Author Topic: NRA fights back, files its own suit against NY attorney general seeking to disba  (Read 830 times)

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Offline Graybeard

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/nra-lawsuit-ny-attorney-general-lawsuit

By Stephanie Pagones | Fox News

The National Rifle Association is fighting back against a lawsuit filed Thursday by New York’s attorney general by submitting its own civil suit against the state official, accusing her of defamation and violating its rights to free speech.

The NRA’s lawsuit was filed in the federal court of New York and alleges Attorney General Letitia James “made the political prosecution of the NRA a central campaign theme” when she was running for the AG’s office in 2018, and has not treated the association fairly since.

“Despite hopes that playing by the rules would procure a just outcome, the NRA has not been treated fairly by James’s office,” the 19-page suit states. “The New York Democratic Party political machine seeks to harass, defund, and dismantle the NRA because of what it believes and what it says.”

The defamation allegations stem from James' public descriptions of the NRA as a "criminal enterprise" and "a terrorist organization."

“James boasted that she would strike foul blows against the NRA and pound the NRA into submission. She vowed that she would use the NYAG’s investigative and enforcement powers for the precise purpose of stanching political speech (‘deadly propaganda),” the lawsuit states. “She has begun to deliver on her campaign promises to retaliate against the NRA for constitutionally protected speech on issues that James opposes. As NYAG, James has regrettably succumbed to ‘individual passions, and individual malevolence.’”


Fleischer on NY suing NRA: One of the dumbest mistakes an attorney general can make in an election year.


President Trump also slammed James’ suit against the group, calling it “a very terrible thing.”

“I think the NRA should move to Texas and lead a very good and beautiful life. And I’ve told them that for a long time. I think they should move to Texas – Texas would be a great state or to another state of their choosing – but I would say that Texas would be a great place and an appropriate place for the NRA.”

James sued the NRA, which is headquartered in Fairfax, Va., in an effort to dissolve the gun-rights group “for years of self-dealing and illegal conduct,” she announced Thursday.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, alleges that the NRA “diverted millions of dollars away from its charitable mission for personal use by senior leadership.” She further slammed the association for what she called “years of self-dealing and illegal conduct that violate New York’s charities laws and undermine its own mission.”


The 166-page lawsuit names four NRA executives, including CEO Wayne LaPierre, as defendants.


“Contrary to his statutory duties of care, loyalty and obedience to the mission of the charity, LaPierre has undertaken a series of actions to consolidate his position; to exploit that position for his personal benefit and that of his family; to continue, by use of a secret “poison pill contract,” his employment even after removal and ensuring NRA income for life; and to intimidate, punish, and expel anyone at a senior level who raised concerns about his conduct,” the attorney general's lawsuit states.

James' office teased what it said would be a “major announcement” in an email sent out Tuesday night.


James said the actions of the accused quartet “contributed to the loss of more than $64 million in just three years for the NRA.”

While the lawsuit accuses all four men of wrongdoing and seeks fines and remuneration, none of them have been charged with a crime.

In turn, NRA President Carolyn Meadows responded by calling the lawsuit a “baseless, premeditated attack” on the group and the Second Amendment.

“You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle,” Meadows said. “It’s a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda.”

She further called the suit “a desperate move that is part of a rank political vendetta.”

“This has been a power grab by a political opportunist,” she said. “Our members won’t be intimidated or bullied in their defense of political and constitutional freedom … we not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail.” ​


Also on Thursday, Washington D.C. District Attorney Karl Racine announced his office was suing the NRA Foundation for “misusing charitable funds.” He has been investigating the NRA Foundation for more than a year.

“Donors gave money to fund firearms safety, firearms education and marksmanship training,” Racine alleged. “Instead, that money was diverted to support wasteful spending by the NRA and its executives.”

In a statement provided to Fox News, a spokesperson for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a guns-trade group, said the association was "troubled" by James' decision, which he called "politically-driven."

In the lawsuit, spokesperson Mark Oliva said, "James seeks to punish the over five million members of the National Rifle Association based on mere allegations of possible wrongdoing by a few individuals."


"NSSF is deeply concerned about the apparent political agenda to silence the strongest voice in support of the Second Amendment ahead of the election in November," Oliva added. "This lawsuit, and one filed today by the District of Columbia Attorney General, should concern all Americans who cherish both the First and Second Amendments to our Constitution regardless of their views on what laws and regulations are appropriate to address the criminal misuse of firearms.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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Offline Graybeard

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If she wanted to end the corruption rather than the NRA she would have just filed against LaPierre. He has about bankrupted the NRA and I'm sure will if he is left in charge long enough.

He is the single worst thing about the NRA today and has been for many years.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Dee

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If she wanted to end the corruption rather than the NRA she would have just filed against LaPierre. He has about bankrupted the NRA and I'm sure will if he is left in charge long enough.

He is the single worst thing about the NRA today and has been for many years.


Agreed, I pulled out of the "Wayne Lapierre" aka NRA because of all the non-NRA crap years ago.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times.

Offline ironglows

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From the article;
  " [size=78%]Also on Thursday, Washington D.C. District Attorney Karl Racine announced his office was suing the NRA Foundation for “misusing charitable funds.” He has been investigating the NRA Foundation for more than a year.[/size]“Donors gave money to fund firearms safety, firearms education and marksmanship training,” Racine alleged. “Instead, that money was diverted to support wasteful spending by the NRA and its executives.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Yes, money was given to support among other things such as the "Eddie Eagle", firearms training and education in schools, but liberal/leftist creeps kept such worthwhile training out of schools, depriving students of the free and beneficial information.

  the same forces fought to keep the NRA from education anyone, concerning firearms.


  Of course "wasteful spending", was the NRA helping pro 2nd amendment candidates to be elected, including Pres Trump !
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline Graybeard

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Perhaps you should do some fact checking on what the LaPierre bunch has been doing to the NRA. They have almost bankrupted it and not on the kinda projects you mention. LaPierre has spent tens or maybe it's hundreds of thousands of NRA dollars on clothes for himself. NOT a legitimate NRA expense.

The fraudulent spending goes into the tens of millions on things the NRA charter and bylaws do not allow.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline ironglows

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Perhaps you should do some fact checking on what the LaPierre bunch has been doing to the NRA. They have almost bankrupted it and not on the kinda projects you mention. LaPierre has spent tens or maybe it's hundreds of thousands of NRA dollars on clothes for himself. NOT a legitimate NRA expense.

The fraudulent spending goes into the tens of millions on things the NRA charter and bylaws do not allow.


  Will appreciate if you would post some fact links to those assertions ?  ..But please, none from the NRA's sworn enemies, since the antis are posting all kinds of attacks upon the NRA and gun owners.
  I won't pay heed to any antis any more than I regard anything Pelosi or Schumer say!
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline Graybeard

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It's been posted in most every newspaper in the country and I guess in every magazine about guns, shooting or hunting as well. Most all stories go back a year or more.

Back at the NRA annual meeting where North resigned is the time frame to look for. There was an uprising against LaPierre at that meeting and folks tried to vote him out. The vote failed and he fired most everyone in high level positions with the NRA who had opposed him which was about all of them.

The guy who does the NRA program on TV, the guy who was head of the ILA or whatever their legislative arm was. Just look in your magazine and you'll see everyone who gets to write an editorial each month is different now than before that meeting. All fired by LaPierre for opposing his crooked policies.

I recognized him for what he is years ago. My standard response to them when they call for money is that when he is fired, not retired, I will again donate but never again until he is fired.

Do your own research. The info is out there for any who want to know the truth. You don't have to look for it from the NRA's enemies. Everyone in the industry who puts out anything in print has written about it.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Dee

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LaPierre running the NRA is like hiring a coyote to guard your sheep.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times.

Offline Doublebass73

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I let my NRA membership lapse when Chris Cox came out publicly in support of red flag laws. Between that, Lapierre spending my membership money on fancy clothes and the NRA's public support for a bump stock ban I switched over to the GOA.


The NRA also has a long history of supporting gun control:
1. The NRA supported a concealed carry permit requirement and 1 day waiting period for handguns in the 1920's
2. The NRA helped draft the NFA of 1934
3. The NRA helped draft the Gun Control Act of 1938
4. The NRA supported the Mulford Act of 1967 (signed by Ronald Reagan) that banned carrying loaded guns in public
5. The NRA supported most provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968
6. The NRA helped draft the NICS background check system
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

---- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

Offline mcbammer

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I let my NRA membership lapse when Chris Cox came out publicly in support of red flag laws. Between that, Lapierre spending my membership money on fancy clothes and the NRA's public support for a bump stock ban I switched over to the GOA.


The NRA also has a long history of supporting gun control:
1. The NRA supported a concealed carry permit requirement and 1 day waiting period for handguns in the 1920's
2. The NRA helped draft the NFA of 1934
3. The NRA helped draft the Gun Control Act of 1938
4. The NRA supported the Mulford Act of 1967 (signed by Ronald Reagan) that banned carrying loaded guns in public
5. The NRA supported most provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968
6. The NRA helped draft the NICS background check system
I let mine lapse too . It will need  new fiscal conservative leadership before I  re-up .

Offline Land_Owner

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In a Presidential election year, one as hotly contested over the past three years as is this one facing us, it SHOULD BE expected that slanderous media attention will be pressed, lawsuits (whether supported by fact or otherwise) will be filed, and attention diverting, support base undermining, voluntary fund drying, divisive oppositional tactics will be employed. See it for what it is.

If you have issues with NRA Management, VOTE for change. Don't vote with your suddenly "woke" wallet. FIND OUT about these issues. Do the research. Do not take internet "facts" at face value. 

Yes, we've discussed W. LaPierre for years.  I am not saying the leadership of NRA has "clean hands". Only that I and many STILL support the RKBA through membership in the NRA. Perhaps this suit will shake out the dirt under the rug.DO NOT LET THE MEDIA TELL YOU WHAT TO BELIEVE. See the NY-DA lawsuit for what it is.

I am the NRA and I vote. If you post to this site, YOU should be an NRA member too!  Membership does not equate to acquiescence of any illegitimate action by members of its Board. If found to be guilty (remember - INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty) the appropriate action is already written in law. The "fallout" isn't owned by the Membership.


Be aware, how can you not be already, that the NRA and other Gun Advocate groups actively pursue the Right To Keep and Bear Arms, which the Left, liberals, and Democrats would expunge if given the chance.  If you want your voice and rights silenced, do nothing. Passively go into the night and let others do the heavy lifting for you.  Otherwise, keep your membership current and VOTE.  Vote for change.

Offline ironglows

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 I don't doubt you guys can find wrongdoing inside the NRA, but that only leaves us between a rock and a hard place.
  My IRA and 401k have my money invested in many corporations.  Still, I don't think there is a single corporation out there which is that "squeaky clean"!  "We live in a fallen world."

 
   Still, no other organization, seems to be able to protect our gun rights as effectively as the NRA.  If there were one, the antis would be suing that outfit repeatedly, as they are doing with the NRA.


  Must be they are feeling the burn !


   Then too; we should be careful what we read from other gun rights  organizations, since they maybe painting a rather bleak picture of the NRA...hoping to peel off some of the NRA members.


  As I have long said, starting with the Bible..  "you can tell who their most dire enemies are, by watching who attacks it !"...same goes for gun rights groups.


  The antis attack the NRA almost exclusively !
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline pastorp

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Well I’ve been a life member for about 20 years. That means I can vote in the NRA elections. Maybe instead of finding fault with the NRA you guys should up to life membership and get involved in the election process if you want change.

If you just join small groups that have no real voice what have you accomplished. Nothing.
Byron

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NRA LIFE

Offline Dee

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I believe that 2nd amendment folks such as myself, do need a lobbying group in DC to match witts with anti 2nd amendment lobbyists.


What I'm no longer convinced of is, is the NRA really solution, or like most DC institutions became as corrupt as those they were hired to fight?
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times.

Offline Graybeard

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Been a life member for 30-40 years I guess. I figure I have a right to speak out against what I see going on with the NRA.

You guys can believe all the good things about them you want to, me I don't. I do NOT believe the NRA is on gun owner's side at all. They have agreed to pretty much every anti gun proposal that has happened since the '30s.

They pretend to fight against the gun grabbers and the gun grabbers pretend to fight against them but in the end both are on the same side.

The GOA has done far more than the NRA tho the NRA does claim credit for most of what GOA does.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline mcbammer

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LaPierre running the NRA is like hiring a coyote to guard your sheep.
  More like Al Capone in charge of Bank security .

Offline Dee

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Been a life member for 30-40 years I guess. I figure I have a right to speak out against what I see going on with the NRA.

You guys can believe all the good things about them you want to, me I don't. I do NOT believe the NRA is on gun owner's side at all. They have agreed to pretty much every anti gun proposal that has happened since the '30s.

They pretend to fight against the gun grabbers and the gun grabbers pretend to fight against them but in the end both are on the same side.

The GOA has done far more than the NRA tho the NRA does claim credit for most of what GOA does.


The NRA is a "collection agency" designed to collect monies from propaganda believing Americans, and distribute that money to fraudulent representatives, and senators, who claim to be pro 2nd amendment, but do nuthin but talk.


They had a "GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY" when Trump took office but, while holding both houses, DID NOTHING with the most gun friendly president in over 100 years.


BUT! The NRA still makes sure they get paid, and the sheep keep getting sheared.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times.

Offline Doublebass73

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I let my NRA membership lapse when Chris Cox came out publicly in support of red flag laws. Between that, Lapierre spending my membership money on fancy clothes and the NRA's public support for a bump stock ban I switched over to the GOA.


The NRA also has a long history of supporting gun control:
1. The NRA supported a concealed carry permit requirement and 1 day waiting period for handguns in the 1920's
2. The NRA helped draft the NFA of 1934
3. The NRA helped draft the Gun Control Act of 1938
4. The NRA supported the Mulford Act of 1967 (signed by Ronald Reagan) that banned carrying loaded guns in public
5. The NRA supported most provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968
6. The NRA helped draft the NICS background check system
I let mine lapse too . It will need  new fiscal conservative leadership before I  re-up .


I agree, if the NRA does a serious house cleaning and gets rid of LaPierre among other things I'd reconsider but until then I'll be giving my 2nd Amendment dollars to GOA, SAF and FPC. The groups that are actually working to protect our rights instead of milking its membership in order to lead lavish lifestyles.
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

---- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

Offline ironglows

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Atty Gen, using Bloomberg/Soros money, trying to destroy the most effective gun rights organization since 1871.
  It would seem that if one of those other organizations were as effective as the NRA, they would be going after them instead !
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..