North's second term at NRA goes south.

[CapnMac]

For all the warts the NRA has--and it has many, rubbed off the rest of the denizens of Foggy Bottom's Swamp--it's a hugely effective organization. Able t get its political way far more often than, say AFL-CIO, with 1/100th the member base, and 1/1000the the spending.

Sadly, all things that 'hurt' the NRA (including internecine scrabbles) benefit our enemies.

Remember, you can turn off the phone calls and emails--all on the website.

 

[243winxb]

North was getting paid for his NRA tv show. (That has raised alarm bells within the NRA about conflicts of interest.)
He also got paid for being president. Collecting 2 salaries? Edit, correction, no compensation as president. (CNBC)

Both salaries came out of the NRA pocket. This is because the NRA pays the expenses for Ackerman Mcqueen Inc. ,that produce the TV shows.

This is the reason for the lawsuit, NRA vs Ackerman & North. If i understand the lawsuit correctly?

LaPierre salary & benefits does seen to be high, ever for working 60 + hours a week. The non-profit has listed 1200 volunteers that work for free. Hardly seems fair that LaPierre gets paid over 1 million in 2017.

But under LaPierre leadership, net worth as grow a lot over the years.

The board may be the ones that sets the salaries? I bet a contract is negotiated?

 

[DeepSouth]

I’ve never been won over by name calling and demonizing an individual with out a basis on why.

Can someone tell me what Wayne (or whoever) did, accompanied with some evidence (something more than accusations please) and then tell me why that’s bad if it isn’t obvious?

I’m guessing some of you have simply bought the “NRA=bad” agenda that’s been going on for decades. Its simply sad to see us destroying ourselves, complete gun control will eventually win if we continue to shoot our wounded rather than help them heal. Will we ever be united again? Somehow I doubt it and that will be our downfall.

Here’s the thing, as members we can fix the organization if their is a problem, we have that power. If you’re not a member, well then you are powerless by YOUR OWN choice so you shouldn’t be crying about what ever is going on, you made the conscious decision to check out, sorry to sound harsh but it’s a fact.

If their is a problem we need to call, vote, and raise poopoo until the organization HAS to fix it..... to our satisfaction. Something you can’t do if you’re not a member. The NRA is worth saving.


Ask yourself one simple question. If the NRA continues to lose power will gun control be easier or harder to get passed?
Be honest now....

 

[Vonderek]

Good riddance to Ollie North. Hopefully they will replace him with an actual 2nd amendment advocate and not a faux celebrity/deep state character.

 

[bbqreloader]

Deleted-no feeding of trolls

 

[243winxb]

If the NRA fails, so may gun clubs and other organizations that need support in the form of a grant.

$33,979,264. in grants were give out in 2017. Is you club on the list? The list is at one of the links i posted.




https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521710886

 

[nettlle]

The NRA needs another Harlon Carter. And there very well could be another Harlen Carter out there.

 

[boom boom]

As mentioned above, the NRA President is a short termer and more or less a figurehead for the public and meetings. As Alexander A says, the real power is the executive director and he has more or less prevented his removal through manipulating the board selection procedures. The by-laws have been changed to make it very difficult for independent voices to be selected to the board. Unfortunately, this also means that the current board looks to LaPierre for advice rather than doing their oversight job.

This is a common issue among non-profits--for example, look at what the Mayor of Baltimore was doing with her "children's books" and some of the biggest names in health care--Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross "bought" these books and just so happens continued to handle employee health care. Our local electric cooperative was misrun by insiders as well and looted for their profit for years through self dealing contracts and a board that rubber stamped the management's decisions to the detriment of all coop members. Hospital authorities are another problematic area.

Frankly, I believe now that all non-profits must be ordered to release every thing that a large public corporation does as far as financials with all salaries, benefits, contracts, etc. listed in detail online for the public to peruse. Since donors get tax breaks for it, essentially the public is now a shareholder. I would also make all foundations spend 5% of their total wealth per year for their stated objectives.

 

[243winxb]

Grants 2017, money paid out to clubs and others .. https://projects.propublica.org/non.../521710886/201833129349300408/IRS990ScheduleI

 

[LiveLife]

Fox News reports what may have happened - https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/john-lott-second-amendment-nra-oliver-north

"What happened to force North out?

It turns out that North and longtime NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre got into a power struggle. LaPierre came out on top.

LaPierre claims North extorted him by threatening to release “damaging” information if he did not resign. North’s supporters say that North was merely offering LaPierre a way out that wouldn’t require a messy battle about his handling of NRA finances.

... Meanwhile, the NRA is suing media company Ackerman McQueen, which pays North for hosting a TV program. LaPierre alleges that North’s accusations against him were motivated by personal financial interests."

 

[AlexanderA]

A coup that failed. This is like a bad remake of the movie "Valkyrie."

Or, the whole thing is a pre-choreographed Kabuki play, the purpose being for the actors to distance themselves from one another in view of the pending lawsuits.

As outsiders, we have no real idea of what's going on. The NRA members are like pawns in a deep game of chess.

 

[doubleh]

We will be in a world of hurt if the NRA falls. Yes, there are other gun rights groups out there. You can see how much "clout" they wield by seeing how much they are feared by the left wing liberals by the number of mentions of them when it comes to gun rights defenders. You never hear anything about them, only the NRA. I'm going to stick with the one organization that actually accomplishs something for us.

 

[gillmeister692]

Dang it! I liked Col. North! Never thought he'd go south!

If someone HAD to go it should have been LaPierre. I never thought he was as bad as some here do, but apparently he's sown a great deal of discord and sometimes you just have to put the organization above the individual.
I hope the N. R. A. can get its act together.

"South"? South of what?

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I am a lifetime NRA member. I was puzzled by the role North would take when he was hired. I was puzzled at his low profile while he was there. I did not see a single thing that North accomplished while he was there. It seems that the NRA used him for his name and military background. It was a waste of money but not the fault of North. Something is not right at the NRA and maybe North saw it and tried to fix it?

Presumably North was brought in for his well known moral flexibility. He probably seemed like the last guy that would rock the boat.

 

[Tommygunn]

"South"? South of what?

South of North .... where else???? (See thread title for vague clue)

 

[CoalTrain49]

Lots of folks bitch about the NRA and rightly so in some cases. We will rue the day if the organization is not there for us though.

There are other organizations. The NRA used to be a fairly small organization until they became a PAC and lost their way. The NRA has become a lobbying group (PAC) masquerading as a non-profit. They have more or less modeled themselves after AARP. Charge a membership fee, lobby congress and sell insurance. Oh, I forgot one. Provide cover for the Presidents AG policy. The Dynamic Duo will be back sometime before the next election.

 

[Old Dog]

We will be in a world of hurt if the NRA falls. Yes, there are other gun rights groups out there. You can see how much "clout" they wield by seeing how much they are feared by the left wing liberals by the number of mentions of them when it comes to gun rights defenders. You never hear anything about them, only the NRA.

I'm inclined to agree with this to the extent that a lot of politicians over the years have had to be very, very conscious of the NRA and some, depending on the make-up of their districts and constituents, have had to let the NRA gently "guide" them a bit... We need an organization such as the NRA to at least be in the heads of those who would continue to foster infringements on the Second Amendment.

There are other organizations. The NRA used to be a fairly small organization until they became a PAC and lost their way.

Yes, but as said, none as well-known or politically influential, which is what we need.

Democrats don't look under their beds for the GOA, JPFO or SAF at night before turning in, they're looking for the NRA Boogeyman.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I have heard dissatisfaction with salaries and other issues that have been expressed here. These concerns have also have been shared by local members. What would be wrong with an audit. Sunlight is the best antiseptic is an old saying. This closed system with funny money business is a set up for chaos. Looks like ordinary members are asking some relevant questions. All this dance points out a lack of transparency. Basically, a screwed up mess with false news making smoke screens. I'd like to know true figures on membership including the exodus after the recent school shooting in Florida. Wonder if there are any cooked figures in those tax documents?

 

[LiveLife]

We will be in a world of hurt if the NRA falls.

No, gun owners will simply choose another pro-gun/2A organization and make it the next most powerful gun organization.

It may have already started to happen.

Many pro-gun/2A gun owners have conviction and willing to donate money.

 

[somethingbenign]

I know myself and at least two other close friends keep getting ready to join the NRA because we have finally gotten to a place in our lives where we aren't having to decide between food and student loans but this constant feeling of chaos is giving us pause. I just wish whatever is going on behind the curtain calms down so perspective members can join with confidence knowing what exactly the organization stands for.

 

[LiveLife]

If you are ready to donate, don't wait.

I would choose another pro-gun/2A organization while waiting to see how situation at NRA unfolds.

 

[somethingbenign]

I'll probably still donate to the NRA since I need membership to join any of the outdoor ranges near me but it will just be one year at a time instead of buying a lifetime and donating annually as well per the original plan from a few years ago. Maybe spreading donations around to the other 2A organizations at the same time is the best way forward until the dust settles, certainly won't be worse than sitting idle.

 

[Bbear]

If the NRA fails, so may gun clubs and other organizations that need support in the form of a grant.

$33,979,264. in grants were give out in 2017. Is you club on the list? The list is at one of the links i posted.


View attachment 838676

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521710886

If you'll notice, this is a copy of the 990 form for the NRA FOUNDATION. That is a 501c(3) non-profit, charity and is NON-POLITICAL (required to be that way by the IRS). The 33 million figure is what was raised by local (LOCAL) Friends of NRA committees throughout the country. And, were given away BY THESE COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS to non-profit groups that submitted grants in that state or area.
There are hundreds, if not a thousand or more, volunteers working to raise these funds. If your local NON-PROFIT gun range didn't get a grant, they either didn't apply (most likely) or didn't pass whatever test the STATE FUND VOLUNTEERS had for a range to get a grant.
What the NRA FOUNDATION does with the money is support youth shooting sports organizations (4-H, Boy Scouts etc), law enforcement (bullet resistant vests, practice ammo, quick clot etc), firearm education, gun safety and a whole lot more. In a few states, they even have college scholarships.

The NRA itself is a 501c(4) non-profit, but is NOT a charity. As such, they can be involved in politics.

I'd ask that before you start castigating and or denigrating all of those volunteers, you look around and attend a Friends of NRA banquet in your area. https://www.friendsofnra.org/events

 

[Tommygunn]

LaPierre was re elected!!!!

 

[SharpDog]

Well, ALL of us, NRA Included had better get our collective act together because the other side is more united than ever on this issue:

Democrats are Running on Gun Control in 2018:

the consensus among Democratic candidates and voters is that recent high profile mass shootings such as the one in Parkland, Florida in February has given them an opportunity to win in November and to drive through new restrictions on gun rights.

Poll numbers in favor of gun control spike after an event that stays on the nightly news, and there is also a sharp partisan separation in opinions on what laws we ought to have, but a survey released by the Gallup organization in June shows the two parties as nearly perfect mirror images of each other, with eighty-eight percent of Republicans and twenty-four percent of Democrats having a favorable view of the NRA and sixty-nine percent of the former being satisfied with our current regulations, while seventy-nine percent of the latter expressed their dissatisfaction.

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/09/Democrats-are-running-on-gun-control-in-2018/