Letitia James Sues the NRA - Here's What You Need to Know

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has thrived on a platform that claims to want to "take away guns" and "repeal the Second Amendment" for Democrats and liberals alike. This pro-gun group also believes that the AR-15, the military weapon used in the nation's frequent shootings, is a safe weapon (opens in new tab) to keep in the home for self-defense. Each time the next Parkland (opens in new tab) or Las Vegas (opens in new tab) or Pulse (opens in new tab) has happened, the group has stood on the sidelines, claiming that guns are not the problem. And when not attacking shooting survivors on Twitter, it frequently bullies groups like Moms Demand Action (opens in new tab) and March for Our Lives (opens in new tab). After years of false rhetoric and vicious attacks, gun rights advocacy groups may finally be coming to an end, thanks to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

On August 6, 2020, Attorney General James officially filed a lawsuit (opens in new tab) to dissolve the NRA after investigating it since February 2019. The lawsuit alleges that senior executives have illegally used the NRA's charitable finances for personal uses, including family trips to the Bahamas, including private jets and expensive meals. It also alleges that the NRA has entered into contracts "for the financial benefit of close associates and family members" and "has entered into expensive, uncompensated contracts to buy the silence and continued loyalty of former employees." (For a more specific case, see here (opens in new tab). Here are the specific targets of the lawsuit:

"The NRA's influence is so powerful that for decades it has gone unchecked while its top executives have been lining their pockets with millions of dollars," Attorney General James said in an August 6 press release (opens in new tab).

In addition to dissolving the NRA, Attorney General James also ordered LaPierre, Phillips, Powell, and Fraser to "return all illegally profited funds and salaries earned while employees, pay fines, restore illegal and improper payments to the four, remove LaPierre and Fraser from the NRA leadership ( Phillips and Powell are not employed by the NRA), and to ensure that the four individual defendants are never again allowed to serve on the board of a New York charity."

On the same day the lawsuit was filed, the NRA issued a statement (opens in new tab) claiming that the lawsuit is "an unfounded and premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it is fighting to protect," and promising that "not only will we not back down from this fight, we will stand against it and win," he promised. President Trump also condemned the lawsuit, suggesting that the NRA should "move to Texas and live a very wonderful and beautiful life" (opens in new tab). (Incidentally, he cannot legally do this while under investigation.)

Despite the NRA's claims that the attorney general has a political motive, Attorney General James told Cosmopolitan magazine (opens in new tab) that this has nothing to do with gun rights. 'In reality, this has nothing to do with the Second Amendment or my personal views on gun violence. It has to do with nonprofit laws and ensuring that charities abide and comply with the law," she explained (opens in new tab).

"The NRA has failed to uphold and comply with the law and fulfill its purpose and mission, while its executives have looted millions and tens of millions of dollars from nonprofit organizations.

Gun control groups and survivors of gun violence are proud to have stood with Attorney General James. Washington, D.C. Attorney General Carl A. Racine also sued the NRA in solidarity (open in new tab).

As for what happens next, the court battle could take years - especially since Attorney General James is calling for the dissolution of the NRA. Still, it gives gun control advocates and those affected by gun violence hope for a better America that is not plagued by gun violence.

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