Opinion
California – -(AmmoLand.com)- Dear Wayne,
After my 1st open letter, I got several calls from friend and associates who know you personally. They all spoke that you are a fine man and dedicated to defending the 2nd Amendment and gun owners’ rights.
They point out all of the excellent work that you’ve done over the years. We all recognize that it is only because of your leadership that the NRA beat back the Clinton gun bans.
All of us very much appreciate those works, wins, and your effort and dedication. You made a massive difference in the lives of American gun owners while protecting our precious Second Amendment.
Rightly or wrongly when the leader of an organization becomes the only topic of conversation; when you and not the NRA are the issue then for the good and existence of the organization, you must step aside.
The mistakes that were made happened on your watch. While we all recognize the work you’re now doing to help right the NRA; the problem, of course, is that the initial decisions were yours. Leaders must own the responsibility.
So can you weather this storm? The answer is probably yes. But, at what cost? Is it worth 500,000 members leaving? Is it worth the loss of sponsorships and donations in the millions? Is it worth the loss of our legislative team & our political influence? More important is it worth the marginalization of the whole NRA organization?
With the 2020 elections just ahead we need a strong NRA, one that can function without distractions, and that is focused on building the shooting sports and protecting gun owners’ rights.
Your continuing in the position and with no apparent succession harms the image of the NRA and makes the NRA less effective. Perception is reality.
One associate of yours rightly stated that many of the anti-gun media only want your head. For much of what we read, this is true. That to them, the truth of their acquisition is less important than the shock value of their claims.
Imagine an NRA free of the negative press brought to by your media partners? Did the NRA advance the cause of the 2nd Amendment by having children’s toy trains dressed up as KKK members in a debate over gender?
So yes Wayne, I am asking you to do the loyal and right thing. You must fall on your sword for the good of the NRA.
Announce a managed plan for you to retire to an advisory role. The membership will wholeheartedly support you during the transition. Take that time to select an inspiring replacement with input from the entire board and then use that time to help rebuild the grassroots base of the NRA. For all the right reasons, gracefully step aside. Help us to get the focus back on the NRA and off of your good name.
Thank you, sir, for your decades of service. Thank you for defending the 2A. Thank you in advance for now doing the right thing. Few men can place their pride aside for the greater good.
Faithfully yours,
Don McDougall
About Don McDougall
Don McDougall is an NRA instructor and member of the Los Padres “Friends of the NRA” committee. If he’s not at the range, you will find him setting the record straight with on gun issues and gun safety on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
Hi Wayne,
I’ve been a life member since the 70’s , you have done great things, but I and many others think it’s time for you to retire with grace and stop this dismantling of a great organization.Please Liston to my plea.
Thank you William Hayden Life Member
I was taken aback over 20 years ago when I discovered Mr. Wayne La Pierre’s annual salary was over $900,000.00 per year, it’s much more now.
Cutting to the chase, Mr. La Pierre, you don’t own the NRA, it is not yours, it is not your play thing, it is not your hereditary fiefdom.
Mr. La Pierre, you must resign, NOW.
Yes, I am a Life Member of the NRA.
Don, you were way too mild in your criticism. Wayne owns the problem. As for the excesses of NRA TV, I believe it was Goldwater who said that “extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.” I fully support the mission of NRA TV and would do a GoFundMe for the channel if the snowflakes would let me. We need someone like Ollie North, and not some milk toast, soft-spoken, apologist for gun rights in the NRA leader chair. We need someone who, LIKE OUR PRESIDENT, knows how to fight and kick ass.
Message to LaPierre:
GO AND GO NOW.
Remember a guy named Neal Knox? Tried a coup and a take-over of NRA. All organizations have ‘internal politics’, So there are folks, down-stream from NRA who wish for their misfortune; There is a board that review and oversee all the expenditures and appointments; they are elected by membership; we need to trust that they will do what is best for the organization.
Hero? Are you fucking kidding? Think of our war chest if he hadnt allowed the incestuous dealings with ackmac and his over paid salary and benefits. He never met a gun ban he didn’t like a way for him to get a new suit a tv appearance or a story that made him look better than he was. No he was at the helm during the time he made it harder for the rank and file to nominate a candidate and voted in a deal so good he will get more retired than fucking all of us over from the… Read more »