Wayne LaPierre steps down as NRA CEO

Wayne LaPierre Resigns as CEO ​of the NRA

In a surprising ⁣announcement, ‍ Wayne LaPierre, the longtime CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), revealed ‌his⁤ resignation ⁣on Friday, according to Fox News.

LaPierre, who has been with the organization for nearly⁢ five decades since joining ⁢in 1977, has held the positions of executive vice president and⁣ CEO‌ since 1991,⁤ as noted⁣ by Fox. Effective January 31, his resignation​ will see Andrew Arulanandam, head ​of general operations, ⁤stepping ​in as interim CEO,⁤ as announced by‍ NRA President Charles Cotton.

“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I ⁢am announcing my resignation from the NRA,”‌ LaPierre stated in ⁣a press release obtained by Fox News. “I’ve been a card-carrying member⁤ of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment ​freedom. My passion for our cause burns as ​deeply as ever.”

“On behalf‍ of the⁣ NRA ‍Board of Directors,‍ I thank ⁤Wayne LaPierre for his​ service,” Cotton expressed in the press release.⁣ “Wayne has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone.​ Wayne is​ a towering figure in the fight for⁤ constitutional freedom, but one of ⁣his other talents is equally important:⁣ he ‍built an organization that is bigger than him.”

LaPierre, 74, cited⁤ concerns about his health as the reason for his resignation.

LaPierre’s decision to step down comes as⁢ a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia ​James against the ⁤NRA is set to go to trial next week, according to CNN. The ⁣lawsuit alleges that⁢ the⁢ NRA violated non-profit laws and accuses⁢ its leaders of misusing ‍the organization’s funds for personal‍ gain. The lawsuit ​seeks⁣ to dissolve‌ the‍ NRA.

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“The NRA’s influence has been ⁢so powerful⁤ that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled ‌millions into ‌their own pockets,” James stated after announcing the lawsuit in August 2020.

Following⁣ the lawsuit filing, then-NRA President⁣ Carolyn Meadows told CNN that it was a “baseless premeditated attack on our organization and the Second ‍Amendment freedoms ⁣it⁤ fights ​to defend. It’s a transparent⁤ attempt ⁣to ​score ⁢political‍ points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist​ agenda.”

James has been highly ⁤critical of the NRA even before becoming attorney general, ‍ referring ⁤ to ‍it as a “criminal enterprise” and ⁢a “terrorist organization”​ during her 2018 campaign‍ for the position.

Regarding the lawsuit, the NRA stated in its press ‍release announcing LaPierre’s resignation, “The NRA ⁤continues its defense of⁢ a lawsuit ⁤by the New York Attorney General, and⁤ LaPierre is‍ an ‍individual defendant in that action. It is well-known ⁣that the ​NYAG ‍vowed ​to pursue the NRA when​ she was​ a candidate for⁤ her office and, upon being elected, filed a lawsuit to dissolve the⁤ Association in August 2020. Trial⁣ proceedings⁤ in that case begin Monday.”

How might‍ the resignation‌ of Wayne LaPierre impact the NRA’s ability to navigate the ongoing lawsuit ​filed​ by the New York Attorney General

Wayne LaPierre, the longtime CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), shocked‌ many on Friday when he announced‌ his resignation, according​ to Fox News. LaPierre has been with the‍ organization ‌for nearly five decades, joining in 1977 and ⁣holding the positions of executive vice president and CEO since 1991, as ​noted by Fox. Effective January ‍31, his resignation will see Andrew Arulanandam, head of general operations, stepping in as interim CEO, as announced by NRA President‌ Charles Cotton.

In a press release ⁣obtained by Fox News, LaPierre stated, “With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am‍ announcing my resignation‍ from the NRA. ‍I’ve been a⁢ card-carrying member of this organization for most of‌ my adult life, and ‍I will never stop supporting the NRA and​ its fight to defend Second Amendment⁢ freedom. My passion for our cause burns as​ deeply‍ as ever.”

NRA President Charles Cotton expressed his gratitude on behalf of the NRA Board of Directors, saying, ⁤”Wayne has ‍done as ‍much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone. Wayne is a towering figure‌ in the fight⁤ for constitutional freedom, ⁤but one of⁢ his other talents is equally important: ⁢he⁣ built an‌ organization ⁤that is bigger than him.”

LaPierre, who⁢ is 74 years ‌old, cited concerns about his health as the reason for his resignation.

However, LaPierre’s decision to step down comes⁣ amidst a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA, which is⁣ set ⁣to go to trial next​ week, according to‍ CNN. The‌ lawsuit accuses the ​NRA⁤ of violating​ non-profit laws ⁤and alleges that its ‌leaders misused ‌the organization’s funds for personal gain. The⁤ lawsuit seeks to dissolve the NRA.

The resignation of Wayne LaPierre marks the end of an⁣ era for⁤ the ‌NRA. With his ‌long-standing tenure and⁢ his significant contributions to the defense⁤ of Second Amendment rights,‌ LaPierre leaves behind a formidable legacy. As ​the NRA faces legal⁣ challenges,⁣ it ‌remains to be seen ⁣how the organization will ​navigate these‌ turbulent times and continue its fight for gun owners’ rights.