The NRA doesn't need the help of the left to destroy it, it's doing a great job on it's own!



http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nr...sting-coup-attempt/ar-AADaPMg?ocid=ientp




Bloomberg) -- The National Rifle Association suspended its top lobbyist and one of his deputies, adding further turmoil to the gun-rights group’s leadership ranks as it wages legal battles on multiple fronts and prepares for a bruising 2020 election cycle.



The NRA confirmed Thursday that it had suspended Chris Cox, the lobbying chief who was viewed widely as a future leader of the group, and his deputy chief of staff, Scott Christman.

The moves came after Oliver North, the former NRA board president, was ousted from the organization in April after it accused him of leading an attempted coup against Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the NRA who has long served as the organization’s leader. North alleged that LaPierre used the group to enrich himself. As part of the infighting, the NRA sued Ackerman McQueen Inc., its longtime advertising firm, and in turn Ackerman cut ties with the group.

On Wednesday night, the NRA filed a lawsuit against North arguing that he didn’t have the right to legal fees from the NRA. The lawsuit says that Cox, described as a “likely successor” to lead the organization, participated in the failed bid to oust LaPierre.

The leadership struggle came to a head on April 24, according to the lawsuit. That’s when North talked to a LaPierre aide by phone and threatened to reveal unflattering details about LaPierre’s travel and clothing expenses unless he resigned and supported “North’s continued tenure as president,” according to the complaint, which calls the exchange an extortion.

North also promised to arrange an “excellent retirement” for LaPierre through Ackerman McQueen if he resigned, the NRA claims.

The NRA filed its suit against Ackerman McQueen in mid-April, claiming it refused to turn over details about North’s contract with the advertising firm. Last month, the NRA sued again, claiming Ackerman McQueen engineered the failed coup attempt by leaking damaging information to undermine NRA leaders.

The firm fired back with a breach-of-contract countersuit, claiming that the NRA was just trying to get out of its service agreement with the firm and that it had provided all the information sought by the gun group.

North was aided in his efforts against LaPierre by NRA board member Dan Boren, a former congressman who’s now a top executive for Chickasaw Nation, a major Ackerman McQueen client, according to the NRA complaint filed on Wednesday. Boren “helped to choreograph the ultimatum they presented to Mr. LaPierre,” it said.

In emails obtained by the NRA, Boren “admitted his knowledge that Ackerman may have been invoicing the NRA for full salaries of employees who were actually working on the Chickasaw Nation account.” Those emails also show that Cox was an “errant fiduciary” who “participated in the Ackerman/North/Boren conspiracy,” the NRA claims.

The complaint asks a judge to declare that the NRA shouldn’t be required to cover North’s legal fees for subpoenas arising from its litigation with Ackerman McQueen and from a Senate Finance Committee request for information. North’s attorney had demanded that the NRA cover his legal fees for the congressional probe and for “any other inquiries” that he “may receive” in the future, it said.

Cox’s suspension was reported earlier by the New York Times. Cox’s spokeswoman told the Times that he played no role in the coup attempt.

The suspensions throw the group’s political operation into turmoil just days after President Donald Trump announced his re-election bid. The NRA spent heavily to support Trump during the 2016 race, and Cox has met with the president multiple times during his tenure. Speaking at the NRA’s annual meeting this year, Trump was introduced by Cox rather than LaPierre.

A lawyer for North, Brendan Sullivan, declined to comment and said he would respond in a court filing.

As the group’s chief lobbyist, Cox oversaw nine different divisions, including federal, state, and local government affairs. “Cox develops and executes independent political campaigns and legislative initiatives. He also serves as the Association’s principal contact with the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the White House and federal agencies,” the NRA Foundation wrote on its website in a profile of Cox.

Almost like they have been infiltrated by Deep State Operatives, huh?

The same type that strive to ruin our govt...

AFAIK, Chris Cox is the NRA's best weapon.

I admired Wayne LaPierre after I read his book, but perhaps it is time for him to go.

Fixt.

And it IS time for Wayne to go down the road.

I say we play a game. Every time NRA does something else stupid we send $10 to Gun Owners of America. At the rate they're going maybe just a dollar.

It sounds as dysfunctional as some families.

So, do we pay dues to the NRA, or Ackerman McQueen? Just amazing, not a peep of ANY of this in the NRA magazine and report on the convention, although they revisted the Cincinnati Revolt, right?
Dang, I guess I need to make plans to go to what, Nashville?

The other thing is, L:a Pierra looked really beat in the Convention pictures, hair like Einstein. Not good news that Cox is out, better not be permentnly because he's got more charisma than WLP. Maybe it's time to move Dana and Colion to the head of the PR queue?

Don't need to sink the ship, just need to right the SOB back on course. Dang well better be soon.

Well, the last three years or so, the NRA has been getting less or my money and GOA more of my money.

As an endowment member, I sure hope they can get their affairs in order, clean house, and get back to work. I believe they can do that. Of course, the left wants all NRA members to give up on them and walk away. They're drooling with glee in anticipation of something like that. Don't give them the satisfaction.

There's been some gun figures on YouTube calling for the burning down of the NRA so it can built from the foundation up again. I am thinking more and more, that might be the only way to right the ship.

They're in such a mess, fighting over our donation dollars, that they're not getting mine until they clean up their act.

NRA has a cancer, it's not going to be a clean rebuild. I stopped sending NRA $$ after Wayne and the bumpstocks and started sending to GOA. Either the NRA is going to support the 2nd amendment or it's not, there is no grey area.

they used to have regional conventions/presentations, i went to one about 20 years ago that cox was a firebrand. it was also noteworthy, John Dingell was the celeb

I'm not going to walk away, but I'm not sending any more money until all of the dust settles, and we can see how all of this shakes out. To be honest, I have become pretty skeptical about LaPierre's effectiveness, and I have been fairly positive about Cox's fundraising appeals. It does appear that a hell of a lot of money is being spent to polish the images of the major players--and that makes me wonder if that money is well spent.

I send some money to GOA, but find it hard to tell if they are actually having an impact, or if they are simply taking credit for the results of other people's efforts.

Yeah right, Chris Cox needs to go too right along with WLP,

Patron member and long time financial supporter. I’m taking a time out financially until this gets sorted out.

Jim Crax, it sounds like the swamp.

Typical union activity. Just because someone is on your side doesn't make them a good guy.

Drain the NRA swamp.

Why the hell do they need 76 people on the board of directors??

It's a shame. It does sound like bureaucrtic abuse and pocket lining.

Very well could be that the wrong side won...

But, who knows, maybe they all crooked.

Just when we need a strong NRA.

DF

If LaPierre does not realize how bad he looks and how badly he needs to step aside it could cause huge trouble for the NRA.

Wayne LaPierre is addicted to the $$ and power - he'll have to be dragged kicking and screaming from the NRA HQ. He simply won't go away. This drama will continue through the national elections next year - Wayne Does Not Care for anything but his place at the feeding trough.

Looks like they are suing Oliver North.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nra-sues-ex-president-oliver-211648467.html

He makes major bucks, and evidently has created quite a money making machine.

People usually don't give up a cash cow easily.

If I had to chose, I'd go with Ollie and Chris, but don't know that I fully trust them, either.

I just have never liked LaPierre.

I've been a Life Member since my teens, back when Life Membership cost $100. I've upgraded a couple of times; that money spigot has been turned off for a while.....

DF

I'm a Benefactor member but I don't trust any of the NRA leadership. It's time for a housecleaning like when Harlon Carter and Neal Knox purged the place.

Looks like WLP needs to go

Cox needed to go. Good riddance.

W4B says he likes Cox.

Yep.

Overdue...

But, who do we have that can make it happen?

I was wondering why NRA President, Pete Brownell, had to suddenly get back to Montezuma, IA in the middle of his term.. Now, it's pretty clear.

Not so much that Brownells needed him back home in such a hurry; the hurry was him getting the heck out of Dodge before fit hit the shan....

DF

Looks like that trajectory is pretty much locked in.

Hell, I’d be willing to run for or serve on the NRA “Board of Directors”(BOD), but, in order to run for the BOD, you have to be nominated by, you guessed it, the BOD....

I have been a big NRA supporter, but this stuffbis sickening...

Time to send money to GOA or the SAF, for a while.

Does he care more about Wayne and his cash cow, or the NRA...

DF

So many hands in the public's dollar.

WTG Guys.
When we need a united front you are busy destroying from within.

NOT eve sure who the "BAD" guys are.
Petty infighting sure did stop a donation I had planned to send in.

Guess it is like everything else in washington,dc.

Now, that's the 64 dollar question.

Just who are the good guys...??

Are there any "good guys"... I sure hope so.

How does it get sorted out without destroying a badly needed organization.

DF

I don't know the answer to that one, but I do know that LaPierre really needs to go, as in a long time ago; never had much confidence in North being a straight shooter, though, either.

MM

They are, in my opinion, making a mistake with that. And Chris Cox is accused of conspiring with North to get LaPierre removed so he's gone. Does not sound good at all.

What you guys talking about here? I just got my July issue of the "American Rifleman" the other day, and it looks like it was all one big happy family at the annual meetings.

Well the article with the history of the 1977 Cincinnati reforms is a bit puzzling... didn't there used to be a guy named Neal Knox?

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/13914572/1

In the long term; my guns will be worth way more when they're illegal

To really know what is going on I think you have to be in the middle of it. But, to me, it's a mess from the outside looking in.

In case you did not know.

What, you never had much confidence in an officer who admittedly lied to Congress?

Geno

he should have ratted out R Reagan?

Perhaps.

Was his sworn oath to the Country and the Constitution or to the President of the USA?

Geno

One in the same when communists are concerned.


You ratted anyone out lately?

I say that everytime the NRA does something stupid we write a little note telling them we are sending our money to GOA and send send that note to them in their fundraising solicitation return envelope.

[/quote]I say that everytime the NRA does something stupid we write a little note telling them we are sending our money to GOA and send send that note to them in their fundraising solicitation return envelope.
[/quote]

That works for me.

Agreed... I'm a Benefactor member also, but won't send another dime for a while..

Do none of you realize that Lapierre started out as a lobbyist for the Democrats?...why on Earth do so many of you support him and think he has EVER been on the side of gunnowners. The man needs to die slowly of ass cancer

And your in jail

Allen West says WLP needs to go


https://theoldschoolpatriot.com/statement-regarding-nra/

For years I have told the callers seeking donations for the NRA to not call back until Wayne was gone. I suspect the spat with Oliver North was precipitated by North's desire to root Wayne out of the way so he could be the biggest hog at the trough. As I have stated many times on this venue, my concern is that we are not taking advantage of the current climate and getting some federal court precedent in our favor. They really lost me when they jumped in at the last minute in the Heller and McDonald cases. Where was my NRA in these cases when it was desperately needed. I wrote the NRA a letter decades ago begging that we become active in the courts. Why do we need legislation when we have a SECOND AMENDMENT? Wayne will not voluntarily give up his dictatorship. It gives too much power and prestige. The NRA is no different from any large wealthy organization. Anywhere there is a big pile of money there will be folks trying to get in position to steal it. I'm giving Wayne credit for being very smart and putting himself into a position that will be very hard to dislodge him from. If only he had been so zealous about putting our gun ownership in such a secure position.

when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns

Mr. watch4bear sir: You would be a great asset in helping clean up the money wasting leadership of the NRA. You are smart and darn sure dedicated. The NRA is going down the tubes as long as Wayne is running it. Would you be willing to help us make a change? Maybe Allen West as CEO could bring back credibility and the disaffected members. The large majority of members who pay attention want change and are sick of the money wasting. If Col. West can pass inspection, he is certainly tenacious and dedicated. We are going to lose the farm if changes aren't made and while I admire your loyalty to the NRA I wish people like you would help us effect the changes needed to save the organization.

In 2018 the NRA took in over $412 million in revenue $433 million in 2016. The fight for control over that organization isn't about 2A freedoms.

Easy to see why the anti gun billionaires would love to see them go away. $400 million annually is some serious monetary fire power.

I'm guessing you're saying the President is "Always" right and can do no wrong?

Geno

PS, nope haven't ratted lately. My conscience is pretty clear about any "ratting" I may or may not have done in the past.

Would you think that someone with $400+ million to use at his discretion to have the most powerful politicians in the country eating out of his hand would give that up without a fight to the death? That and also a personal account for the best clothes, vacations, a beautiful girl intern to run errands, and in short a life of luxury and power. The 2A is secondary to milking this cash and influence cow. I can bet a U.S. senator will hang up on anyone else if Wayne is on the phone.

+1

I’m a Benefactor member, too, and still get all kinda mail asking me to join the NRA. I guess they have no idea who I am, or even care as long as money keeps rolling in.

A big time house cleaning is way over due.

Seems the swamp is bigger than we thought.

DF

Dirtfarmer: Do you think the campfire would a good place to launch candidates for the NRA BOD? You would be an excellent candidate and you have an attorney friend that would be an absolute bulldog if he is eligible. I am sure we have other members here who would be good and have the education and common sense to recognize malfeasance and stealing.

Interesting thought. If we could get a good candidate, I would support him/her. How many votes do you need to win? Probably more than on 24HCF.

I bet every one of us NRA members on the campfire know and are friends with a bunch of other NRA members. It would be hard to oust LaPierre but it can be done. It has been designed so that Wayne can weather most any storm. I think Allen West is our best bet assuming he hasn't had his hand in the jar. I would be surprised if he is not clean. I believe Ollie North was competing with Wayne and that was the argument between them.

It is time for LaPierre to go. Past time. An honorable man would step aside to restore the membership's faith in the organization. A greedy narcissistic fool would stand fast. They won't see another penny of my money while he is at the helm.

I have been a Benefactor member for some years and continue to financially support. As I walked the floor in Indy a reporter with a British accent asked reaction to the emerging controversy. I told her the strength of the NRA is its membership and I still believe this.

Cutting off funding while this shakes out is exactly what the anti’s want. I don’t know the good guys from the bad, but I will continue to support while this skakes out. The mess make me very sad and I badly want it to end. We need a strong, ethical NRA now more than ever.

Please pray this gets settled the right way and soon.

I also support GOA & The 2nd Amendment Foundation.

P S. I always thought that Boren, a Democrat and former Congressman, as a BOD member was a terrible idea.

There are two major hurdles to getting opposition members seated on the board.

First is the nomination process. You have to have quite a few current NRA member sign paper petitions and the rules for the petitions are stringent and make it easy for the Nominating Committee to invalidate petitions. You have to have knowledgeable and meticulous people organize the petition drive and you have to put up a lot of new candidates to make any difference on such a large board.

Secondly is the voting. To get opposition candidates elected you need a lot of knowledgeable members to cast 'bullet ballots' where they do not use all of their votes but only vote for the opposition candidates. If you vote all of your votes you just help one of the establishment candidates stay ahead of the opposition candidates.

I believe to actually influence the governance of the NRA you need high profile insiders to come out, take a stand, and launch an open opposition campaign in order to reach enough people with enough information.

The Ollie North situation is a mystery. Why did the prior president step down before his term ended? I suspected that he and his family were getting too many Antifa-type threats and they needed someone better able to defend himself. Now I wonder if he stepped down because he had already come to understand the problem with Lapierre and his lock on the Board.

Absolutely not.

Some others in that organization would be willing to kill to get that top spot for the very same reason Wayne is fighting to keep it.

With annual revenues around $5 mill a year, they would hang up the phone on anyone calling from GOA. The NRA are the big dogs that we can't afford to lose and Wayne and company knows it.

I know this, the NRA COULD be helping State firearms groups, but if they are doing in other states what they are in Tennessee, it is simply to seek access to the establishment, making sure they are welcome in the offices of the Speakers and NOT applying pressure to pass restorative measures. The NRA has passed out "Orange Cards" in the last 4 election cycles that give "A" ratings to legislators that have NEVER been on the gun owners side, but who kiss the rears of the speakers of the two houses and keep us in perpetual subservience the the 1870 Jim Crow law that makes carrying a firearm a crime, our hand gun carry permit is a "defense against prosecution" and is simply a money making venture for the State.

This year they touted a "new" permit system that is for concealed carry only, cost $35 an 8 year term less than the original that allows for concealed or open carry, and will simply confuse the LE departments. A person with the "enhanced" permit (what they are calling the original) carrying openly may very well be stopped to ascertain which permit they have, and if they can not produce a card saying "enhanced" will be subject to arrest for violating the law. It is a dang mess. A person like me will not get a new card bearing the "enhanced" language till they renew, and that will be 7 years as I just renewed last year...all the while I was sponsoring a bill that would relive a lawful self defense use of deadly force from being subject to a civil suit if no charges were brought, but the NRA did not help with that one...

In full disclosure, I am the West TN Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, and the last good lobbyist we had in Tennessee was Darren LaSorte. (2006) He would take the legislators to the woodshed and help us out. the cute and gigglys we have now simply want access to report back they have had coffee with important people. Kentucky got Constitutional Carry, we got Concealed only when we already had open or concealed carry.

They got it wrapped up pretty tight, evidently, wagons are circled.

Who has the time and it would take a fair amount of money.

But if good folks do nothing...

You know that admonition. And it’s true.

I think there would be a surprising ground swell of support for the right team willing to fight.

DF

I would love to hear Pete Brownell’s story. Bet it’s a good one. Maybe it’ll come out one of these days

DF

I think you profiled him pretty well.

DF

Once leadership has been changed rules regarding salaries, expenditures, etc. need to be implemented, and no more compromise or yield to any gun law.
Let the NRA be what it should be to stand strong for 2nd Amendment rights

This...



Especially this...



No...

We need to identify the active board members who are mad enough to take action. I'm sure there are a few fire brands, thoroughly pizzed about now.

If we had names and email addresses, we could start suppporting them, put together an underground force to save the NRA, come up with a snappy logo... Something like the NRA swamp drainers, or Save our NRA,,,.

I think substantial numbers would respond, a bunch here on the Fire and other forums.

People feel used and abused, I know, I do.... And our 2A hangs in the balance.

DF

.

Originally Posted by Dave_Skinner


Don't need to sink the ship, just need to right the SOB back on course. Dang well better be soon.



I agree, Dave.

But first, a few need to walk the plank, a few need to tied to the mast and feel the cat of 9 tails...

Then the ship will be fine...

Ship's not the problem, she sails very well...

DF

The NRA needs its own Trump.

Have been an NRA member since the 60s and most of it as a "lifer". The behavior of board and staff leaders has been problematic at times - sometimes fairly bad - and almost always due to selfish power struggles over less than central ideological factors. People do strange things due to greed for power, status, money, etc. and this blowup has a more nasty flavor. I am concerned and wary, but will support the NRA while hoping that some solid/honorable people on that board coalesce, get a grip on what is needed, and properly reform the thing. This organization continues to be the best tool for protecting our right to keep and bear arms, so am observing with keen interest and much hope. Given that which has been revealed, I believe that big leadership changes are necessary, that La Pierre, Cox and some of their loyal minions must go away, and that the NRA must put in place an excellent CEO and lobbying unit - there is a plethora of value-driven talent and leadership available. Put aside the petty interests and make it happen.

That would work...!

DF

There is also a need for the people on the NRA Board of Directors to be confirmed and checked for what they say in their resume for reelection to the Board. Most of them are very good to go. One of them I happen to know who says he goes on local radio and TV to make a pitch for the NRA is a total liar and narcissist. Unfortunately, except for the famous ones that we know, it's hard to verify some of these phonies that we do not know.

Don't forget about the Pensions too.

If you were familiar with an Officer’s oath you would know the answer.

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

That’s the enlisted oath. The officer oath does not include the part about obeying orders.

Here's the most damaging part of the OP's post...
Notice that they used the word "damaging", not "false". So the info was correct, they just didn't want anyone to know it.

JRaw,

You are right, sir. I stand corrected!

Happy Trails

It seems like the NRA board doesn't know what a BoD is supposed to do. It is them who is supposed to watch the best interests of the organization and replace management as needed.

+1