By Tom King, President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association.
Opinion
New York – The NRA has had some business issues play out in the public eye. . . No question. But, In fact, the issues faced by the NRA are the same issues that some large organizations face over time. The only difference is that the NRA’s issues are playing out in the public arena. Why? Because we are the NRA.
The root of the NRA’s problems are caused by the fear that the NRA will ensure the retention of the United States Senate by Conservative Republicans, re-capturing the House of Representatives by the Republican Party and most importantly securing the re-electing Donald Trump as President of the United States. Friends that’s what this is all about and if a few good men and a 150-year-old organization are ruined along the way, better yet!
Progressives will stop at nothing to achieve their goals just look back over the past 2.5 years at the attempt to destroy President Trump; charges of collusion, obstruction, sex and sexual abuse the only thing he wasn’t charged with was liking Rock & Roll. His family was supposed to be falling apart, his kids were crooks, Russian agents, and some even suggested the First Lady was a prostitute. Let’s not forget the attempt to destroy Judge Kavanaugh’s life with many similar claims. There are too many others whose lives were ruined through innuendo, false claims and coerced confessions to name but you know who they are because the fake news posted their names all over the United States.
Now it’s Wayne LaPierre’s turn in the barrel. Why? If you destroy Wayne, there is a good chance the NRA will fail or be greatly diminished.
Let’s look closer at his career path with the NRA, which began thirty-five years ago as a lobbyist. Over the years he excelled in every position he held and was finally appointed as Executive Vice-President. During his tenure as Executive Vice-President, the NRA grew from an anemic less than 2 million member association into the 5 million-member plus behemoth we have now become. While it is difficult to pin point an exact number some people, who know, say Wayne has personally raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Association. By any method of evaluation that’s a matchless record.
Why? Why have a number of pro-gun associations and leaders joined with Bloomberg, Soros and others to sow dissent and demand Wayne’s resignation? Unfortunately, there is a myriad of answers and motivations to that simple question, but let’s delve into a few generically without naming names. One of the co-conspirators problems with the NRA dates back thirty years when similar claims were made, and an attempted coup was stopped by the Board of Directors. A couple of the other antagonists failed in an attempt to be elected to the Board of Directors and have carried a seething grudge since their loses. A couple of current Board Members truly believe they are on the right side. A few others simply saw this as a short cut up the organizational chart. Others are competitors – with considerably less octane.
Friends, no matter what their motivations are for this attempt to oust Wayne from his leadership role, the perpetrators are simply on a fools errand that will divide 2ndAmendment supports, lead to a weakening of the Association, ensure we lose the U.S Senate and possibly contribute to the failure to re-elect President Trump; which in turn will lead to the loss of the 2nd Amendment and gun rights as we know them. If you don’t believe this let me point out a few results of what total control by Progressive Democrats leads to: New York, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Washington State. Need I go further?
In closing let me state that I stand behind the NRA, the NRA Board of Directors and Wayne LaPierre and in turn collectively we stand behind the Second Amendment and the Gun Owners of the United States.
Thank you, Wayne, for all you continue to do for us and for all that you’ve have accomplished. It is because of your efforts that we have semi-autos today, people can buy affordable guns and transport firearms freely for lawful purposes. You helped save the American firearms industry. You persevered till we have comprehensive Right-to-Carry laws. You made Castle Doctrine the law in many states. Preemption statutes, Emergency Protection Laws, Range Protection Hunter Harassment – all these laws – thanks to you. Please, know the gun owners of the United States support you and are grateful for your efforts on their behalf.
Please accept my personal vote of confidence.
Tom King
About New York State Rifle & Pistol Association:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit: www.nysrpa.org
Mr. King believes that we if we want change it must be for nefarious reasons, and not because we want a better NRA. If we don’t support WLP then we must support Bloomberg. This is the same kind of argument the gun grabbers use: If you don’t support banning assault weapons, then you must hate children.
Tom King: your article practically presupposes that WLP will be NRA King Forever. WLP is not immortal, he WILL die. What then?
WLP has to go NOW, his era is over and new leadership is needed along with a thorough housecleaning, a revamping of the BoD, and financial transparency. Without any of this the NRA will continue to collapse from within. WLP is a cancer and he must be excised. Period.
So… How much is he paying you?
Setting that aside, this entire article is a red herring. The reason the NRA needs to clean house is because it looks all kinds of corrupt.
NRA, you don’t get my money until you fix yourself, period. There are plenty of other organizations out there who don’t write anti-gun legislation or green-light bump-stock bans and then invite the person who signed them to their conventions.
Yes, we have a long memory. We study history and don’t intend to repeat it. We stand up for our rights.
Tom, I notice that there is a Tom King listed as one of the current BoD, any relationship?
I’ve only been aware of the serious issues with the NRA for the last 20-25 or so years, I’m slow.
In that time WLP and the BoD have done nothing to fix the problems, all they’ve done is circle the wagons and make voting less flexible. Oh, and call people who wanted change names. Can’t forget Marion.
CYA has its place but his isn’t one of them, the issues are bigger than the personalities and far more important.
@Tom King, no sale. We lack the power to get rid of WLP. He fixed it so we could not. If we did get rid of WLP, he would still be skimming off much needed Second Amendment defense dollars via his golden parachute.
Nor would the rules get changed so that the NRA would be responsive to its members. The next guy would use the same rules in the same way for the same self enriching purposes.
Tom…with all due respect…Wayne needs to go. PERIOD!
Don’t make me repeat what thousands of others have already stated for Wayne’s needed departure. Lets right this sinking ship before it takes on to much water.