5 Major Takeaways From Supreme Court Vindication Of NRA’s Speech Rights
The court’s analysis proves significant because currently pending before the Supreme Court is another important First Amendment case: Murthy v. Missouri.The court’s analysis proves significant because currently pending before the Supreme Court is another important First Amendment case: Murthy v. Missouri.Longtime NRA leader Wayne LaPierre announces resignation
Wayne LaPierre, who has been a fixture at the National Rifle Association for decades, will resign. He cited health reasons as the impetus for the move, according the organization.
"The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announced today that Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced he is stepping down from his position as chief executive of the organization, effective January 31. Long-time NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP of the NRA," the group noted.
"With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA," LaPierre said, according to the organization. "I've been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever."
The resignation announcement comes shortly before a civil trial is slated to begin regarding a lawsuit lodged by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA, LaPierre, and others, alleging that NRA funds were misused for personal benefits.
"LaPierre's resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability. All charities in New York state must adhere to the rule of law, and my office will not tolerate gross mismanagement or top executives funneling millions into their own pockets. Our case will move ahead, and we look forward to proving the facts in court," James said in a statement.
"With respect to the NYAG's allegations, the NRA Board of Directors reports it has undertaken significant efforts to perform a self-evaluation, recommended termination of disgraced 'insiders' and vendors who allegedly abused the Association, and accepted reimbursement, with interest, for alleged excess benefit transactions from LaPierre, as reported in public tax filings," the NRA said in its announcement about LaPierre's resignation.
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Alec Baldwin Baffled That He, Not The Gun, Will Be Charged With Manslaughter
As an anti-gun rights activist, Baldwin has a habit of demonizing the gun in criminal shootings instead of the person pulling the trigger.NRA board member schools CNN's Jim Acosta in fiery interview on gun control: 'Isn't this blood on your hands?'
National Rifle Association board member Judge Phillip Journey schooled CNN host Jim Acosta on Sunday during a tense conversation about gun control.
Over the course of the lengthy interview, which spanned multiple gun-related topics, Acosta repeatedly interrupted Journey, refused to allow him to finish speaking, and blamed shooting massacres on the NRA.
'Blood on NRA's hands'
Acosta began the interview by asking Journey whether the NRA is culpable for mass shootings, claiming the NRA works to block gun safety laws.
"Isn't some of this blood on the NRA's hands?" Acosta asked.
When Journey responded that the NRA and other pro-gun organizations have, in fact, worked to support commonsense, bipartisan legislation on firearms, Acosta accused Journey of saying "things that just aren't true." Acosta did not explain how Journey's remarks were false, but asked again, "Isn't this blood on your hands?"
"I'm not the one that pulled the trigger and neither are the members of the National Rifle Association," Journey fired back.
"I think Buffalo is a great example where the alarms were going off in New York and all the officials did was hit the snooze button. He could have easily been processed through care and treatment action. He was a danger to himself or others. He'd already threatened mass shooting prior and nobody did anything until that," Journey explained.
It's all about AR-15s
After playing video of children from Uvalde, Texas, saying they're scared to return to school, Acosta asked Journey if people are allowed to bring AR-15s into his courtroom.
Journey is a judge in Kansas, but it's not clear how the question was related to the discussion. Most, if not all, courthouses in America prohibit people from entering with firearms.
"Can people bring in AR-15 into your courtroom?" Acosta asked four times as he talked over Journey.
When Journey finally answered, "Well, of course not," Acosta followed up, "Why not?" But before Journey could respond, Acosta moved the discussion along without allowing Journey to speak.
"Why do people need an AR-15 anyway?" Acosta then asked.
That is when Journey took Acosta to school, pointing out that gun control advocates target the AR-15 because it is a scary-looking firearm. Journey also exposed the inconsistencies with the assault weapons ban of 1994, which focused on cosmetic features of firearms. An AR-15, after all, by function is no different from any other semi-automatic firearm.
"You know, it's just a semi-automatic rifle," Journey told Acosta.
"You know, if you want to be prejudiced about the way it looks, but I was aware of what happened in the '94 semi-automatic firearms ban, and there were rifles of similar function that just didn't look as ugly, they weren't black guns like a Mini 14, a Ruger Mini 14, and of course the Ruger Mini 14 was appropriate and the AR-15 was not," he continued.
After repeatedly stressing the Uvade killer legally purchased the firearms used in the crime, Journey attempted to introduce nuance into the discussion. But Acosta was having none of it.
Acosta ended the interview by telling Journey his "way" — focusing on mental health, ensuring the system catches potential mass killers before they act, and passing commonsense laws — "doesn't work," claimed AR-15s are "used to hunt people," and told Journey he needs to investigate his soul.
"I'm sorry to say it that way, sir, but you and your other board members need to look into your souls and see what can be done for these kids," Acosta said. "These kids who keep dying over and over again. Over and over again."
Jim Acosta challenges NRA board member www.youtube.com
Anti-gun leftist Bette Midler ripped as 'massively irresponsible' for telling people to 'come armed' to possible NRA convention protest
Anti-gun leftist entertainer Bette Midler took to Twitter on Wednesday and told people to "come armed" to a possible protest at the National Rife Association's convention in Houston this weekend.
Midler's suggestion came on the heels of a mass killing at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, earlier this week, and was among a flurry of tweets and replies the far-left actress and singer posted on the social media platform.
\u201cAT THE GEORGE R BROWN CONVENTION CENTER IN HOUSTON TEXAS, THIS WEEKEND. Come armed.\u201d— bettemidler (@bettemidler) 1653496249
While the NRA said convention attendees can carry guns, they cannot be armed inside the General Assembly Hall for Friday's Leadership Forum, as former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak and the Secret Service is in charge at that time.
How did folks react to Midler's shoot-from-the-hip tweet?
Midler — who's been nothing if not politically and socially outspoken of late — received some backlash for telling people to "come armed" to the potential protest:
- One commenter remarked, "19 children and 2 adults just died from gun violence yesterday, and you're cracking a joke about 'come armed'? ... at least I HOPE it's a joke."
- "She's gonna get people killed," another user said. "Massively irresponsible."
- "No, no, no. Don't do this. Don't go armed and don't listen to her suggestion to act like it's Jan 6. This is the wrong take," another commenter reacted.
- "Oh my gosh, Bette. Don’t act like a Republican!!!" another user said. "It’s so unbecoming."
- "If someone does show up and shoots at people at this convention, I hope the police arrest you for this tweet," another commenter told Midler.
- "Calling for more gun violence at the NRA convention doesn’t help us heal over the shootings. You are calling for more innocent people to be victims," another use wrote. "This doesn’t do anything to get us united. NRA teaches how to use guns properly & store them properly."
Anything else?
Houston is bracing for a number of protests related to the NRA convention, including planned actions from Moms Demand Action, Youth for Beto, and the Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter, according to Bloomberg.
"American Pie" singer-songwriter Don McLean pulled out of a scheduled performance at the convention due to Tuesday's mass killing, USA Today said.
"In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week," McLean said in a statement to the paper. "I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans."
In addition, Daniel Defense — the manufacturer of the gun used in the Uvalde massacre — on Wednesday withdrew from the convention.
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