Everytown Statement on Conclusion of NRA Trial

NEW YORK — Today, after a judge ruled on the sought remedies in the New York Attorney General’s litigation against the NRA, Everytown for Gun Safety released the following statement:

“In finding that the NRA showed a ‘stunning lack of accountability,’ this ruling confirms what we already knew: The NRA is beset with infighting, trapped in a financial doom spiral, and no longer an effective shield for the gun industry,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “At every phase of this trial, NRA leaders have made it clear they have little interest in righting the ship, which is sure to push even more members out the door.”

In February, a jury found the NRA and its officers liable on nearly every count in the Attorney General of The State of New York v. NRA trial, which centered on allegations by New York Attorney General Letitia James that NRA leaders, including CEO Wayne LaPierre, improperly diverted millions of dollars from the non-profit to benefit executives.

Here’s what you need to know about the state of the NRA:

• The ruling that the NRA failed to properly administer its charitable assets and that its leaders diverted millions of dollars from the organization was a catastrophic start to the 2024 election season for an organization whose election spending has already cratered.

• A new exhibit (p.196) shows that since 2018, the NRA has seen a more than 25 percent decrease in members (p.215) and a nearly 60 percent decrease in revenue from membership dues and contributions (p.214).

• Nearly four months after longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre resigned, the NRA board announced Doug Hamlin, a longtime NRA executive under Wayne LaPierre, as its new executive vice president.
  • The board also elected former Republican congressman and longtime NRA board member Bob Barr as president.

• Over the weekend, the New York Times reported on the rift between the newly elected leaders Hamlin and Barr: “the association’s top two leaders have not put forward a unified front, underscoring the management disarray that persists after more than a half decade of corruption scandals and leadership turmoil.”

• In an ABC News interview last month, NRA President Bob Barr was asked, “One of your opponents, the organization Everytown [for Gun Safety] said because of the turmoil inside the NRA ‘the gun lobby has never been weaker.’ Is the NRA weak?”
  •  Barr’s answer: “No, the NRA is…You look at. Yeah, I suppose our opponents could take this one slice at a time, or one issue.”
  • ABC News’ Jay O’Brien responds: “It’s a pretty big slice. Financial impropriety. A civil judgment.”

• In recent years, the NRA has slashed spending on core programs popular with members and spent tens of millions of dollars on outside lawyers instead. It’s no wonder that NRA members have abandoned ship in droves, and it’s hard to imagine that this ruling will convince them to flock back.

• During the New York trial, the Washington Post reported on the NRA’s various troubles that will leave them “staggering” into the 2024 elections.

In April, the NRA settled in the District of Columbia’s suit, which accused the NRA Foundation of improperly funneling millions of dollars to the NRA.

To read in-depth recaps of the first and second weeks of this phase of the NRA’s trial in New York, or any of the previous phase, visit NRAWatch.org. To speak with an Everytown expert, please contact [email protected].