On Friday, Wayne LaPierre, the head of the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby, announced his resignation from the post he has held since 1991. A civil trial involving him and three other officials begins next week and accuses former NRA officials of violating New York state law governing nonprofit organizations, as the NRA formally does, and using the organization's funds for to have misused personal expenses. The trial is the conclusion of an investigation launched in 2020 by Attorney General Letitia James, who, among other things, called for LaPierre's removal as CEO of the NRA as a sanction for LaPierre.
His resignation is not part of an agreement with the prosecutor's office. The NRA said LaPierre, 74, decided to resign for health reasons. The resignation will take effect on January 31st. LaPierre will be replaced as the NRA's interim CEO by Andrew Arulanandam, his longtime spokesman.
“The end of the Wayne LaPierre era at the NRA is a great victory for us” wrote James on X, “His resignation confirms our allegations, but will not relieve him of his responsibilities.”
The NRA has existed since 1871 to defend the right to own firearms guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. During the 20th century, it became increasingly powerful and influential in American politics and particularly in the Republican Party, advocating or blocking welcome or unwelcome gun control laws. This influence was made possible by the ability to financially support politicians' expensive election campaigns. However, it has been doing poorly for some time, due to a management that is increasingly unwelcome even among the lobby's supporters (who are among its financial backers) and due to various economic problems. Between 2016 and 2020 it lost 23 percent of its members.