What’s REALLY Going On Inside NRA Operations

Opinion

NRA Day by Day
What’s REALLY Going On Inside NRA Operations

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)-The purpose of this column is to explain what has recently transpired at NRA, and to refute the false narratives being spread about the Association.  Responsible board members have remained silent until now for legal reasons, but I believe what follows should be said.

Over a year ago, as NRA’s former treasurer was departing, Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for a renewed emphasis on transparency and compliance with best practices for the Association and all of its vendors.  Among other things, every vendor was required to provide extra detail backing up their invoices, and additional levels of detail on NRA operations were included on the Association’s tax returns.

LaPierre’s efforts proved to be prescient.  Officials in several jurisdictions began targeting the NRA, investigating how legal loopholes might be used to permanently shut down the Association. But it turns out that LaPierre’s good governance program may very well have created legal impediments to that, blocking efforts to harm NRA.

Ironically, some of those same transparency measures that may protect NRA from hostile public officials were spun by the anti-gun media to fuel a false narrative about NRA’s financial health and spending habits.  The media painted a fake portrait of a sputtering organization in decline, led by selfish executives lavishly spending member monies. That the media should present such a false narrative is not surprising. The surprising part is that some gun owners actually believed them.

In any event, LaPierre’s initiative to ensure that every NRA vendor provide extra invoice detail required cooperation from the vendors themselves.  Apparently, all but one vendor fully complied. That vendor was among the NRA’s largest, a public relations firm deeply embedded in the NRA’s highest-profile, most sensitive operations. The vendor was so deeply entrenched, for so long, that it apparently had developed independent financial relationships with several NRA officials – including former NRA President Oliver North.  Instead of simply providing the required additional invoice detail, the vendor apparently resisted.

LaPierre nevertheless insisted that the required detail be provided. Unfortunately, rather than provide it, there instead came an orchestrated effort to force LaPierre out. An ultimatum was delivered to LaPierre at this Spring’s annual meeting by high-profile NRA officials with apparent financial ties to the vendor (and resultant conflicts of interest): either resign immediately and receive a comfortable exit package, or else face the public disclosure of supposedly damaging and embarrassing information.  The threatened information dump included details of LaPierre’s wardrobe expenses, apparently incurred directly by the vendor on its own recommendation over almost 15 years, for LaPierre’s national TV and other high-profile appearances.

LaPierre’s response to the ultimatum was swift and decisive: he refused to step down, disclosed the threats that were made, and accelerated legal efforts to force the vendor to provide the invoice detail.  Then, just as had been threatened, the supposedly damaging information about LaPierre was publicly released. The anti-gun media predictably ate it up, and some gun owners fell for the spin.

As an aside, to those that know him, LaPierre is actually noted for his modest everyday wardrobe. As the public face of over 100 million gun owners, appropriate clothing for high-profile appearances is a justifiable corporate expense.  The cost over the 15 years cited in the information dump was less than 0.007 % (7/1000ths of one percent) of the nearly $4 billion in revenue LaPierre helped raise during the same period to preserve our Second Amendment rights.

NRA has since severed its nearly 40-year relationship with the vendor.  Former NRA President Oliver North abruptly left the NRA annual meeting midstream, missing key appearances, and was not re-elected.  Other high-profile relationships have been severed. Lawsuits are now flying between NRA and the vendor, government officials are reveling in their investigations, and the liberal media is eating it up.  And some gun owners are still swallowing it.

Had LaPierre bowed to the threats he received and “retired,” the vendor and its agents would likely now control NRA and its considerable resources.  LaPierre’s good governance program likely would have been abandoned. The NRA likely would have been left much more vulnerable to hostile government officials.  And a steady, potent voice that has skillfully led the organization through both triumph and tragedy for decades would have been silenced, just as the most contentious presidential election cycle in U.S. history is getting under way.

The future of freedom itself is at stake in the 2020 elections, and gun owners need LaPierre’s proven experience and leadership if we are to prevail once again (LaPierre is credited with making the key difference in electing U.S. Presidents, and countless legislators). LaPierre’s absence at this critical, historic time could dramatically affect the 2020 outcome, and pave the way for an attack on the Second Amendment like we’ve never seen before.

Despite this, a small wave of dissent cascades among a few NRA board members, who for varying reasons of their own seek LaPierre’s immediate ouster. Some seek personal advancement at LaPierre’s expense.  Others fear personal liability and think, wrongly, that calling for LaPierre’s head will insulate them. Some have succumbed to media spin. And others either can’t take the heat, or mistakenly think that political winds have shifted against LaPierre (they haven’t). Ironically, they have unwittingly aligned themselves with the former vendor in calling for LaPierre’s departure.

A handful of gun owners have been misled by this faction of board members, or by biased media reports, or both.  They don’t realize that LaPierre himself is the one who insisted on disclosing the very things they now incorrectly blame him for.  They don’t realize that they wouldn’t even be aware of those things if not for LaPierre.  And his program of transparency has postured the organization to survive a regulatory onslaught bent on destroying NRA.  Thanks to LaPierre and the accounting team led by NRA’s new treasurer, there is good reason to be confident in NRA’s accounting practices and commitment to good governance.

LaPierre has consistently done the right thing for NRA, not because it was easy or convenient, but because it was right.  He has not been the problem; he has been the solution.

LaPierre was re-elected unanimously by the NRA board at the annual meeting this Spring, just as these key events were happening.  Contrary to social media lore, every board member had ample opportunity to vote “no,” challenge him, or support someone else, under familiar procedures in use for decades.  No one did. Any board member claiming otherwise is not telling the truth.

We have incredibly difficult and consequential battles ahead. No one is better equipped, more experienced, or has a better track record to take gun owners through them, than LaPierre.  Further division will only damage the Second Amendment. Now is the time for everyone to heal, to stand together, and to prevail over the real enemy: those trying to destroy freedom itself.


Scott Bach
Scott Bach

Scott L. Bach is an NRA Board Member and is Executive Director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. Email: [email protected]

201 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Buster

The old-timers used to say “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one”. It’s not hard to tell who the jackasses are on this forum – those trying to burn down what’s left of the NRA. It will soon become apparent who the jackasses are at the NRA – if any. New leadership, some common-sense changes to the by-laws, election ballots counted, and the NRA will be better than ever before. It’s not complicated, it’s not necessarily expensive, it won’t take a lot of time. I say we learn from the past… Read more »

TheRevelator

Ran away from the argument where you got caught in a lie just to come here and shovel more BS Buster? Don’t forget to go back and pick up your balls from where you dropped them. I love how now the lie you are trying to push is a twisting of things we have said, particularly it is a lie of omission. For those unaware, I will restate. “The goal from the start has always been with fixing the NRA as the goal. To do this, the current board and leadership must be fully removed from the NRA, protections added… Read more »

Pete

Buster, I don’t think your analogy applies in this case. Nobody wants to destroy the NRA. We want want to remove Wayne and his sycophants and replace them with a team committed to the 2nd, to fiscal responsibility and to remove the policies, procedures and structures that prevent accountable leadership.

That is different than just trying to tear it down.

I also think most of us want to either see these changes with the NRA, or help build another organization to do this for us.

Buster

@PETE

I hope you’re right, but I’m not seeing it.

ahhiyawa

Don’t despair Buster. You are understanding it rightly while the NRA haters & bashers have got it all wrong. It takes intelligence and not sloganeering to correct the problems in our association.

TheRevelator

@ahhiyawa

Something you nor buster have not shown since you have ben here.

Talking to someone like buster, who just spent the last several days posting comments boasting about “being completely ignorant” about what has and is happening in the NRA,, about intelligence is antithetical to the purpose of your comment.

Never mind the fact that the both of you have not yet realized why you have gotten such stringent pushback, though admittedly you have done less than buster so you do deserve credit for that.

Pete

@Buster, As I’ve read more of your posts, I gather that you value the 2nd and disagree on how to address the issues at the NRA. I have a whole new level of concern that I wanted to point out to you. There is an article on Ammoland in the gun rights section be Jeff Knox. In his article, he provides links to two other stories. Many have concerns about self dealing and lavish spending among Mr. LaPierre and his favored few. If these are true, its very likely that the NRA will lose its non-profit status when audited by… Read more »

TheRevelator

@PETE There is some validity in what you have said. Indeed, it could be turned back around on New York, since their lawsuit looked to be heading to the Supreme Court they tried to change their law to say it was no longer necessary to move forward with the suit, it would be hypocritical if they denied the same reasoning if Lapierre and the entire board were replaced. Here is the problem with Buster’s comments however. He has tried to defend Lapierre at every turn recently, even using lies to do so. That in itself is a problem, if for… Read more »

Pete

@Revelator, I don’t see how anyone who truly values the 2nd can stick up for LaPierre. None of us know all the truth, though enough info is out there to indicate that he has to go. The CarryGuard fiasco was such a mess that responsibility rests with the CEO. It looks to me like NY will find plenty of rule breaks to take away the non profit status. Sadly, I suspect the most likely outcome is that Wayne bleeds the NRA for everything possible before leaving, putting us all in the position of trying to get GOA and similar orgs… Read more »

TheRevelator

@PETE

That is a prediction I share with you.

Sadly, I believe the reason Buster was defending Lapierre is specifically related to the question I told you about. It is a fear based reaction based on the belief that the NRA and Second Amendment are connected irrevocably. In their minds, if the NRA looks bad, the Second Amendment will die, so they circle the wagons and defend it, even if that means defending those like Lapierre or the Organization itself when it pushes for infringements. It is why he resorted to lies on the last article I challenged him on.

Seriously?

In todays politics there is truth and mistruth, half truth and flat out lies. Apparently too many are no longer interested in the truth but rather the illusion or what they want to hear; or perhaps their agenda. And as the NAZIs said “tell the lie long enough and it becomes the truth”. What I see here seems to me that Mr Bach is trying to convey some of the facts that I’m sure very few to no one have all the inside details of yet hes now a liar, sycophant and a LaPierre loyalist. Whats his motive to lie?… Read more »

Vanns40

I’m sorry but your veracity rating, on this issue, is close to zero. If this weren’t so serious your column would be laughable. When the organization is hemorrhaging money and key players every single day, due, in large part to the actions of a “leader” who appears to be absent from the battlefield, you don’t keep making excuses, you remove that ineffective leader as quickly as possible, and start reassuring everyone that changes are being implemented immediately. NRA has failed on all accounts and this is, yet again, proof that they are willing to let the entire organization go asunder… Read more »

TheRevelator

@Vanns40

Glad to see you are still around and kicking. Hope you had a wonderful 4th during the last month.

DrMichaelSBrown

I’d like to know why LaPierre isn’t speaking out himself? He could easily gather up some of his expensive suits and fly around the country holding town hall meetings with real NRA members. I’ve always believed the articles I see with his signature in the NRA magazines are written by a staff writer, so those don’t count. So far the actions of the LaPierre faction just make them look more guilty of…. something. Imaginations are running wild and not without good reason. Whoever is calling the shots for that group is just digging the hole deeper. Anyway, we can add… Read more »

TheRevelator

Its impossible to perjure oneself if one doesn’t speak out…

TheRevelator

@wjd

Not bad. Got to flex the neural pathways a little running circles around buster the other day, dragging him along bit by bit. Haven’t had an occasion that good since Green Watch Dog skedaddled out of here, as most of the others are more akin to playing whack-a-mole. There isn’t much skill needed, but they keep popping up one at a time over and over.

Pathfinder

I’ve read a lot about the LaPierre issue and Bach’s defense is not credible. Wayne’s lack of defense is notable. I feel that the NRA is structured to insulate decision making from the members. There’s a real lack of transparency. As a Benefactor Member who has given a lot over the last view years, I’m done giving until LaPierre is gone. Personally I think he should be fired for caring more about himself than the Second Amendment. He has become one of the elites he rails against.

mlhtd51

Scott L. Bach, I Have A MEMO for You. NO More Money to the NRA Until “Wayne LaPierre” Is GONE. My Money is going to Organizations who Fight For My Rights.

TheRevelator

Scott Bach Considering Lapierre’s efforts at removing people over the years if they speak out against him, the cases we know where someone was calling for accountability, there is a saying you should have remembered before you wrote your little piece here. The Cat is already out of the bag. Wayne’s been following this playbook since 1998, always finding a scapegoat, always claiming an attempted coup. Not one thing you said here held water to change anyone’s mind, and now we can no longer trust you. However, for the sake of being fair and giving you a chance, I’ll give… Read more »

MikeTX

The hits keep coming: Three National Rifle Association (NRA) board members reportedly resigned on Thursday amid recent turmoil at the organization. Esther Schneider of Texas, Sean Maloney of Ohio and Timothy Knight of Tennessee resigned after saying that they lost their committee assignments after raising questions about certain spending by CEO Wayne LaPierre, The Washington Post reported. “While our belief in the NRA’s mission remains as strong today as ever, our confidence in the NRA’s leadership has been shattered,” Schneider, Maloney and Knight wrote to NRA officials, according to the Post. They added that they, as part of their duties… Read more »

ahhiyawa

This is the work of reformists who are increasing the pressure everyday. Lapierre is finished, not the NRA.

TheRevelator

@ahhiyawa

Yes, the reformists that you here continuously attack. Stop misstating information.

Ej harbet

I would love to have a sitrep from RKB!

ahhiyawa

Big news coming from ‘Save the 2A’ and ‘Retire Lapierre.’ They claim their reform campaign has received massive support from NRA members. They have received more than enough valid signatures for the first of 5 by-law petitions they’re intending to submit to the BOD. This is all great news and as time goes on the movement will grow and grow as more members realize this is an effort to save the NRA, not destroy it. This is exactly the effort needed to save the NRA, drive Lapierre and fellow vermin out and restore it to its former glory as the… Read more »

TheRevelator

@ahhiyawa And if the board rejects or neuters those petitions? What will you do then? The problem ahhiyawa is that you have attacked the wrong people here on ammoland, the ones trying to fix the NRA from the outside. You targeted us because you were incensed that we would dare stop giving money to the NRA, you spewed hatred at us attempting to claim we were spewing nothing but hatred because you didn’t like the fact that we were getting more and more people to stop donating. You were mad because we don’t listen to you and we are willing… Read more »

ahhiyawa

Sounds to me like your whole screed is you talking about yourself.

You need to calm down, I’m not your enemy.

Green Mtn. Boy

Mr.Scott L. Bach

Tell Wayne NRA members are not buying his line of B S and to save you his sycophants the embarrassment of groveling on his behalf in public forums.

Ej harbet

First potterfield then this,,,,

phoenixmichaels

NO SALE. I don’t care if Wayne walks around in RAGS, his salary is outrageous! His position should be held by a vote of the MEMBERSHIP, not the BOARD. There are far, FAR too many suits garnering lush salaries and benefits at the national AND state levels. Most of these state positions would be eagerly filled with qualified volunteer members who are retired. Too bad Ross Perot passed away recently (RIP Ross) because he would tell you the same thing he told when consulting the US Post Office: “You are WAY too top heavy, with far too many managers being… Read more »

Considerthis

I can’t help but feel sorry for Scott L. Bach and the owners of firearms in his state. At this point in terms of their 2nd Amendment Rights, They are not much better off than slaves. I suppose they can imagine that the NRA is their savior. But they have the power to decide who their master is. Still they keep electing some of the worst politicians with the strongest anti-rights positions, that want to treat all Americans like they have treated the citizens of New Jersey. He and his fellow gun owners have already lost rights that were not… Read more »

CigarPirate

Wayne has done a great job over the years. As stated by the author Bach, he is a humble individual and has done nothing but look out for the concerns and interests of the NRA and it’s membership. No man is the end all to be all for everyone. There are some reactions and actions that I don’t agree with. But there is more likes than dislikes. Most of the membership doesn’t understand how things work on a national level as it is outside of their wheelhouse. And that’s ok. 30 years ago the NRA was concentrated more on keeping… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Pirate, you wrote, “Most of the membership doesn’t understand how things work on a national level as it is outside of their wheelhouse.” But you do understand how things work on a national level. You are smart. Elite, even!
So what percentage of the membership did you meet and get to know, so as to come to that conclusion or are you just another lying elitist snob?

Pete

@CigarPirate, Here is the big issue I have with your comments and those posting support for Wayne. Most of you are making sweeping generalizations, things like the growth in membership since Wayne took over and the increased focus on the 2nd, etc…. The problem with that is that none of you are addressing, in an effective manner, the consistent concerns that many of us have. Things like demonizing Olliver North, the outrageous costs for Waynes clothing the NRA has paid for, the removal from committees of dissenting members of the BoD, the chartered flights, the size of the board and… Read more »

nrringlee

Look at his track record. Long track record. Nefarious actors generally do not need Presidential pardons. Semper Fi

KnightHawk

Is LaPierre the “good guy” or the “boogie man”? I do not know . . . Here’s a way for him to prove his worth. Our U.S. Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Trump, donates his entire salary back to the USA (Military cemeteries, etc.). Our NRA EVP, Wayne LaPierre, should follow that example. If Mr. LaPierre is truly the best person to lead the NRA forward, this would be a grand gesture of good faith. Let him defend the cause of Freedom and the Second Amendment by donating his next four years salary back to the National Rifle Association. (Pay back the… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Knight, That would be good, but I’d like to see the NRA actually win for once. The BATFE only exists by the memo of a past Treasury Secretary. Have the current Sec. Treas. revoke the memo. That would not take Congress or the courts. But it would be a big win.

Rico1957

You guys can go back and forth all year and it wont make any difference. Wayne has lost the trust of the “common” NRA non board members he should step down of his own accord to save the fundraising arm of the NRA. Your right when you say the GOA does not have the political clout necessary to fight the fight. But that doesn’t change the fact the there is no trust in the current board anymore, that bridge is tainted and I’m afraid there is no turning back the clocks Wayne should step down and let someone else man… Read more »

Autsin Miller III

Well said Rico, that’s the truth. At the end of the day the only path to making the NRA whole again starts with Wayne stepping down.

moe mensale

“As the public face of over 100 million gun owners, appropriate clothing for high-profile appearances is a justifiable corporate expense.” Again with the clothes? Sorry Scott, but you’re sadly mistaken. Personal clothing is not and has never been a justifiable corporate expense. Unless the clothing cannot be worn outside of LaPierre’s NRA duties or is some form of protective clothing or some type of company uniform it’s considered personal clothing and not deductible by the NRA, regardless of its cost. If the NRA is going to deduct it then it must treat it as additional compensation to LaPierre. Read the… Read more »

Pete

@Moe Mensale, I’m totally with you. The claims that Hollywood Boutique clothing is needed for a non-profit asking for money is one of the most outrageous assertions by folks like Scott. I spent years in sales calling on high level executives that have plenty of money. If I show up in the most expensive clothing and drive a really expensive car, the message the exec gets is that I’m charging too much. Much better for me to show up in decent clothing with a decent car. If I were showing up asking for donations rather than selling something, I would… Read more »

Joe Wilson
ahhiyawa

About a half dozen times at least. Lapierre will not resign. Lapierre has a death grip on the NRA because the members stupidly voted for by-law changes he has demanded for over 20 years. The executive power is so extensive that Lapierre can have his board pass any by-law changes without a vote of the membership, plus it takes a super, super majority (75%) of the board to fire the executive director. To do what Bane requests means stripping himself of all his defenses and going to jail. The NRA is his legal armor and shield, and if he has… Read more »

Joe Wilson

A little more from that article I just posted;

“Bill’s representation of the N.R.A. is a classic example of ‘servicing the client to death,’ ” Hal Marshall, a former Bickel & Brewer partner, told ProPublica. “We tried to leave no stone unturned in our cases, and it often yielded great results. On the other hand, the bills were hefty.”

Joe Wilson

“Brewer has been the NRA’s outside counsel for approximately the last year and a half. In that time, his firm has billed in the neighborhood of $24 million.”

https://onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-nras-outside-counsel-ethical-and.html

ahhiyawa

There is only one answer to this fallacy. TRANSPARENCY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the membership got instead were ultra secret executive meetings, gag orders, kangaroo star chamber proceedings against officers of the association who dared to raise questions of board and executive responsibility regarding finance and operations, expelling such officers from committees and banned them from consideration by the nominating committee for future board elections. Lapierre, Bach and other stooges & quislings on the board did not show prescience, they acted on foreknowledge of the facts of their wrong doing as the NY and DC attorney generals started closing in on their… Read more »

Cam

Well the way he and the board set it up so it was virtual impossible to get ride of them after there was the last take over that put them in power.
Sounds like a dictatorship to me!

Dubi Loo

Some random thoughts, in no particular order: When I read these op-eds from board members (who created or allowed wrong doing) Why do the words “Baghdad Bob” leap to mind? Socialist excel at spending other people’s money irresponsibly. Sounds like NRA “leadership!” Even if every single NRA member voted for President Trump, (highly unlikely) Wayne is solely responsible for getting Mr. Trump elected? I guess the other 58 M people that voted for him get zero credit for doing so. We hear there are over 5 M members and finances are fine, yet no one at NRA will Ever tell… Read more »

WLS

@Dubi Loo

The financials are not hard to find. They are readily available on line.

moe mensale

Correct. The NRA annually files IRS Form 990 for non-profit organizations. They are also public information and always have been. It’s not a secret.

Go to this link. Click on whatever year interests you. When that year comes up you will also be able to choose any of the sub-schedules filed for additional details.

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530116130

Dubi Loo

Thank you

MtStream

When will you guys and gals get it????? We need a strong NRA but is the NRA NOT bigger than one individual? If Wayne is the ONLY one who can do it, then let him do it by himself!!! But if what is said about the NRA being the power of the members, we can survive the loss of one person! The NRA will live, adapt, change but will go on and might get better! I’ve been doing turnaround management for nearly 30 years. Every company I’ve ever worked with tells me about the one person they “can’t” lose. That… Read more »

SnapShot

Remember the NRA Wine Club and the rest of NRA as your Lifestyle Destination nonsense? Whose idea was that? It was a fundamental change and it seems that the main result was to fatten the NRA so there would be more to suck out of it.
We need the NRA to be a lean, mean machine but big and bad enough so that if it’s in the room, people shut up and listen. Besides calling each other names, how do we get there?

Buster

You need to get elected to Wayne’s position.

Boomer

“LaPierre has consistently done the right thing for NRA” Yeah, you’re absolutely right! And now we need someone to do whats right for gun owners, not specifically to advance the NRA! The same NRA that was behind bumpstock bans and red flag laws! If there is no “boogeyman” for the NRA to fight, there won’t be the millions and millions of dollars pouring into it thats intended to be used to fight with. They provide their own job security by making sure there are still “battles to be fought” on the second amendment, by advocating for and helping to implement… Read more »

at

Why does this feel like Washington D.C. and the swamp all the way around? Why not term limits for all including all the Presidents and VP’s? Such a simple solution to a perceived problem. Or is something else going on?

Even extremely successful businesses change leadership. Saying the current execs and boards are the only ones who can guide the ship is actually a self-inflated personal perspective that shows the truth behind their motives. NO ONE SINGLE PERSON CAN CAUSE THE NRA TO FAIL!

Carl up North

I’m sorry that Scott Bach just lost any credibility on Second Amendment issues with me from this point forward. I feel sadness for the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs.

Endowment Life Member, Ordinary Working Schmuck, Concealed Carry Holder, Air Force Retiree, Retired Volunteer Firefighter

MikeTX

This commentary became more incredible with every paragraph. Look, Scott Bach, Wayne LaPierre IS the problem and has been for some time. HE is burning down the NRA, not a “handful of gun owners”. An outfit’s CEO is supposed to groom his successor. Who is slated to take Wayne’s place? Nobody, that’s who. Wayne is going to try and take the NRA into the grave with him, he’s a dictator-for-life. The NRA is a raging dumpster fire right now, nobody in their right mind is giving so much as one thin dime to it. That’s unsustainable, and we all can… Read more »

TAdams

And how many lobbyists does GOA employ to protect our rights? When was the last time you saw a legislator concerned with their GOA grade? Keep dreaming!

Wild Bill

@TA, Which is worse no lobbyists or many highly paid lobbyists that do not achieve the desired result, and turn the organization into their personal cash cow?

WLS

Wikipedia says that the GOA has 15 employees. How in the world can they every do what the NRA is doing with 15 employees?

To be clear, I am not against them. I am asking a realistic question.

Wild Bill

@WLS, Just what do you think the NRA is doing or more appropriately achieving?

Wild Bill

@WLS, and in answer to your question, the GOA is winning!

Wild Bill

@wjd, I think that my lawn mower analogy was wasted on them.

Wild Bill

@TA, NRA lobbyists are a really, really expensive failure. We have have sent the NRA rivers of money, and still have unconstitutional gun control. We could have “lobbied” every federal, state, and local politician, judge, bureaucrat, governor, and president from 1933 to present to keep, our easy to read and understand, preemptory, Second Amendment Civil Rights. So…where did all the money go? What was achieved?

Ej harbet

Truth that bothers me about goa.

Joe Wilson

Patron member #4875884 In my opinion WLP salary is too high, including his benefits. I also am of the opinion that the overhead that is required today to run the NRA is excessive. The millions upon millions spent on PR firms completely excessive. The millions in legal fees required to defend the NRA today also seem way out of line. As a member of the NRA I have found the avalanche of mailings and phone calls seeking over the years more and more donations to support these excesses disheartening when in the mean time it is my belief that the… Read more »

GunGuy

I agree with you 100% A Million + salary is excessive – Paid By our donations and dues,, For what he does we could hire 10 good people to fight to get Pro gun rights laws passed not play constant defense from the attacks by liberals !

Charlie Foxtrot

Well, another NRA Board Member who is making a fool of himself using some creative rewriting of history, sprinkled with the usual propaganda. Still no explanation of why.Wayne LaPierre had an Ackerman McQueen credit card. The explanation that he doesn’t always wear his expensive suits makes spending NRA money on them even more ridiculous. Or was is Ackerman McQueen money that the NRA has refused to pay? You guys should really get your story straight on that, given the legal implications. Then there is the usual the “NRA finances are fine” line that contradicts the NRA’s own past fundraising and… Read more »

Walt

Even if Lapierre was anointed by God himself, he should step down. The simple appearance of impropriety was and is enough for members to lose faith in the organization. Whether you think Lapierre is good or bad for the NRA, his presence now is a hindrance to our ability to protect any rights we have left. (or the ones they haven’t sold us out on already)

GunGuy

I have been an NRA Lifer since 1994,, I have seen the NRA go down hill and With the ouster of Kneal Knox That was the last straw I trust Olly North, And to see The actions of the board stand behind Wayne tells me how corrupt they are… Another worthless board member is TOM KING Of NYSRPA.. I have seen Wayne in Debate with anti gunners getting his butt handed to him .. ALL I Know he is paid MILLIONS of Dollars a year,,My Life membership pays about 10 Minutes of his salary..Nuff Said and I registered just to… Read more »

Rick

North was trying to put his employer in de facto charge of the NRA. The reality is that he was in it for himself, not the NRA. If you will recall North’s background, this isn’t his first problem.

Charlie Foxtrot

Yet, Oliver North is still a NRA Board Member. Maybe your conspiracy theory doesn’t add up 100%?

Wild Bill

@CF, I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Rick’s explanation for that.

Rick

He will “term out”. He chose not to run for re-election as President and left. He is a non-factor.

Wild Bill

@Rick, His terming out does not answer his question. “He is a non-factor.” is an evasion.

Pete

@Rick, I’m not aware of any info that supports you conclusively saying that North was trying to put Ackerman in charge. You may be correct. However, it could also be that he was trying save the NRA. The truth will hopefully come out in this lawsuit.

If you have proof then share it. Otherwise you sound like another guy using the dictator’s playbook to trash the dictator’s critics. Wayne’s accusations in the law suit are not proof.

Rick

AckMac would not provide documentation required by the NRA. For roughly $40 million, the client, the NRA, requires documentation. You would be criticizing the association if it did not. North was an employee of AckMac, from whom he derived substantial income. That is a conflict of interest which should have prevented him from becoming President in the first place IMO. While I don’t recall all of the details because AckMac and NRA were shying each other at that point, but they were working on getting themselves into a position where they would effectively control audio-video productions instead of merely being… Read more »

Pete

@Rick, Your comments are fine, though don’t provide strong support that North was acting badly. Part of the problem at the NRA is the multitude of relationships that are twisted in the manner you just described.

Autsin Miller III

Well we certainly have a conundrum here don’t we? Mr. Bach tells us that we are only a handful of disgruntled members, though it certainly SEEMS like more than that. He also seems to suggest there hasn’t been much reduction in membership giving but elsewhere we read that over 140 million dollars are on hold. Guess we will see but judging from the amount of pleas I am getting weekly from Wayne et al, I would hazard a guess that Mr. Bach at best is putting a positive spin on the situation and at worst isn’t sharing all the truth… Read more »

Tony

The problem with planned giving of estates like with Mr. Dell’Aquila and others is that if for medical reasons the estate is depleted at time of final distribution, NRA would not get much or all anyway. Land valuations also change over time, so perhaps such an estate may decline in any case.

The tax benefits of such giving though may be an issue as well. Each estate is specific to itself, possibly helping these “donors” with reduction in current tax bills.

Pete

@Tony This comment is completely ridiculous. Are you be paid to come here share crap like this?

Wild Bill

@Tony, Wayne LaPierre and heir to my estate … ! Ha, haha, hahahahahahaha. Stop you are making my stomach hurt.

Ansel Hazen

The problem MISTER BACH is that the NRA has not consistently done the right thing for it’s membership.
The NRA now has a cash flow problem because people like me aren’t going to donate until the president of the NRA, who was paying for apartments for college “interns” is GONE.

Businesses and individuals who continue to support Wayne are going to get the same treatment.

Rick

Just who would you replace LaPierre with? The reports of “cash flow problems” are unsubstantiated rumors.

Nanashi

Knox or whoever has his approval.

TAdams

The guy who couldn’t afford a plane ticket to the NRA convention is gonna raise the $ and run the $400 million NRA?!

Ansel Hazen

That would be a good starting point. But seriously, it can’t be all that hard to find someone with the passion and integrity necessary to keep this ship from sinking.

TAdams

Haha!! Sarah Palin?

Wild Bill

@TA, Sarah Palin, she has the connections, or any number of honest NRA members out of the five million. It is not like WLP is the only lobbyist on the planet.

Pete

@Rick, There are plenty of good leaders that can take over. Question for you. If there aren’t any cash flow problems, why did I get so many emails telling me the NRA would close down if I didn’t send money?

Buster

@Rick

I first joined NRA before I got out of high school. I quit NRA when I finally got tired of them filling my mailbox.

In 2002, I telephoned NRA and told them I would join as a life member if they promised to never send me a solicitation – ever. They promised, and never once (since `02) have I been mailed, telephoned, or emailed.

If you ask (nicely), I’d bet you can be put on a do not call list.

Ansel Hazen

OMG the cheap ChiCom swag is so beyond belief. For any organization that supposedly promotes American values to buy that shit from China is a slap in the face.

Charlie Foxtrot

@Rick, who would YOU replace LaPierre with when he becomes mentally unfit or dies? This whole personality cult thing in the NRA has to end! The personality cult is exactly why you got that Sarah Palin answer.

Nanashi

Not only has it not done the right thing, it has outright betrayed membership.

Look at this NRA publication from 1986
comment image

Compare it to LaPierre’s statements on this Face the Nation interview.
https://youtu.be/2pk2LqqqtDs?t=4m9s (go to 4:09)

Under LaPierre the NRA has lied to the membership to pass gun control. He belongs in a cell for the rest of his miserable life.

Tony

The choice in 1986 over the machine gun restrictions was that the Knox desire to overturn the 1934 Firearms Control Act had failed since 1979. Normally not a problem, one sticks to one’s guns (so to speak), but under the 1968 GCA gun owners, dealers and collectors WERE GOING TO JAIL over entrapment operations carried out by gun enforcers. FOPA cured a large numbers of problems, but the Hughes Amendment was inserted as a poison pill to kill any reform of the 1968 GCA. In 1986, NRA decided to take 2/3rds of the loaf to get gun law reform through… Read more »

Tony

No answer on the machine gun group lobbying then?

Wild Bill

@Tony, Deregulate machine guns? First off, it is only a transfer tax. Anyone with money can buy one. What kind of regulation is that? Second, it is GOA that is forcing the Supreme Court to recognize the God given, and Second Amendment enshrined Right to own a machine gun, tank, artillery, and or warplane. Third if it was entrapment they should not have been going to jail. See Sherman and Sorrels for test of entrapment. Forth, if what you write is true then the NRA chose poorly, and we don’t need that. Finally, that last paragraph is the product of… Read more »

Ej harbet

I really hope col robert k brown doesnt do it.
Larry potterfield was bad enough!
Im too old to see my boyhood heros turncoating.

WLS

There is clearly trouble in paradise. In my opinion, this is not being handled well. The way it is being handled creates more suspicion. On the other hand, a lot are rushing to judgment based on hearsay including what they read in various publications. Some of these statements are only part of the facts. In other words, not the entire story. Some of these trips are because the powers that be (WLP) were summoned to certain locations by BIG MONEY donors. Trips that pretty much any person in charge would make. Yet, they sound bad on the surface without the… Read more »

Charlie Foxtrot

“Some of these trips are because the powers that be (WLP) were summoned to certain locations by BIG MONEY donors. Trips that pretty much any person in charge would make.”

Care to back up that statement? The justification given for the European charter flights and limousines are rather suspicious. The charter flights to the Bahamas are explainable by something completely different, leaving the country during a time of crisis. Not very American, I would say!

ahhiyawa

Either your living a sheltered life or your part of the problem.

Too many leading paragons of the firearms community have raised their voices in opposition to Lapierre and demand that the NRA BOD…DO SOMETHING!…to save the NRA. The accusations and charges are not vacuous and demand investigation either by the members, or failing that by the pressing legal authorities.

Precarious time, yeah, big time, but the NRA is going to be absent from that contest thanks to Lapierre and his sycophants, boot and zipper lickers.

Wild Bill

@WLS, Yeah … we should not rush. It has only been 85 years that the NRA has had to solve the problem. Now, our enemies are more organized and better funded than ever before. The young people less conversant with the Bill of Rights. Government more grasping. Politicians more predatory. The NRA has wasted time and money.
Feel free to send Wayne all the money that you can spare. As for me, we had a terrific hay crop, by the grace of God, and the GOA will not be forgotten

Jeff

Man, talking about a message falling upon deaf ears! Are there any NRA members who believe the NRA has the right spending priorities, that the executive as not spending lavishly? Anybody except the board, that is. For those of us who work for a living, the clothing expenses and travel expenses are extravagant and unjustifiable. Some media reports WLP spent $200,000 dollars on suits . Unless this is the spending total for a decade, it’s outrageous. We can surely find someone to replace WLP and pay for his/her own suits out of his generous salary. ~NRA Patriot Life Member 217710449… Read more »

Buster

@MM1(SS) “Unless this is the spending total for a decade, it’s outrageous. We can surely find someone to replace WLP and pay for his/her own suits out of his generous salary. ~NRA Patriot Life Member 217710449 BTW: Since the NRA paid for the suits, where are they? Do they belong to the NRA or WLP?” It was more than a decade. And we do not know what exactly was purchased, or exactly who paid for it, or for what specific purpose, or the whereabouts of the clothing, or whether Wayne reported it as income, or if receipts ever made it… Read more »

Dave C

Did you read the article? “Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2019/07/whats-really-going-on-inside-nra-operations/#ixzz5vMS0CqB4
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

The threatened information dump included details of LaPierre’s wardrobe expenses, apparently incurred directly by the vendor on its own recommendation over almost 15 years, for LaPierre’s national TV and other high-profile appearances.

Wild Bill

@wjd, Ok, Listen up Anthony Colandro, Tony, Rick,and all the little whores down at HOR that Wayne LaPierre sent over here, yesterday: I had a lawn mower made by National Lawnmower Ass. It stopped working. I threw it away. Do you get it now?

Will Flatt

Scott Bach, professional huckster and certified member of the Protect Wayne LaPierre club!

Green Mtn. Boy

Yet another in a line of WLP sycophants propagandizing for La PeePee,you needed bother,Not One More Penny until Wayne ,management and the entire BOD is replaced,enough of the Negotiating Rights Away WLP crap from the sycophant of the week.

Tony

Nope, just been a volunteer in California since 1994. Never have been a Board Member.

Wild Bill

@OV, Now, you have gone and forced Tony to admit that he has been a loser since 1994. Even after carrying all that water for the NRA, they would not let him in the board room.
When he bites for that bridge, you better insist on a certified check.
2.058 round bales and 2365 square bales. We are humbly grateful to God, and quite tired.

LoneStarMitch

First, props to Scott Bach for saying what needed to be said. Normally, I stay out of the fray when infighting breaks out in the 2A community. But from here it’s obvious that some form of LaPierre derangement syndrome has overtaken some seriously disgruntled individuals who don’t mind damaging the top pro-gun organization in the country . . . the one which is on track to help re-elect Donald Trump. Let’s be straight. Real reformers don’t simply attack, attack, attack from the outside. And they don’t spew the amount of venom seen in many of these childish comments. If not… Read more »

Pete

@LoneStarMitch, The only actions I’ve seen in the past six months are those matching a dictator who is doing anything he can to consolidate power, regardless of the impact on the organization.

BigJim

@ LoneStarMitch, Correction, you meant to say the former top pro-gun organization. The ship has sunk and we smell a skunk.

GunGuy

I Agree 100%

Pete

Look, LaPierre toadies are welcome to come here and wreck their personal reputations be spewing for the kind of info in this article. In the words or the immortal Toby Keith, it’s time for a little less talk and a lot more action. Actions such as a board that can hold leadership accountable rather than leadership getting rid of critics, a board that can actually create q quorom to vote, open the books rather than let us learn from investigative reporters, Wayne to pay back the costs of his clothing, etc…..

Kinger

Investigative reporters on the Bloomberg payroll. BTW do you know the TRACE is owned by Bloomberg? The NY Times and Wall Street Journal passes on the article. You sound like a Bloomy Suppoter basing all your comments on innuendo and anonymous statements. Tell us who you really work for.

Pete

@Kinger, @wjd has it totally correct. The only thing you have is your nose up Wayne’s butt.

Buster

@PETE

“Actions such as a board that can hold leadership accountable rather than leadership getting rid of critics”

A leader typically will lay out an agenda (a course, if you will) for the organization. It makes sense that the leader would then want to purge anyone who proves to be a fly in the ointment, especially if their criticism is unfounded, nonsensical, vile, etc.

Pete

@Buster, Uh, no. Wayne doesn’t get kick people off the BoD when they call out his BS. They are his boss, not the other way around.

Buster

@PETE
Uh, no. Wayne is not there to carry out the wishes of the BOD. He is there to head up the organization and lead it down a specified path. No leader is expected to get along with/tolerate anyone/everyone, nor is he expected to satisfy everyone.

Pete

uh Buster, No, you are incorrect. Wayne reports to the BoD. The BoD is his boss.

Pete

@Buster, Also, you make a good point that no leader is expected to get along with everyone or make everyone happy. The Board of Directors purpose is to provide accountability for senior leadership. They hire the CEO and can fire him. My issue with the NRA Board is that dissenting voices are removed from committees. Also, the Board is far too large and many members don’t come to meetings. The impact is that that are never enough people present to vote on CEO accountability related issues. Members of the BoD have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest… Read more »

Buster

@PETE

The BOD does have oversight and the authority to remove Wayne, but Wayne sets the goal posts. Wayne plots the path. The BOD can accept, reject, or finesse his plan.

Good luck finding a new CEO if you require he satisfy 70-some board members who will also tell him how to dress.

Dave C

I believe those words were in one of the later Elvis songs – released after he had passed.

Bill

I am sure that many of the commentators here are sincere. Meanwhile, their efforts to kill the NRA and divide up its body parts are hardly helpful, just because they have some sort of personal ax to grind. Are gun owners so stupid as to fight among themselves, rather than band together and make things better and stronger for themselves, all together as a mighty army? To have all of these “allies” who are ever ready to stab each other in the back for not being entirely up to their personal expectations, just lets me see that it doesn’t require… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Bill, There is too much evidence that the NRA has been quietly compromising our Second Amendment Civil Rights away; while skimming much needed funds from our contributions; and shutting up about it. But feel free to send Wayne as much money as you can spare, and send some more that you can not spare, to make up for the donations that I will not be making.

spclopr8tr

I’m not sure whom to believe. It looks to me like the BOD had ignored theri fiduciary responsibilities and are circling the wagons to save their own butts. I put more faith in Ollie North, Chris Cox, Allan West, and others with the gumption to do what’s right. I have lost all confidence in WLP. Until the dust settles or at least more truthful facts are presented (vice PR releases by NRA board members), this Distinguished Patron Life member is keeping his wallet closed for the NRA and upping contributions to other gun rights organizations to which I already belong.

Pete

@Bill, Stop making false accusations and get your facts straight. In no way has there been a consistent message from people on this forum that the NRA should be broken up. Your reference to those with ‘an axe to grind’ is nothing more than a wild accusation with very little, if anything to support it. Those of us who pay for the NRA are being responsible by having concern about wasted money and poor leadership. One of these so called ‘isolated organizations’ is growing quickly and has half as many members as the NRA based on the numbers I saw.… Read more »

CPHoell

I’d bet half of the people posting here are Progressive Anti 2A trolls. Divide and conquer!

Charlie Foxtrot

Yeah, that’s going to convince people. LOL. The guys who are against the NRA’s support for the bump stock ban and red flag laws are somehow progressive anti-2A trolls. The current NRA leadership has divided the 2A community with its actions and people like you simply don’t get it.

thegrinch

Mr Bach,

Thank you for your article on “What’s Really going on..”. I wish all the naysayers would read it.

I am a Benefactor Member of the NRA, have been for years, and wish to trust that the NRA has and will always have the Second Amendment and Law Abiding Gun owners as their primary focus.

More information regarding this issue at the NRA is essential to dispel fears and anger of supposed wrongdoings with our membership monies.

So please keep the articles and updates coming!

Buster

@thegrinch Bingo! Fighting the anti-2A brushfires as they pop up is important to keeping the 2nd Amendment intact. But long term, the future of the 2nd Amendment lies in the hands of our children. Our educational efforts must outpace that of our competition, or we’ll lose the 2nd. A properly-functioning NRA is our best hope. So far, we’re being outspent about 10,000 to 1, and our children are being relentlessly indoctrinated at least 180 days per year. I encourage all of you to participate at whatever level you can in youth shooting sports – we need your experience, talents, time,… Read more »

Buster

@wjd

My fault Will – let me clarify for you:

If we allow the government to take our guns, we have no means of protecting/insuring any of our other rights.

And you knew exactly what I meant, so don’t be a picknose.

Rock

I don’t know, nor do ANY on her know what is FACT or FICTION. ALL has been developed by hearsay or the media, you will ALL agree if honest to that. We ALL know that the left will say and do ANYTHING to take our 2nd Amendment rights away at ALL costs…. I DO know that for as long as I can remember the NRA has had the ear of D.C. and has the membership numbers to change history. Personally I liked Charlton Heston he was a TRUE American Patriot, but he is gone. Wayne picked up the reins in… Read more »

Jeff

I agree, we don’t know what’s really going on, but we have heard enough from NRA insiders to know there are problems with spending and other priorities for the NRA. The NRA needs a full audit, new leadership and a new board. If Microsoft, a trillion dollar company can succeed 14 directors, how can the NRA possibly need 76 members of the board?

Charlie Foxtrot

The high number of NRA Board Members is on purpose, so that Wayne LaPierre can not be fired! 76 NRA Directors guarantee that there is no transparency, accountability or oversight, just cronyism, corruption and mismanagement. Again, that’s by design.

Charlie Foxtrot

If you are an actual NRA member, then you are quite ill-informed about the organization that you are a member of. As an NRA Life Member, let me enlighten you: Wayne LaPierre has been the Executive Vice President and CEO of the NRA since 1991, so, no, he did not “pick up the reins in 2003” from Charlton Heston. What utter nonsense to say!!! Wayne LaPierre has been running the NRA since 1991. Charlton Heston was the President of the NRA from 1998 to 2003. There were many before that, like Marion Hammer, and many after that, like Pete Brownell… Read more »

G-Unit

I learned everything I needed to know about Oliver North in 1989 … Two Words: Iran Contra
I’ve been a life member since 1978, and while I don’t agree with everything the NRA does I support the leadership 100%. Our mainstream media and politicians are trying to divide and conquer… it almost worked! Things need to change (and they will) the NRA will be stronger! When Trump is reelected in a landslide in 2020 we will get many of our freedoms back.

Pete

@G-Unit, your post shows just how far up Wayne’s butt your nose is. Where were these so called ‘get our freedoms back’ when Trump had the White House and both houses of Congress?

Wild Bill

@PETE, Allow me to not STFU, while I take this opportunity to concur with you. Astute and concisely stated.

Ej harbet

The fumes are causing delusions!
Get our freedoms back! Bwahahah. National reciprocity? Pelosi used that for a panty liner!
Hearing protection act? WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Theres a hell of a storm coming at us and the roof looks like a a10 target panel!

Some guy

Yea, cause Trump did SO much for us when we held the house and senate…………. What are you smoking? The only reason gun people are with Trump is that he isn’t a democrat coup plotting piece of flaming garbage.
Trump, and the rest of “our” party did exactly shit for us. Recognize this. We are on our own. Nobody is coming to save us. Bury extra guns deep. Stock ammo. When the shooting starts it is going to get really bad.

Cuzz

After reading most of the comments here I have come to, what is a really easy conclusion. Most of you have mysteriously received great knowledge of the inner workings of the NRA, that a simple Hillbilly, such as myself could never acquire. I don’t trust the media, I don’t know if what I have read about the NRA is a true or false narrative, but I can add and subtract. As a life member, I know I haven’t gotten my money’s worth, and I realize I’m not a stain in the shorts of the many folks you have mentioned. I… Read more »

WISgunguy

I cant imagine where our country would be if not for the NRA with Wayne at the helm. He has fought tirelessly for decades for the Second Amendment. We cannot forget that under his decades long leadership, we have seen countless victories over those who want to destroy our rights. It’s clear that, for Wayne, the Second Amendment has always come first. This article makes it clear that now is the time for us to unite on the inside to stop the attacks from the outside.

Pete

WISgunyguy, Save your gas lighting. Folks around here know the truth.

Some guy

Absolutely