Everytown Responds to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre’s Resignation Announcement Ahead of Trial

WASHINGTON — Today, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre resigned from his role days before the start of the trial in Attorney General of The State of New York v. NRA, which centers on blockbuster allegations by New York Attorney General Letitia James that NRA leaders, including LaPierre, improperly diverted millions of dollars from the non-profit to benefit NRA executives. Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action released the following statements in response:

“The NRA has been in a doom spiral for years, and Wayne LaPierre’s resignation is yet another massive setback for an organization that’s already at rock bottom,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “LaPierre’s legacy will be one of corruption, mismanagement, and the untold destruction gun violence has brought to every American community. The NRA’s declining membership, finances, and political power spell disaster for the organization heading into the 2024 elections.”

“Over the last decade, our volunteers have worked tirelessly to dismantle the culture of gun violence perpetrated by the NRA. The fact that our movement has grown stronger every day while the NRA becomes increasingly irrelevant demonstrates just how much we’ve changed the political calculus on this issue,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Wayne LaPierre’s decision to step down amidst yet another significant controversy is hardly surprising. Our grassroots leaders stand as the NRA’s worst nightmare, and today, their complete downfall is closer than ever.”

LaPierre has been at the helm of the NRA for 30 years and has been the key figure in the NRA’s embrace of far-right extremist ideology. Nonetheless, former employees, confidants, and board members have testified that LaPierre’s management of the NRA was a “trainwreck” and the organization was run as “Wayne’s kingdom” where he employed what he himself allegedly called “management by chaos.” The NRA’s future without LaPierre is more uncertain than ever, especially given that the recent crises led the NRA to oust LaPierre’s one-time likely successor Chris Cox and accuse him of receiving more than $1 million in excess benefits.

LaPierre’s departure comes as NRA membership steadily wanes amid financial woes and the organization’s declining influence. Despite previous claims that they were in the past on track to reach ten million members, NRA membership reportedly has shrunk to less than half that and revenue has dropped by more than 50% since 2016. The drop in revenue is driven in large part by a drop in revenue from membership dues to its lowest rate since at least 2010.

The Daily Beast recently reported that the NRA’s latest tax returns show the organization at “rock bottom,” with political spending crashing and legal expenses at an all-time high. This downward spiral has seen the NRA become a liability for candidates and legislators in swing states — it’s become so toxic that many are viewing their once prized ‘A’ rating as a scarlet letter.