LaPierre had faced a challenge from Lt. Col. Allen West. Yet, the organization announced that West had ultimately just received one vote – and that the vote was preceded by a resolution declaring backing “past, present and future” for LaPierre.
The re-election comes as the gun rights advocacy group has been under siege from gun control activists in the wake of the deadly shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Gunmen killed 10 in a supermarket in Buffalo and 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas.
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Those shootings have been followed by renewed calls for gun restrictions – calls that have been fiercely rebuffed by the NRA and LaPierre, who say instead that mental health and school security should be the focus.
“Like all Americans, we grieve for the people of Uvalde and Texas,” LaPierre announced in a statement. “And as we do, we join in the call to support brave law enforcement like Deputy Thoman, improve mental health services, and make our schools more safe and secure. Our children are our most treasured and precious resource — making schools safe is a national emergency.”
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“I am honored to continue my work for the NRA, and to join our members in their campaign to promote responsible gun ownership and defend Second Amendment freedom for all law-abiding Americans,” he stated.
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The NRA has been rocked by scandal and financial woes in recent years. New York Attorney General Letitia James attempted to dissolve the organization via a lawsuit, in which court proceedings claimed that millions had been diverted for personal trips by LaPierre and others, as well as no-show contracts and other questionable expenses. That lawsuit failed, though a separate one to oust LaPierre and other top executives continues.
The organization sought bankruptcy in 2021, yet that was dismissed by a judge. Since then, The Associated Press reports that the organization has engaged in mass layoffs and has reportedly dramatically cut its spending, including what it spends on political candidates.
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LaPierre has been known for his often-uncompromising position on gun rights since taking the helm of the organization in the early ’90s. While he has supported some limited gun control moves, like restrictions on bump stocks, he 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 must do,” he announced in his speech at the NRA Convention last week. “Where we part ways with [President Biden] and many in his party, is on the policy question… what we can and should do to prevent the hate-filled, vile monsters that walk among us from committing their evil.”
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