA. I left the NRA half a dozen years ago because of their malfeasance in negotiating certain aspects of our rights away. As another commenter here on ammoland tried to tell me “Giving away some red meat to shut the anti’s up.” He was ok with that, I am not. I do what I can to support gun rights groups like the… Read more »
Unless Lapierre has some terminal illness, they’ll have to pry the Executive Vice President’s desk from his “cold dead hands”, as Charly Hesston like to say. . Mr. Lapierre spent decades stripping the Board Of Directors of any power over the N.R.A. They are a Board Of Directors now in name only. He is a “Vice President” as King Henry the 8th was just a member of the Royal Court. And in what direction did he take the N.R.A.? It’s all about money, money,… Money!, and about His personal prestige What has the N.R.A. really accomplished in the past 20… Read more »
So we need “progressive” leadership in the NRA? How far left would the NRA have to go that progressives would want to join? What specifically would need to be changed in the way the NRA defends the 2a to make itself more attractive to progressives? Lastly Mr. Camp, the NRA has an very impressive track record helping to preserve our freedom. Overall, should their thought process be that of obama “ we live in the greatest nation on earth, vote for me so we can change it “. I don’t know where you were at when obama was making those… Read more »
Polls! Ha! A recent poll I saw showed 60% of Americans favor the NRA. And, we need no smelly Eng Comp teacher telling us what the NRA NEEDS! And I’m the NRA! Go back to ANTIFA and tell stories of “great revolutions” to your comrades, comrade.
Sad thing is the democrats are the ones wanting to take your guns, why would you still be a democrat if they want to keep taking your rights away?
We know Hitler was a Mad Murdering Sociopathic Nut Job that murdered 6 to 20 million people! Don’t forget Stalin may have been guilty of more than 60+ million people! If there are 100 million gun owners in America, That’s how many of us that will be executed because we own guns! Think it can’t happen! Think about Ruby Ridge! Sanctioned MURDER by our Government! G.H.W. Bush was president! A RepubliPUKE! Think about WACO! Again Sanctioned MURDER by our Government! W.J. Clinton was president! A DemoTARD! Will the SHEEPLE wake up in time to save America, from becoming ameriKa! Gud… Read more »
I read this and my impression is that he is like the snake in the Garden….beguiling and full of lies. Beware of this man…he is like the silver tongued obama. I think Wayne has done a super job. No compromise is a winning strategy for me.
I am an NRA member and instructor. I wont renew my membership until whiney lets- pee-in- the-air and his lapdog kiss cocks are gone and someone that can and will remove their stain on the organization is in their place. Fancy talk and fancy contracts do not mean they are good for the NRA or gun rights. Whiney is a surrender monkey and need to gtfo now. Give them a golden sabre bullet of their favorite caliber and kick their asses the fuck out. I am so tired of illegal and unconstitutional “laws”steealing our civil rights with the help of… Read more »
I believe that the word “liberal” is inappropriate to describe Progressive snobs. Has any self described progressive liberal given hint to where we are to progress to? Their opinion on armed citizens suggest that we should regress to the stone age. I wonder how their beliefs in being liberal would function then. Democratic is another term that is miss assigned in describing these people. Individuals that believes in and supports the 2A as an individual’s right instead of for collective militia would be great in the Democrat Party. If any such people exist they should be helped to disband that… Read more »