NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements after a New York judge ruled that most of the counts alleged in the New York Attorney General’s case against the National Rifle Association and its leaders can proceed, by denying most of the NRA’s motion to dismiss. While the NRA’s motion to dismiss the claim that calls for dissolution of the NRA was granted, 15 of the 18 causes of action alleged can proceed, including those which could result in the removal of CEO Wayne LaPierre.
The judge’s decision today opens with an acknowledgement that “the Attorney General’s allegations in this case, if proven, tell a grim story of greed, self-dealing, and lax financial oversight at the highest levels of the National Rifle Association.” Additionally, last week, the judge in the case was reportedly “ready to shoot down the NRA’s countersuit” against the NY AG, which would present the NRA with a major legal setback.
“Today’s decision confirms that Wayne LaPierre and his cronies are still up to their necks in legal hot water, which means a huge chunk of NRA membership dues will keep flowing straight to the organization’s many lawyers,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “The more time NRA leaders spend in court, the more we hear about how they allegedly prioritized their own interests at the expense of rank-and-file gun owners, the vast majority of whom support common-sense gun safety laws.”
“The NRA’s bar is so low that they’re spinning the continuation of over a dozen claims against them and their executives as a win, but the rest of us know that this case is far from over,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Legal bills continue to reach new heights for the NRA, and combined with reports of declining revenue, the NRA may someday find itself having to file for bankruptcy again, only this time for real.”
Everytown has chronicled the revelations from the NRA’s various legal woes at NRAWatch.org. For further information about the state of play for the NRA, please email [email protected].