Opinion
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Dear Scott Bach,
The following is an open letter from myself, Anthony Garcia, President of Save The Second. You’ve probably heard of us, so I’ll spare the introduction. In fact, I’m sure you have, because we sent you a survey that you didn’t bother to return despite it being forwarded to you.
In reading your article posted to AmmoLand News dated 31 July 2019, I was struck that you believe what you’re saying. I think you genuinely believe that what you’re doing is the right side, and you’re doing it for the right reasons. Just as I believe my side is the right side, and I’m doing it for the right reasons. However, it’s obvious that our opinions differ greatly.
Better writers than I have opined on this topic at length, so I won’t ask the same questions here that so many others have asked. You can read plenty of those articles on our Facebook page. Instead, I’m going to ask a very simple question.
Now in asking this question let us suppose that everything you wrote in your article is accurate, and again I think that you believe it is.
If everything in the article is accurate, then why would there be such pushback against anyone asking for an independent audit?
It doesn’t make any sense. If you have a significant portion of your members concerned over things that aren’t true, then why not prove that they’re untrue? It seems that an independent and trustworthy audit could be accomplished relatively easily and swiftly, proving the entire story that this has been much ado about nothing. Furthermore, that seems to be the best option as it would surely be far cheaper than the millions and millions that have now been withheld by donors.
This question is, to me, the one that should be answered.
Like you, I want a strong NRA. I want an NRA that is able to fight back against those who would seek to strip the second amendment. I want more than anything to believe your article. But the fact of the matter is that I won’t, and neither will a significant portion of the membership that grows daily, until it’s proven to be fact. Why not simply prove it?
That is the way to get what we both want if in fact, everything in your article is accurate. Prove the allegations are false and reunite the membership. Start the flow of donations again. Revitalize the NRA and turn it back into a powerhouse. This is where it starts; where the healing starts.
I look forward to your response, publicly or privately.
Very Respectfully,
Anthony A. Garcia
President
Save The Second
About Save the Second
Save the Second, a non-profit organization, was formed in June of 2019 to represent the concerns of NRA Members, as well as former and potential NRA Members, who believe that the leadership and strategies of the NRA have failed and that the organization needs to be reformed in order to represent American Gun Owners and their concerns effectively. STS has proposed Five Points of Reform at their website savethe2a.org for consideration to improve the NRA.
For more information about Save the Second, The BoD Survey, The Five Points of Reform or other related issues, contact STS Board Member and Media Relations Representative, Rob Pincus at [email protected].
I’m also for an independent audit but practically speaking, Buster is correct that that time has passed. A full audit would have multiple phases, a complete review of the design of controls, operating effectiveness of the controls, forensic audits, etc. I’ve been through these in a large organization and they are all consuming and, let’s be honest, not even pro Wayne Directors are denying there are plenty of items to find (they just feel they already have a handle on them). With a fight on going with 3 organizations with subpoena power and multiple lawsuits, each having a discovery process,… Read more »
NRA Discussed Purchasing Luxury Mansion For Wayne LaPierre
August 6, 2019
“The IRS could revoke the NRA’s tax-exempt status on the grounds of “inurement,” meaning the organization’s leadership is treating its assets as private property. The activity ‘says something about how the organization is being run and for whose benefit’. These things are fundamental to nonprofit organizations.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/documents-show-nra-discussions-to-purchase-luxury-mansion-for-use-of-its-chief-executive/2019/08/06/eb8b0490-b7ce-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html?noredirect=on
As for the NRA being finished were a long way before the curtain falls on that act. As we all know the wheels of justice grind slowly, and with the scores of personalities the NYS & DC attorneys have subpoenaed, its going to take a whole hell of a lot of months of Sundays, for interrogatories to be completed before trials even begin. And they’re still wrangling with the boss man over records, let alone an audit. Lapierre and his criminal leadership team to all intents and purposes are more than finished, their irrelevant. For all the angst and ire… Read more »
Well this is it. Time is up. David Dell’Aquila just filed a multi-million civil class-action lawsuit against Wayne LaPierre, the NRA and the NRA Foundation: https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/breaking-dellaquila-files-multi-million-class-action-lawsuit-against-wayne-lapierre-nra-and-nra-foundation/
@wjd
LOL You should go sign it 500 times – that way it will be 500-times more effective!
Yup, there’s no question about it, Wayne Lapierre is SCREWED
Documents show NRA discussions to purchase luxury mansion for its chief executive to use: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/documents-show-nra-discussions-to-purchase-luxury-mansion-for-use-of-its-chief-executive/2019/08/06/eb8b0490-b7ce-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html “Documents indicate that the National Rifle Association planned to purchase a luxury mansion in the Dallas area last year for the use of chief executive Wayne LaPierre, according to two people familiar with the records. The discussions about the roughly $6 million purchase, which was not completed, are now under scrutiny by New York investigators. The transaction was slated to be made through a corporate entity that received a wire of tens of thousands of dollars from the NRA in 2018, according to the people,… Read more »
Will, Agreed. I’m coming to see that the NRA can’t be saved. The comments form Will Flatt and Charlie Foxtrot above explain it nicely. Clearly, Wayne isn’t going to leave willingly. There are are structures in the bylaws to protect him. By the time he’s gone there won’t be anything to save. Over to GOA for me. We have to go through building another organization. Here are the two things that anger me the most. Wayne LaPierre is a wealthy man because of the NRA, and now that things are messed up he won’t leave. The other thing is that… Read more »
Will, I’m starting to think we would be better off having a different group than the NRA grow and take over the fight. When all is said and done, I don’t know that anything will be left of the NRA.
An independent audit would consume a boatload of people’s time and energy and would likely churn up a lot of things that might affect the lawsuit(s) and their outcome(s). And a lot of what gets churned up will be tiny things in terms of dollars and will have little bearing on anything other than to fuel anti-NRA rhetoric. (With an audit at this point) I see the possibility of NRA-paid independent auditors testifying against NRA over trivial things – spending thousands of dollars examining pennies. Few things would please the anti-NRA crowd more. I’m all for an audit, but this… Read more »