David Dell’Aquila’s Battle To Reform The NRA
BY Herschel Smith
5 years, 3 months ago
TTAG:
David Dell’Aquila says he finally realized that his attempts to reform the National Rifle Association from within were doomed after a conversation he had with NRA President Carolyn Meadows (she hadn’t been given the top job yet at the time). It happened during a party for large donors like himself that was held before the Indianapolis annual meeting in April.
Dell’Aquila tells TTAG that he approached Meadows because he’d received information indicating that a high-ranking NRA employee was receiving payments from vendors to whom he directed business. Meadows asked where he heard that (he told her it didn’t matter). She then told him none of it was true.
Then Dell’Aquila said he asked Meadows — strictly hypothetically — if she had a problem with an NRA official collecting a salary from the Association while using a vendor with which he either had an ownership interest or received payments for business directed its way (i.e. kickbacks).
According to Dell’Aquila, Meadows told him, “That’s how it’s done in D.C. Everyone does it.”
That’s when he says he knew his year-long effort (it started following the 2018 Dallas annual meeting) to bring about change and accountability by working with NRA officers and employees was futile.
Dell’Aquila, a retired Nashville technology consultant, then set about developing a four-phase strategy to force EVP and CEO Wayne LaPierre and his supporters — both in management and on the board — out of their positions.
I like the cut of his jib. Then there’s this (readers and I have discussed the issue of fiduciary responsibility of NRA board members and just how far that goes).
It is important for each member of the Board of Directors to completely understand his or her responsibilities. For example, current NRA officers who have stated “I don’t know anything about that,” “that is the first time I’m hearing it,” “I trust Wayne completely,” etc., are not deemed within the law as valid acceptable legal defenses. It is your responsibility to know or take the necessary actions to obtain such knowledge.
Again, we’ll see just how far that responsibility goes, but I do hope it goes all the way to actual personal legal liability.
With all of that said, I still doubt that the NRA can be reformed. I think it’s dead.
On July 30, 2019 at 7:59 am, June J said:
“That’s how it’s done in DC” justification is as valid as the “I was just following orders” excuse.
On July 30, 2019 at 10:05 pm, John said:
I must agree. If there isn’t a clean sweep of the entire tainted leadership it’s all over.
On July 31, 2019 at 10:42 am, Jon Davies said:
How would you like to see it reformed?
On July 31, 2019 at 11:17 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Davies,
[1] A much smaller BOD
[2] Focus on protection of RKBA.
[3] Much more aggressive concerning grading politicians, holding them accountable, and pressing for good legislation (which would mainly mean repeal of most if not all gun control laws).
[4] Repeal of GCA and NFA.
[5] Full fiduciary accountability of all membership funds.
[6] Firing Wayne LaPierre and his band of cronies.
[7] A vow never again to support gun control initiatives such as the bump stock ban, GCA, NFA, Hughes Amendment, red flag laws, etc., etc.
That’s a good start.
On August 30, 2019 at 4:51 pm, David S Hedrick said:
The NRA has been unresponsive to the average member. They refuse to respond to my emails. Why was Col. North forced out? Why does Meadows think it is “ok” to accept “kickbacks”? Just because “D.C.” does it does NOT make it right!
I do NOT understand why the NRA is against background checks. I have no problem with that. I went through a criminal and mental health background check to get my CCL here in NC. If you have a criminal background, you should NOT be allowed to have a gun. Likewise, if you are mentally unstable you should NOT have a weapon of any kind.
Just my 2cents worth.
On May 17, 2020 at 6:39 pm, Lamar Garrett said:
It’s time for reform and to clean house at the NRA. I knew this when Col. North left. It has crossed my mind before and I wondered about all these fund raisings that put us in arrears from dues and memberships.