Opinion
Reformers on the NRA Board of Directors are now between a rock and a hard place.
The rock is NRA members demanding sweeping changes before they will consider rejoining or contributing to the Association. The hard place is to keep the Association solvent long enough to get those demanded changes done.
We’ve been through a scandal, a failed bankruptcy attempt, a jury trial on corruption and fiduciary failings, and a bench trial on remediating those fiduciary failings. We’ve gotten rid of problem vendors, banned Wayne LaPierre for ten years, and parted ways with the other executives who abused their positions for personal gain and the gain of their cronies. We’ve gotten a court order requiring LaPierre and former Treasurer Woody Phillips to repay millions of dollars in excess compensation, a fraction of the billions they have cost our fight. Most importantly, we’ve made sweeping changes to our financial control systems, contracting practices, and compliance processes, all to ensure that nothing like what was done before can be done in the future.
For years, we’ve all heard, “I won’t give one more dime to the NRA until Wayne LaPierre is gone.”
Well, Wayne is gone. He didn’t go the way many of us would have preferred – on a rail with a coating of tar and feathers – but he’s still gone.
I’ll also note that he went with NO golden parachute or tidy severance package, as has been widely and erroneously reported. There is still a question about his legal fees, but that is in the process of being sorted out.
Now we hear, “I won’t give one more dime to the NRA until all of the directors who shielded Wayne are gone,” or “…until Brewer is gone,” or “..until Cotton and his cabal are gone,” or “…until there are substantial changes…”
Folks, there have been substantial changes. As noted above, the financial abuse of the past, including “consulting fees” to directors, sweetheart deals with accomplice vendors, and limitless credit cards padding executives’ lifestyles, are all gone.
The judge in New York, who has been absolutely fair, rigorous, and clearly concerned about protecting NRA members, concluded that the financial issues and the accompanying policies and procedures are now in good order.
As a newly elected Board Member who ran on reforming the NRA, I agree.
The Judge, in his decision [embedded below and worth reading in its entirety], expressed concern that many of the same people who were supposed to enforce and abide by the previous policies and procedures and prevent the type of financial chicanery that occurred but failed to do so are still in key roles on key committees tasked with enforcing and abiding by the new policies and procedures. I also agree with that concern.
He addressed this issue in his preliminary decision at the end of July and ordered the parties to get together to work on this concern, along with several others, before he issues his final decision, probably toward the end of this month. If all goes as expected, the judge’s decision will come out a week or so before the next meeting of the Board of Directors, scheduled for September 7th, 2024, in the Dallas area.
Brewer Attorneys and Counselors, Insanely Overpaid Legal Hacks
Another major area of concern for many NRA members who have followed this case, but which the judge did not address directly, is the issue of the NRA’s outside counsel, Brewer Attorneys and Counselors.
The judge didn’t address this issue because it’s outside of the purview of the litigation. Nonetheless, Judge Cohen addressed it indirectly with his comments about committee assignments in his preliminary decision. Right now, one of the most important committees is the Special Litigation Committee, which the Board gave authority to oversee the New York litigation and related matters. That committee has claimed that only they can decide what attorney to employ. There’s debate about that, but settling that debate could be very complicated. Dissolving that committee, or at least changing its make-up, should open the door for discussion of seeking different counsel.
Removing all directors who supported, defended, or shielded Wayne LaPierre must be done by you, the Members, not we, the Board.
Every year, you have the opportunity to elect or reject 25 or more members of the Board. Part of the judge’s preliminary decision addressed that directly, suggesting that the nominating process be opened up to make it much easier for people to get on the ballot. His guidance was for the Nominating Committee to approve every candidate who meets the basic qualifications simply: Life Member or above for at least five years. There’s a very high probability that his suggestion will be adopted, meaning there could be 40 or 50 candidates on the ballot next year to fill 25 seats.
For obvious reasons, I strongly oppose the idea of members of the Board kicking off fellow members with whom they disagree, even when the disagreement is very serious. With the exception of cases of clear criminal activity, I believe that is a decision properly left up to the membership. With a more open nomination process and less partisan interference in the magazines, I think it will be easier for the members to make their wishes known.
Over the past six years, my attitude toward the NRA has swung from anger and frustration to cautious optimism, to deep despair, to real hope, and all points in between. Right now, I’m extremely hopeful that we can continue on the road of reform and recovery, restoring the NRA to its former glory and more. I understand the reticence many still feel about making financial contributions now, but I believe there’s a good chance that most of the rationale for withholding donations or delaying rejoining has already been dealt with or will be dealt with in the September board meeting and subsequent board elections.
If you want to help get the NRA over these last couple of obstacles, your financial support will be appreciated, but your active participation is even more needed. Directors need to hear from you. You can write to individual directors or the entire board by including your name and member number (as it appears on the mailing label of your magazine) and address emails to NRABOD@NRAHQ.org.
You are the NRA. Keep reminding your elected representatives on the board of that, and keep offering your suggestions and ideas. We can’t do it without you.
People of the State of New York v. The National Rifle Association of America, et al. July 29, 2024
About Jeff Knox:
Jeff Knox is a second-generation political activist and director of The Firearms Coalition. He was elected to the NRA Board of Directors in 2024. Read his book, Neal Knox – The Gun Rights War.
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs, and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists through education, analysis of current issues, and a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. Visit www.FirearmsCoalition.org.
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