The National Rifle Association (NY) sues NRA Foundation (Washington D.C.). And a copy of the lawsuit is, here. The main things NRA’s suing for is money from donations that NRA Foundation’s received strictly to support NRA programs and to get the NRA Foundation to quit using NRA’s trademarks.
This is a lawsuit the NRA truly needed to file. Some NRA (NY) directors have said there’s a “wall” between NRA and NRA Foundation (DC) and that no money is being exchanged, and NRA has no control/oversight over NRA Foundation. And I’ve asked those directors numerous times, how can the NRA Foundation not be a part of the NRA? How can it use “NRA” if NRA has no control/oversight and no money is exchanged? How can there be a wall when NRA Foundation is headquartered in NRA HQ building? How can they be separate when there’s crossover leadership? No one ever had an answer.
As you can see this “wall” thing is nonsense, from the lawsuit, “charitable activities” which begins on page 12,
Although the NRA is a 501(c)(4) organization, to which contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for donors, many of the NRA’s activities are in furtherance of charitable, educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, such that they can be funded by a 501(c)(3) organization, to which contributions may be deductible as charitable contributions for donors. The NRA established the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, as a vehicle through which individuals and corporations could make tax-deductible contributions in support of the NRA’s charitable, educational, and scientific activities connected with the lawful ownership and use of firearms.
The “NRA Charitable Activities” include: educational services such as courses, classes, workshops, etc. of instruction on firearms and firearms safety; publications that educate the public on firearms and firearm safety and the importance of civil rights under the Second Amendment; research services in the field of firearm development, improvement, and safety; and financial support of mission-aligned local charitable organizations. For example, the NRA runs the “Eddie Eagle GunSafe” program, which educates children on gun safety and how to respond in situations involving firearms.
And beginning on page 16 of the lawsuit,
The Foundation’s board also attempted to strip the NRA’s President of voting rights on the Foundation’s board and then, following the election of a Reformer-favored NRA President,
attempted to strip the office of NRA President of its ex officio membership on the Foundation’s
board.
The Foundation’s board attempted to eliminate the requirement that a majority of Foundation trustees be members of the NRA’s Board.
The Foundation’s board attempted to sever the historic connection between the two organizations and entrench the Old Guard’s control to of the Foundation through a bylaw
amendment purporting to eliminate the NRA Board’s right to appoint Foundation trustees and providing instead that the Foundation’s board would be self-perpetuating—that is, its trustees would elect themselves.
Although the Foundation had previously had no employees of its own, its Old Guard-dominated Board hired a disgruntled former NRA employee as the Foundation’s executive
director, and he began in late 2025 making onerous demands upon, harassing, and seeking to control NRA employees engaged in activities supported by the Foundation.
This is one lawsuit, that I support the NRA filing.
On a related note, I’ve asked NRA directors, and Tom King who’s both president of NYSRPA and NRA Foundation about NYSPRA hiring Bill Brewer’s law firm for work in the Hemani case,
My specific concern is whether funds originating at either NRA or NRA Foundation are being used to fund “pro 2A” legal work being done by a law firm which is hostile to 2A. Clearly the pro 2A movement doesn’t want to hire the enemy to conduct its legal work, though NRA did that for years with Brewer and Tom King hired Brewer despite years of losses and no victories to sue Oliver North and now do pro 2A work on behalf of NYSRPA.
I’ll continue trying to get an answer on that and more questions.
Equip, train, pray and never disarm.
Update,
Leave a Reply