Opinion
Dallas, Texas, January 12, 2025 – The Winter meeting of the NRA Board of Directors wrapped up just after midnight last night (January 11/12/25) in Dallas, after almost a week of committee meetings and a long, sometimes contentious meeting of the Board.
The big news from the meeting was confirmation that Wayne LaPierre has tendered payment of over $4 million to the NRA. The payment covers the total judgment against LaPierre issued in last year’s civil trial, plus interest.
As I understand it, Mr. LaPierre has filed a notice of appeal on that judgment, so the NRA will need to hold onto the money until that or any other appeals are finally concluded, which could take years. The wheels of justice turn slowly.
The Board wasn’t satisfied with LaPierre’s payment though, passing a strongly-worded resolution expressing their commitment to recovering all legal fees and other expenses paid by NRA on behalf of LaPierre in relation to the lawsuit.
A few of LaPierre’s long-time friends and supporters on the Board tried to argue against “kicking a man while he’s down,” but after some debate over wording, the resolution passed on a strong majority voice vote. Like the payment already received, this claw-back commitment will not yield substantive action until all appeals are concluded, which could take years, but at least we’ve begun the process.
Another action of significance from the meeting was the dissolution of the Special Litigation Committee.
The SLC lived up to its contentious record right up to the end however, with their last official act being the filing of a notice of appeal in the New York AG case. For practical purposes, the notice has the effect of retaining the option of filing an appeal within the next 6 months. Had the NRA not filed the notice by a Friday, January 10 deadline, the window for filing appeals would have been closed permanently.
The notice of appeal was also the final major act of Brewer Attorneys and Counselors as the NRA’s outside counsel. The firm has terminated its representation of NRA, with only a few housekeeping and transition matters left to clear up.
The object of the NRA’s appeal would be the judge’s early decision to toss out the NRA’s claims of First Amendment violations by AG James. This should not be confused with the NRA’s other First Amendment case against New York, which was titled NRA vs. Vullo and Cuomo, commonly referred to as the Vullo case. That case did a side-track to the US Supreme Court, where NRA won a unanimous decision on a portion of the suit. It was then remanded back to the lower courts for further action and is still ongoing. That SCOTUS decision might put the NRA in a better position in an appeal on this case, but that is yet to be thoroughly explored.
There was significant debate over the filing of the notice of appeal during committee meetings. Unfortunately, with the deadline for filing falling on the day before the Board meeting, the full Board wasn’t able to debate the pros and cons of the action or offer an advisory vote on the issue. The Legal Affairs Committee did look into it, but it was clear that the members of the SLC had already committed to the idea of filing, so any other debate was moot.
The matter was only briefly touched upon during the meeting of the full Board, as Directors already had a very full agenda to cover. Nonetheless, debate continues, with some calling for immediate withdrawal of the notice, while others argue that the appeal should proceed.
My position on the matter is, while I disagree with the way the notice was filed, I don’t see that it creates any significant problems or harm to the Association. The NY AG has a 10-day window to file a counter-appeal, but I’ve seen no indication that she intends to do so. Frankly, the AG’s office doesn’t need NRA’s notice of appeal to instigate further action. Since the notice has been filed, I think the best course for the NRA to take now is to consult with knowledgeable attorneys, then present the Board with a comprehensive report on the pros and cons of pursuing the appeal. A final decision can be made at our next Board meeting after the Annual Meetings in Atlanta this spring.
I would love nothing more than to have a successful suit against Letitia James and New York for her politically motivated attacks on the Association, but I don’t want to spend millions of dollars on a dead end. If the lawyers conclude there’s a very good chance of a resounding win with substantial compensation coming back to NRA’s treasury, I’ll support it, otherwise I’ll advise we walk away.
That’s why I’m advocating for the NRA to take its time in either moving forward with the appeal or eventually withdrawing from the field.
Further actions by the Board included approval of several bylaw amendments and resolutions that were needed to meet the judge’s final order in the NY AG case.
There was robust debate on some of the details of these measures, but in the end, they were passed and are overall positive developments.
One of the most significant accomplishments of the meeting was the adoption of a realistic budget for the year. Last year’s budget was apparently based on some sort of magic pixie dust, with stated expectations that fell apart when confronted by reality. This year the Finance Committee and staff dug deep into the budgeting process, going line by line through each department to come up with practical and realistic numbers for the year ahead. The budget includes several new staff positions and funding for important core programs like Training & Education, the National Firearms Museum, Competitions, and Youth Programs, all of which will provide direct benefits to our members and help with recruiting efforts.
The tone and energy of these meetings was much more positive and cooperative than it’s been for recent meetings. Committees that haven’t met or been significantly inactive in years were engaged and involved, working across internal divides for the good of the organization and our members. Staffers were positive and enthusiastic, and there was a palpable optimism surrounding the entire process.
The next major milestone for the Association will be Director elections, which will begin in February.
Reformers on the Board have put forward a slate of 28 candidates to fill 28 seats that are up for election this year. Unlike years past, when I’ve advised “Bullet Voting,” this year’s campaign isn’t an insurgency effort. This year, we hold a majority of the Board and our objective is to strengthen that majority while denying seats to Directors who were culpable in the corruption of the past. Voting for less than 28 candidates increases the odds of some of those “Old Guard” candidates slipping back in.
I’ll have a detailed breakdown of the candidates and my personal endorsements available in about a week, so stay tuned.
Former NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre Has Cost the Gun Rights Movement North Of A Billion Dollars
About Jeff Knox:
Jeff Knox is a dedicated political activist and the director of The Firearms Coalition, following in the footsteps of his father, Neal Knox. In 2024, Jeff was elected to the NRA Board of Directors, underscoring his lifelong commitment to protecting the Second Amendment. The Knox family has played a pivotal role in the ongoing struggle for gun rights, a legacy documented in the book Neal Knox – The Gun Rights War, authored by Jeff’s brother, Chris Knox.
Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, The Firearms Coalition is a network of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs, and civil rights organizations. The Coalition supports grassroots efforts by providing education, analysis of current issues, and a historical perspective on the gun rights movement. For more information, visit www.FirearmsCoalition.org.
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