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The National Rifle Association announced Monday that its board had re-elected Wayne LaPierre as CEO and executive vice president, although the organization was plagued by financial problems and charges over its expenses.
LaPierre had faced a challenge from Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, but the organization said West had finally received only one vote, and that the vote was preceded by a resolution declaring support “past, present and future.” for LaPierre.
NRA LAPIERRE SAYS WEAPON CONTROL IS NOT THE RESPONSE TO THE TEXAS MASSACRE
Re-election comes as the gun rights group has been harassed by gun control activists following the deadly shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Gunmen killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo and 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas.
These shootings have been followed by new calls for gun restrictions, calls that have been strongly rejected by the NRA and LaPierre, who say instead that mental health and school safety should be the focus.
May 27, 2022: National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre speaks during the Leadership Forum at the NRA-ILA meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. (Photo by AP / Michael Wyke)
“Like all Americans, we mourn the people of Uvalde and Texas,” LaPierre said in a statement. “And as we do so, we join the call to support brave law enforcement like MP Thoman, improve mental health services and make our schools safer and safer. Our children are the our most precious and precious resource: making schools safe is a national fact.
“I am honored to continue my work for the NRA and to join our members in their campaign to promote responsible gun ownership and advocate for the Second Amendment freedom for all Americans who respect the law, “he said.
BETO O’ROURKE, ARMS CONTROL DEFENDERS PROTEST OUTSIDE NRA CONVENTION: “SHAME ON YOU”
The NRA has been shaken by scandals and financial problems in recent years. New York Attorney General Letitia James tried to dissolve the organization through a lawsuit, in which court proceedings alleged that LaPierre and others had diverted millions for personal travel, as well as non-filing contracts and other questionable expenses. That lawsuit failed, but another lawsuit was filed to oust LaPierre and other senior executives.
The organization filed for bankruptcy in 2021, but that was ruled out by a judge. Since then, the Associated Press reports that the organization has been involved in mass layoffs and is said to have drastically reduced its spending, including on political candidates.
LaPierre has been known for his often uncompromising stance on gun rights since taking over as head of the organization in the early 1990s. restrictions on the existence of coups, has repeatedly rejected the idea that more restrictions on the Second Amendment are the answer to mass shootings.
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“There are absolutely certain things we can and should do,” he said in his speech at the NRA Convention last week. “It simply came to our notice then [President Biden] and many in his party are on the political issue … what can and should we do to prevent the vile and hateful monsters that walk among us from doing their evil? ”
“Restricting a fundamental human right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is not the answer,” he said. “It never was.”
Kyle Morris of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.