The widely embattled NRA scored a legal victory in California after Federal District Court Judge Stephen Wilson struck down a Los Angeles ordnance leveled at NRA members and supporters. Now they’re cutting a check to repay the gun-rights group.
Legislators in L.A. passed a law that went into effect a little more than a year ago in 2019 that would prohibit the city from contracting with or doing business with any person or company affiliated with the NRA. Judge Wilson struck down the law as it violates the right to free association guaranteed by the First Amendment.
The city will have to pay the NRA for its legal fees which amount to nearly $150,000. The original ruling was issued in December. This hearing was to reimburse the NRA for the costs of litigation.
“In this case, the text of the Ordinance, the Ordinance’s legislative history, and the concurrent public statements made by the Ordinance’s primary legislative sponsor evince a strong intent to suppress the speech of the NRA,” Wilson ruled. “Even though the Ordinance only forces disclosure of activity that may not be expressive, the clear purpose of the disclosure is to undermine the NRA’s explicitly political speech.”
Gun owners and civil rights advocates in California are sure to celebrate, although things may change for Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA.
According to the Wall Street Journal, there are rumors that the Internal Revenue Service is looking into LaPierre’s financials for evidence of tax fraud, even criminal tax fraud. The controversial gun-rights leader has been criticized for his salary and spending habits from gun control activists and Second Amendment supporters alike.
LaPierre is already facing a civil suit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James that claims he accepted payment from the NRA and other gun industry groups without disclosing the income. Many people see this as a political attack on the NRA and a personal attack on LaPierre.
The NRA said the organization is unaware of any IRS investigation. “The NRA is not aware of any IRS inquiry but, of course, will fully cooperate with any appropriate requests for assistance,” said NRA lawyer William A. Brewer III.
See Also: LaPierre Makes Appeal to NRA Members Following Lawsuit to Dissolve Organization
“We’re not aware of any inquiry, so it would be premature for us to comment,” said LaPierre’s attorney P. Kent Correll.
Despite the rumors, the NRA is moving forward at a brisk pace. With the upcoming election, the advocacy group is working overtime to seek out political allies and endorse their preferred politicians and legislators.
The gun-rights group recently praised President Donald Trump for his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court bench. Along with the NRA’s endorsement, Barrett has received nods from the Firearms Policy Coalition, Gun Owners of America, and the Second Amendment Foundation among other prominent groups.
Same thing I told the last telephone hawker. I believe Ollie is an honest man and suspect Wayne is not.
Wayne has done more to protect 2ad rights his entire life .we still have them!! I don’t care if he,s on the beach with a umbrella in his drink wearing a five thousand dollar suite .I still have my rights .Thank You Wayne!!!!
You do realize that the NRA supported the Bump Stock ban, Red Flag Laws, the nomination of anti-gunner Chuck Canterbury to lead BATFE, the ’68 Gun Control Act, the 10 round mag limit, anti-gun AG Barr.
You still have a 2A right because of all the hard working groups out there like the GOA, 2A Foundation, JPFO and others, and not because of the NRA.
If not for the NRA we’d have lost our 2A rights long before GOA and these other organizations even existed. Wayne is innocent until proven guilty and is being accused by lying communist scum. How about we not hang him just yet?!
Don’t forget “fabricate” evidence, The left will try at anything to destroy our 2a rights at any cost…They tried taking out the
POTUS…they’ll try any scam bs to have everything their way despite the law
yep, the old “government violates citizens rights” and has to pay the legal fees of some big corporation.
read my comment a few minutes ago about the batfe ruling on the honeybadger and some gun rights org. claiming they are going to make them regret it.
did the city of LA have to pay for the legal fees of the NRA, or did the citizens themselves who are NRA members have to pony up more taxes to pay the nra’s legal fees?
slapping some entity’s hands when they violate constitutional protected rights of citizens, and making the tax payers pay the cost, is CRAZY!!!
the tax payers did not violate rights, so why should they have to pay?
make the city counsel members who voted yes on the ordinance pay the $150,000 and the cost of the defense of said ordinance including court costs. any member that voted NO should not have to pay! cost split up among those who voted yes!!
if i and my gang start stopping cars and raping all pretty girls in those cars, but let the ugly girls go unmolested, and my gang makes every car pay a $10 tax, then some girls decide to sue my gang, should my gang be allowed to increase the tax to $20 to pay for the suit?
see how silly this sounds.
the solution is simple, public servants take an oath to uphold the constitution of the united states, so when they vote to violate that constitution, you take them to the nearest streetlight and HANG THEM!
the next public servants will think twice about passing some unconstitutional law or regulation!!
if the city wants to buy my house and land so they can sell it to some land developer and i say NO! then anyone who votes to condemn my property so they can increase the tax revenue, going to have a rude awakening!
It is time for new leadership at the NRA!
The NRA under LaPierre has been the ONE true guardian of our 2A rights. Don’t buy that “LaPierre has been lining his pockets” BS you get from the press. Never underestimate the liberals, they will lie, cheat and steal and use any trick in the book to neutralize opponents. The NRA has been a thorn in the liberal (communists) side forever and they haven’t been able to beat them straight on, so now the IRS and smear campaign against the chief is their new tactic.
The NRA is an important voice in our 2nd Amendment protection, despite making mistakes such as 3rd party constant phone solicitations. It does fund a lot of grass root hunter’s education and shooting clubs that promote safety. Yes some of it’s focus does need changing, but it is much bigger than just it’s executive VP’s possible legal issues, and unlike the anti-guns voices that are largely funded by billionaires, the NRA is funded by people who see the constitutional right, along with the sporting privileges we enjoy. Rather than abandon such a large organization that largely does what’s right, many of us who care, including myself should help the cause with our time as we are able.
I feel the same way as Blake does. I am keeping my membership but no longer donate. Not once in all of the NRA mailings or their magazine has LaPierre denied (in detail) all of the allegations made against him. The NY AG has made some pretty specific (and easy to prove claims) that LaPierre has not defended or denied. Until he does, no more money from me!
Absolutely. No organization is perfect. Gun owners MUST stand together to thwart left wing attempts to Balkanize supporters of the Second Amendment.
What got my attention months ago was when the infighting started between LaPierrie and Ollie North. North saw enough that he quickly left before the stink was on him. I will always support the NRA, in spite of their annoying solicitations, but Wayne has been around way too long….just like most members of Congress. I used to think term limits was at least a partial answer to politics, but it is really age limits. We don’t need 70-something year old people in any office of responsibility, especially the White House, regardless of party affiliation. Hey, I’m 67 and I feel my mental acumen starting to go. Retire, enjoy yer grandkids, but RETIRE!
IMO LaPierre and the whole management of the NRA needs replaced and restructured. They have been lining theIr pockets with our dues for years, and should be doing a lot more for the 2A cause. Example, record setting rally day in VA? I saw NO NRA representation. I only keep my membership to be a number that the politicians see. The GOA is far and away more vocal and active with far less funds. I would suggest everyone join them to, much cheaper than NRA also, and support your local groups, such as the VCDL we have in VA.
I second your statement on LaPierre and have notified them over a year ago that they will not get one thin dime from me (despite their constant junk mail appeals) until LaPierre is removed and no longer in a position to spend the proceeds from anyone’s dues
Not sure if you are a CONCERN TROLL or NOT. WIll give the benefit of the doubt. Disagree 100% with your comment. No need to drag down NRA, that is falling right in line with Leftist Dems (see lawsuits against NRA in NYC). How is destroying the NRA helping my gun rights? It’s a big pond, let them all play.
Deciding not to donate hard earned money to an organization is not the same as actively trying to destroy it. But destroying the NRA may actually help your gun rights by forcing everybody who blindly pays into the NRA to find another place to spend their money, like FPC or GOA, that will actually take the tyrants to court every chance they get.
100% disagree. That’s like hoping the Democrats win big so America will see “bad” they really are at governing. It never turns out good.
Absolutely. No organization is perfect. Gun owners MUST stand together to thwart left wing attempts to Balkanize supporters of the Second Amendment.
My membership runs out in 2024. If Wayne LaPierrie is still there in 2024, then my membership will expire. He’s got to go. No more money for Wayne.