Armed homeowner who defended family in driveway shoot-out says he's been stripped of

[PostmodernProphet]

One cannot carry any gun, at any time, any place they want.

.

on a scale of 1-10 where would "on your front step while being attacked by people attempting to break into your home" rank among the places they want?.......just asking......

 

[Geeko Sportivo]

Armed homeowner who defended family in driveway shoot-out says he's been stripped of gun permit
A Los Angeles homeowner who used a firearm to fend off apparent would-be robbers at his home said his concealed carry permit was taken away just days after the residential-neighborhood shoot-out.

"After successfully defending my home and my family and my 5-month-old child, California has now decided to suspend my Second Amendment [rights]," L.A. resident and married father of one Vince Ricci said in a video for the NRA that was exclusively shared with Fox News Digital.

Ricci told Fox News Digital that the sheriff's office called him Thursday morning to inform him his concealed carry permit was "revoked," and he said it was due to him "yelling" at Los Angeles police officers when they visited his home to investigate the shooting three days after the incident. Ricci previously railed that the LAPD – the department investigating the case – carried out "sloppy police" work, including allegedly not picking up the casings scattered near his home as evidence.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter, and it is unclear if other factors played a role in the homeowner losing his concealed carry permit.
A gunfight broke out on Ricci’s front door on Nov. 4 just after the homeowner returned to his gated Los Angeles house after hitting the gym. Two armed men jumped his fence and tried to force their way in the house as Ricci was about to unlock his front door. Ricci’s wife, 5-month-old daughter and the family’s nanny were inside.

Obtaining a concealed carry permit in California has historically been difficult compared to other states, with Ricci previously telling Fox News Digital it took months for his permit to process.

Ricci, however, used his firearm on his private property. California law allows legal U.S. residents over the age of 18 to carry firearms on private property and residences without a permit or license.

Ricci said in the NRA video that the shooting is a clear self-defense case, noting he was confronted by two men "pointing guns at my chest" as he tried to make his way into the home.

"My situation is unique because it happened at my front door, all on camera. But this happens time and time again all over the country … People sweep it under the rug because it doesn't behoove their political agenda. The fact is, evil will always exist," he said.....

"His decisive actions to protect his wife and daughter embody the core principles that NRA members fight for every day," NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "It's reprehensible that California is shredding his Second Amendment rights after he defended his family. Governor [Gavin] Newsom and [Los Angeles County District Attorney George] Gascon's pro-criminal policies have transformed Los Angeles and the wider state into what resembles a war zone. The NRA stands with Vince and every responsible gun owner in California, firmly committed to defending their rights to protect their families and communities."...

..."The fact that anyone, our politicians, our law enforcement officers, our district attorney could see this man as anything but a hero defending his family is absolutely disgusting," Stuart said....

...Ricci said his Second Amendment rights are now "in jeopardy" thanks to left-wing California politicians.

"When the incident happened, there were only two things I could rely on: myself and the Second Amendment; and now that's in jeopardy. The leftist gun grabbers do not care about your safety. The NRA does," he said.
======================
So a legal CCW gun owner uses his weapon legally to defend himself , his wife, and his 5 month old baby daughter and the gun grabbers take his right to defend himself and his family away. The politicians would rather let two gun-wheeling criminals invade this man's home where he and his family would be defenseless.

This guy is a hero and the gun grabbing politicians are now treating him like the criminal. Just remember when you need the police in seconds the police are only minutes away. I see why Cawacko pointed out that Californians are increasingly arming themselves. Taking this man's permit is nuts. (watch the video)

If I want to hear this NEWS STORY, I would sincerely not want to hear it from a BIASED FOX NEWS source!

I think I would rather want to hear it from a non-biased local NEWS SOURCE who has no reason to fluff it up to promote NRA rhetoric in the matter.

OH MY GOD! A NEUTRAL OPINION! HOW DARE ME? RIGHT?

NEXT!

 

[domer76]

only low IQ unamerican idiots need the government to explain to them what the Constitution/Bill of Rights entails.

If anyone needs a tutor in constitutional rights, it’s you, halfwit. Unfortunately, you’re too fucking stupid to absorb any of it.

Anyone who claims “vehicles cannot be necessary” in a modern society because they are not a protected constitutional right is a fucking idiot. A laughable one, at that.

 

[RB 60]

It is? How come they don’t open carry, or even carry, in Congress, or better yet, the SCOTUS

Uh, because there is a large police and secret service presence?

 

[RB 60]

If I want to hear this NEWS STORY, I would sincerely not want to hear it from a BIASED FOX NEWS source!

I think I would rather want to hear it from a non-biased local NEWS SOURCE who has no reason to fluff it up to promote NRA rhetoric in the matter.

OH MY GOD! A NEUTRAL OPINION! HOW DARE ME? RIGHT?

NEXT!

You people hate the NRA because you have no knowledge of it. You fall for the anti-gun lies and rhetoric.

 

[Trumpet]

Oh look, Trumpette is displaying both his IQ points with Smilies again.

You're forcing me to rethink this - you may actually be more stupid than even evince....

When it comes to being stupid, you are the undisputed champ, there's just no one who can come close to your supreme foolishness.

 

[SmarterthanYou]

on a scale of 1-10 where would "on your front step while being attacked by people attempting to break into your home" rank among the places they want?.......just asking......

dumber will refuse to answer this question without supreme court opinion telling him what he can and cannot do.

 

[Geeko Sportivo]

You people hate the NRA because you have no knowledge of it. You fall for the anti-gun lies and rhetoric.

I think I know enough about them already! You say I know nothing- Let me know if I missed anything! THANKS!

Over the past year, stories about the National Rifle Association (NRA) have spilled into the light of day, painting a picture of an organization in disarray. The NRA seems to be teetering on the brink, hemorrhaging both money and support. How did we get here? The trail is long and full of infighting, flirting with foreign governments, and cuts to the office coffee budget.

Illegal Campaign Conduct

FEC complaints. According to a broad range of election and advertising records, the NRA appears to have illegally coordinated with multiple political campaigns—violating federal law that prevents independent groups from synchronizing their efforts with campaigns. Four complaints filed at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and Giffords accused the NRA of illegally coordinating with the campaigns of multiple GOP senate candidates in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 election cycles. [The Trace]

Shell companies and Trump. Giffords and CLC also filed FEC complaints documenting illegal campaign coordination involving the NRA and the Trump presidential campaign. The group spent $25 million, mostly on television ads, through the same companies—and often the same executives—who placed spots for the Trump campaign, violating well-established campaign finance laws. [HuffPost]

Giffords lawsuit. The FEC has dragged its feet on addressing these allegations, so Giffords and CLC sought to compel the agency to investigate these millions of dollars in illegal, unreported, and excessive in-kind contributions by filing a lawsuit against the FEC. In October 2021, a federal judge ruled that the FEC has 30 days to take action on the complaints. After no action was taken, on November 2, 2021, Giffords sued the NRA. [ABC News and Washington Post]


Financial Woes

NRA PAC donations plummeted before the 2022 midterms. Far fewer NRA members donated large amounts than previously, with the number of donations totaling more than $200 dropping 45% from the 2018 midterms. This slump is even more significant given there is a Democrat who supports stronger gun laws in the White House, which typically fuels donations. [The Trace]

Court ruling allows New York attorney general to seek hefty penalties from NRA. A judge has allowed New York Attorney General Letitia James to continue seeking two large penalties against the NRA: millions in back-salary from its CEO, Wayne LaPierre, and an independent monitor who would oversee the gun lobby’s finances. This is yet another blow to the NRA in Attorney General James’s two-year lawsuit. [Business Insider]

Judge dismisses claims that New York lawsuit is a “witch hunt.” Judge Joel Cohen swiftly dismissed the NRA’s claims that the New York lawsuit against it is a “malicious retaliation campaign,” allowing the lawsuit to move forward. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the organization in 2020 over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for questionable expenditures, including lavish personal trips . [AP]

NRA member revenue hits 15 year low. According to a financial report released at the NRA’s latest convention in Houston, NRA member revenue has plunged to lows not seen since 2006. CEO Wayne LaPierre defended this drop by blaming gas prices and inflation, despite the fact that the most recent membership revenue decline began in 2018. Also included in the report is a staggering $52 million—or 21% of total spending—on legal fees and related costs in 2021 alone. [The Trace]

NRA withdraws federal lawsuit. The National Rifle Association has withdrawn its federal lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, where it alleges she violated the organization’s constitutional right and asks for a jury to determine it’s been operating lawfully in the state. [CNN]

NRA bankruptcy case dismissed. A federal bankruptcy judge dismissed an effort by the National Rifle Association to declare bankruptcy on Tuesday, ruling that the gun rights group had not filed the case in good faith. [NPR]

Big investment with few returns. Finances have long been a problem for the NRA as their returns on investment continue to flounder. Despite spending $9.6 million on lobbying Congress over the last two years, the top five bills that the organization identified as legislative priorities were not signed into law. [Bloomberg]

Excessive discretionary spending. News reports revealed that NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre charged more than $240,000 of travel expenses to the organization’s longtime ad agency, Ackerman McQueen, and that LaPierre received suits costing more than $200,000 purchased at an upscale clothing store in Beverly Hills, courtesy of Ackerman McQueen. [The Wall Street Journal]

Leadership payouts. Wayne LaPierre wasn’t the only NRA executive benefiting from large payouts from the organization. About one-quarter of the NRA board, a body that is supposed to be unpaid, collected money from the group through various contracts and agreements that have little to do with the NRA’s core mission. [The Washington Post]

Frozen pensions and underpaid employees. Compared to the seven-figure salary of Wayne LaPierre, rank-and-file staffers have been paid below market rate, and had their pensions frozen in 2018. [NPR]

Questionable transactions by leadership. In July of 2018, NRA accountants put together a document detailing issues that needed to be addressed by the association’s audit committee. The main area of concern was questionable transactions involving top NRA vendors and executives. [The New Yorker]

Investigation into misuse of charitable funds. In order to keep its finances steady, the NRA increasingly relied on cash infusions and other transactions from its foundation, with at least $206 million transferred in the last decade. This raised significant questions about whether that money was being used for charitable purposes, as required by law, and not to help finance the NRA’s political activities. [New York Times]

Conflicts of interest. The NRA’s charitable foundation also made undisclosed donations to a Northern Virginia organization called Youth for Tomorrow, of which Wayne LaPierre’s wife is a former president and current board member—raising questions about the group’s failure to disclose the donations and possible conflicts of interest. [The New Yorker]

Reduced funding for core activities. Despite the fact that the NRA is an organization founded on the values of responsible gun ownership, the NRA’s financial woes have forced it to cut funds for gun training. From 2017 to 2018, allocations for safety and marksmanship dropped from $42.6 million to $32.7 million. [Washington Post]

Expensive litigation. A lawsuit the NRA filed against the State of New York has come attached with a heavy price tag. In a fundraising letter sent to members, LaPierre warned that efforts by New York insurance regulators that stopped the NRA from illegally selling insurance could shut down the group “very soon.” In court filings, the NRA claimed to have “suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages” as a result of the insurance regulators’ enforcement actions. [The Daily Beast]

DC AG follows lead of the NY AG. The New York Attorney General has not been alone in investigating wrongdoing at the NRA: the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia issued subpoenas to the NRA to determine if the group violated DC’s nonprofit act as well. With the group spending $24 million in legal fees in 2018 and early 2019, and ending 2018 $10.8 million in the red, it’s not clear if the organization’s financial troubles will let up any time soon. [Washington Post]

Plans to buy Wayne LaPierre a mansion. Reports revealed that Wayne LaPierre feared for his life after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, and determined that the solution was to have the NRA buy him a $6 million Dallas mansion, with Ackerman McQueen assisting in facilitating the transaction and maintaining the property after closing. While the deal ultimately fell through, had it not, the organization would have been a 99% owner of LaPierre’s residence. [The Wall Street Journal]

Expensive private flights. For years, Wayne LaPierre employed a California travel agent to book his private flights. Through a complicated financial web of retainer payments and Ackerman McQueen reimbursements, Gayle Sanford, an unregistered travel agent who was accused in a 2009 lawsuit of defrauding small-business owners out of money, arranged travel for LaPierre, as well as his wife and niece. [The Wall Street Journal]

Subpoenas issued to investigate suspected financial misconduct. New York Attorney General James continues to root out the secrets in the NRA’s cabinets. In a newly issued subpoena, the AG is examining at least four dubious practices of the group, involving campaign finance, payments made to board members, and tax compliance. Tax experts raised concerns based on the NRA’s recent tax filings showing the diversion of $36 million from the NRA Foundation to the NRA.The recent subpoena provides a hint as to where the eight-month investigation might be headed. [The New York Times]

Over 60 layoffs. On March 22, the NRA announced that it “would be implementing a number of permanent and temporary staff reductions along with other cost-cutting measures” in response to the COVID-19 crisis. [Politico]

20% employee pay cuts. One of the NRA’s cost cutting measures in response to the COVID crisis is having hourly workers cut back to four-day work weeks, and cutting salaried staffers’ pay by 20%. [NPR]

Exorbitant legal fees. In a brief filed in federal court, attorneys for Ackerman McQueen, the NRA’s former ad agency, allege that the NRA has paid attorney William A. Brewer III and his law firm over $54 million in the past two years, contributing to the financial strain that led to layoffs. [The Trace]

Failed attempts to challenge gun shop closures. A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association’s lawsuit challenging New York’s decision to close gun stores in the state in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. US District Judge Mae D’Agostino said the NRA lacked standing to challenge a March 20 executive order by Governor Andrew Cuomo requiring the closure of gun stores in the state because they were “non-essential” businesses. [Reuters]

Hollywood producer entangled in financial abuses. An Emmy-award winning Hollywood producer with longtime ties to the National Rifle Association has emerged as a major figure in the New York attorney general’s case alleging corruption and spending abuses at the nonprofit gun-rights group. A lawsuit filed last week by Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA alleges that the producer, David McKenzie, was the “principal stakeholder” in four large NRA vendors that together were paid $100 million by the NRA in recent years. [Fox Business]

Wayne LaPierre under IRS investigation. The Internal Revenue Service is investigating longtime National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre for possible criminal tax fraud related to his personal taxes, according to people familiar with the matter. [Wall Street Journal]

NRA fined $2.5 million by State of New York. The National Rifle Association agreed to a five-year suspension of its insurance business in New York State and will pay a $2.5 million civil fine to settle charges alleging that the organization offered insurance to members without a license and concealed the fact that it routinely kept some premiums for itself. [The Guardian]

Son of Tree of Life victims sues NRA. A man whose parents were killed in the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue massacre has sued the National Rifle Association, claiming the gun lobby radicalized accused shooter Robert Bowers with “white supremacist conspiracy theories.” [Trib Total Media]

NRA declares bankruptcy. Seeking an end-run around an investigation by the New York attorney general, the National Rifle Association said Friday that it was declaring bankruptcy and would reincorporate in Texas. The gun group was set up in New York after the Civil War. [New York Times]

Russian Ties

NRA delegation visits Moscow, sponsored by Russian gun group. In 2015, a Russian gun rights group, Right to Bear Arms, sponsored an NRA delegation to visit Moscow. Present on the trip were former NRA President David Keene, soon-to-be-president Peter Brownell, Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, NRA donors Jim Gregory and Arnold and Hilary Goldschlager, and Jim Liberatore, the president and CEO of the Outdoor Channel. [The Daily Beast]

Links to foreign espionage. The Moscow trip was organized by Alexander Torshin, a Russian politician who ran Right to Bear Arms, and Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights activist who was sentenced in April 2019 for failing to register as a foreign agent. [Washington Post]

Email evidence. The trip involved NRA executives meeting with senior Kremlin officials. In the years since the visit, the NRA has attempted to distance itself from the visit and the group’s ties to Russia. However, uncovered emails revealed that NRA employees worked directly with Butina to coordinate travel arrangements. [ABC News]

Foreign donors. Though they deny the funds were used for election activity, the NRA admitted to the Senate Finance Committee that it had received roughly $2,500 “from people with Russian addresses” or Russian nationals living in the US during the 2016 cycle. [New York Times]

Congressional investigation. In her plea deal, Butina stated her goal was to “establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over US politics.” The FBI has reportedly looked into allegations that Torshin and other Russians may have funneled funds to the NRA as part of the $30 million it spent to support Trump’s election. Since these revelations, congressional investigators have begun investigating the full extent of the relationship between the NRA and Moscow. [The Guardian]

I've got more on request- BUT THIS WILL GET YOU STARTED!

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Better to be tried by twelve than carried by six...

 

[domer76]

dumber will refuse to answer this question without supreme court opinion telling him what he can and cannot do.

I recall challenging you to walk into a courthouse with your gun in hand. Why didn’t you ever follow through? Is it because SCOTUS was correct that you can’t have any gun, any place, at any time? Or is it because you’re a loudmouth pussy?

 

[T. A. Gardner]

I recall challenging you to walk into a courthouse with your gun in hand. Why didn’t you ever follow through? Is it because SCOTUS was correct that you can’t have any gun, any place, at any time? Or is it because you’re a loudmouth pussy?

Here in Arizona, so long as you tell the security you have one, they will simply take it and lock it up until you leave. It must be in a holster however.

 

[domer76]

Here in Arizona, so long as you tell the security you have one, they will simply take it and lock it up until you leave. It must be in a holster however.

So, you can’t have any gun, at any place, at any time. Just as I’ve been saying.

Why would anyone take a holstered gun to a courthouse only to surrender it? Answer: Paranoia

 

[RB 60]

I think I know enough about them already! You say I know nothing- Let me know if I missed anything! THANKS!

Over the past year, stories about the National Rifle Association (NRA) have spilled into the light of day, painting a picture of an organization in disarray. The NRA seems to be teetering on the brink, hemorrhaging both money and support. How did we get here? The trail is long and full of infighting, flirting with foreign governments, and cuts to the office coffee budget.

Illegal Campaign Conduct

FEC complaints. According to a broad range of election and advertising records, the NRA appears to have illegally coordinated with multiple political campaigns—violating federal law that prevents independent groups from synchronizing their efforts with campaigns. Four complaints filed at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and Giffords accused the NRA of illegally coordinating with the campaigns of multiple GOP senate candidates in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 election cycles. [The Trace]

Shell companies and Trump. Giffords and CLC also filed FEC complaints documenting illegal campaign coordination involving the NRA and the Trump presidential campaign. The group spent $25 million, mostly on television ads, through the same companies—and often the same executives—who placed spots for the Trump campaign, violating well-established campaign finance laws. [HuffPost]

Giffords lawsuit. The FEC has dragged its feet on addressing these allegations, so Giffords and CLC sought to compel the agency to investigate these millions of dollars in illegal, unreported, and excessive in-kind contributions by filing a lawsuit against the FEC. In October 2021, a federal judge ruled that the FEC has 30 days to take action on the complaints. After no action was taken, on November 2, 2021, Giffords sued the NRA. [ABC News and Washington Post]


Financial Woes

NRA PAC donations plummeted before the 2022 midterms. Far fewer NRA members donated large amounts than previously, with the number of donations totaling more than $200 dropping 45% from the 2018 midterms. This slump is even more significant given there is a Democrat who supports stronger gun laws in the White House, which typically fuels donations. [The Trace]

Court ruling allows New York attorney general to seek hefty penalties from NRA. A judge has allowed New York Attorney General Letitia James to continue seeking two large penalties against the NRA: millions in back-salary from its CEO, Wayne LaPierre, and an independent monitor who would oversee the gun lobby’s finances. This is yet another blow to the NRA in Attorney General James’s two-year lawsuit. [Business Insider]

Judge dismisses claims that New York lawsuit is a “witch hunt.” Judge Joel Cohen swiftly dismissed the NRA’s claims that the New York lawsuit against it is a “malicious retaliation campaign,” allowing the lawsuit to move forward. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the organization in 2020 over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for questionable expenditures, including lavish personal trips . [AP]

NRA member revenue hits 15 year low. According to a financial report released at the NRA’s latest convention in Houston, NRA member revenue has plunged to lows not seen since 2006. CEO Wayne LaPierre defended this drop by blaming gas prices and inflation, despite the fact that the most recent membership revenue decline began in 2018. Also included in the report is a staggering $52 million—or 21% of total spending—on legal fees and related costs in 2021 alone. [The Trace]

NRA withdraws federal lawsuit. The National Rifle Association has withdrawn its federal lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, where it alleges she violated the organization’s constitutional right and asks for a jury to determine it’s been operating lawfully in the state. [CNN]

NRA bankruptcy case dismissed. A federal bankruptcy judge dismissed an effort by the National Rifle Association to declare bankruptcy on Tuesday, ruling that the gun rights group had not filed the case in good faith. [NPR]

Big investment with few returns. Finances have long been a problem for the NRA as their returns on investment continue to flounder. Despite spending $9.6 million on lobbying Congress over the last two years, the top five bills that the organization identified as legislative priorities were not signed into law. [Bloomberg]

Excessive discretionary spending. News reports revealed that NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre charged more than $240,000 of travel expenses to the organization’s longtime ad agency, Ackerman McQueen, and that LaPierre received suits costing more than $200,000 purchased at an upscale clothing store in Beverly Hills, courtesy of Ackerman McQueen. [The Wall Street Journal]

Leadership payouts. Wayne LaPierre wasn’t the only NRA executive benefiting from large payouts from the organization. About one-quarter of the NRA board, a body that is supposed to be unpaid, collected money from the group through various contracts and agreements that have little to do with the NRA’s core mission. [The Washington Post]

Frozen pensions and underpaid employees. Compared to the seven-figure salary of Wayne LaPierre, rank-and-file staffers have been paid below market rate, and had their pensions frozen in 2018. [NPR]

Questionable transactions by leadership. In July of 2018, NRA accountants put together a document detailing issues that needed to be addressed by the association’s audit committee. The main area of concern was questionable transactions involving top NRA vendors and executives. [The New Yorker]

Investigation into misuse of charitable funds. In order to keep its finances steady, the NRA increasingly relied on cash infusions and other transactions from its foundation, with at least $206 million transferred in the last decade. This raised significant questions about whether that money was being used for charitable purposes, as required by law, and not to help finance the NRA’s political activities. [New York Times]

Conflicts of interest. The NRA’s charitable foundation also made undisclosed donations to a Northern Virginia organization called Youth for Tomorrow, of which Wayne LaPierre’s wife is a former president and current board member—raising questions about the group’s failure to disclose the donations and possible conflicts of interest. [The New Yorker]

Reduced funding for core activities. Despite the fact that the NRA is an organization founded on the values of responsible gun ownership, the NRA’s financial woes have forced it to cut funds for gun training. From 2017 to 2018, allocations for safety and marksmanship dropped from $42.6 million to $32.7 million. [Washington Post]

Expensive litigation. A lawsuit the NRA filed against the State of New York has come attached with a heavy price tag. In a fundraising letter sent to members, LaPierre warned that efforts by New York insurance regulators that stopped the NRA from illegally selling insurance could shut down the group “very soon.” In court filings, the NRA claimed to have “suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages” as a result of the insurance regulators’ enforcement actions. [The Daily Beast]

DC AG follows lead of the NY AG. The New York Attorney General has not been alone in investigating wrongdoing at the NRA: the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia issued subpoenas to the NRA to determine if the group violated DC’s nonprofit act as well. With the group spending $24 million in legal fees in 2018 and early 2019, and ending 2018 $10.8 million in the red, it’s not clear if the organization’s financial troubles will let up any time soon. [Washington Post]

Plans to buy Wayne LaPierre a mansion. Reports revealed that Wayne LaPierre feared for his life after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, and determined that the solution was to have the NRA buy him a $6 million Dallas mansion, with Ackerman McQueen assisting in facilitating the transaction and maintaining the property after closing. While the deal ultimately fell through, had it not, the organization would have been a 99% owner of LaPierre’s residence. [The Wall Street Journal]

Expensive private flights. For years, Wayne LaPierre employed a California travel agent to book his private flights. Through a complicated financial web of retainer payments and Ackerman McQueen reimbursements, Gayle Sanford, an unregistered travel agent who was accused in a 2009 lawsuit of defrauding small-business owners out of money, arranged travel for LaPierre, as well as his wife and niece. [The Wall Street Journal]

Subpoenas issued to investigate suspected financial misconduct. New York Attorney General James continues to root out the secrets in the NRA’s cabinets. In a newly issued subpoena, the AG is examining at least four dubious practices of the group, involving campaign finance, payments made to board members, and tax compliance. Tax experts raised concerns based on the NRA’s recent tax filings showing the diversion of $36 million from the NRA Foundation to the NRA.The recent subpoena provides a hint as to where the eight-month investigation might be headed. [The New York Times]

Over 60 layoffs. On March 22, the NRA announced that it “would be implementing a number of permanent and temporary staff reductions along with other cost-cutting measures” in response to the COVID-19 crisis. [Politico]

20% employee pay cuts. One of the NRA’s cost cutting measures in response to the COVID crisis is having hourly workers cut back to four-day work weeks, and cutting salaried staffers’ pay by 20%. [NPR]

Exorbitant legal fees. In a brief filed in federal court, attorneys for Ackerman McQueen, the NRA’s former ad agency, allege that the NRA has paid attorney William A. Brewer III and his law firm over $54 million in the past two years, contributing to the financial strain that led to layoffs. [The Trace]

Failed attempts to challenge gun shop closures. A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association’s lawsuit challenging New York’s decision to close gun stores in the state in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. US District Judge Mae D’Agostino said the NRA lacked standing to challenge a March 20 executive order by Governor Andrew Cuomo requiring the closure of gun stores in the state because they were “non-essential” businesses. [Reuters]

Hollywood producer entangled in financial abuses. An Emmy-award winning Hollywood producer with longtime ties to the National Rifle Association has emerged as a major figure in the New York attorney general’s case alleging corruption and spending abuses at the nonprofit gun-rights group. A lawsuit filed last week by Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA alleges that the producer, David McKenzie, was the “principal stakeholder” in four large NRA vendors that together were paid $100 million by the NRA in recent years. [Fox Business]

Wayne LaPierre under IRS investigation. The Internal Revenue Service is investigating longtime National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre for possible criminal tax fraud related to his personal taxes, according to people familiar with the matter. [Wall Street Journal]

NRA fined $2.5 million by State of New York. The National Rifle Association agreed to a five-year suspension of its insurance business in New York State and will pay a $2.5 million civil fine to settle charges alleging that the organization offered insurance to members without a license and concealed the fact that it routinely kept some premiums for itself. [The Guardian]

Son of Tree of Life victims sues NRA. A man whose parents were killed in the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue massacre has sued the National Rifle Association, claiming the gun lobby radicalized accused shooter Robert Bowers with “white supremacist conspiracy theories.” [Trib Total Media]

NRA declares bankruptcy. Seeking an end-run around an investigation by the New York attorney general, the National Rifle Association said Friday that it was declaring bankruptcy and would reincorporate in Texas. The gun group was set up in New York after the Civil War. [New York Times]

Russian Ties

NRA delegation visits Moscow, sponsored by Russian gun group. In 2015, a Russian gun rights group, Right to Bear Arms, sponsored an NRA delegation to visit Moscow. Present on the trip were former NRA President David Keene, soon-to-be-president Peter Brownell, Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, NRA donors Jim Gregory and Arnold and Hilary Goldschlager, and Jim Liberatore, the president and CEO of the Outdoor Channel. [The Daily Beast]

Links to foreign espionage. The Moscow trip was organized by Alexander Torshin, a Russian politician who ran Right to Bear Arms, and Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights activist who was sentenced in April 2019 for failing to register as a foreign agent. [Washington Post]

Email evidence. The trip involved NRA executives meeting with senior Kremlin officials. In the years since the visit, the NRA has attempted to distance itself from the visit and the group’s ties to Russia. However, uncovered emails revealed that NRA employees worked directly with Butina to coordinate travel arrangements. [ABC News]

Foreign donors. Though they deny the funds were used for election activity, the NRA admitted to the Senate Finance Committee that it had received roughly $2,500 “from people with Russian addresses” or Russian nationals living in the US during the 2016 cycle. [New York Times]

Congressional investigation. In her plea deal, Butina stated her goal was to “establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over US politics.” The FBI has reportedly looked into allegations that Torshin and other Russians may have funneled funds to the NRA as part of the $30 million it spent to support Trump’s election. Since these revelations, congressional investigators have begun investigating the full extent of the relationship between the NRA and Moscow. [The Guardian]

I've got more on request- BUT THIS WILL GET YOU STARTED!

Like I said, you don't know shit (except what you read in your anti-gun avenues) about local schools and gun clubs and the NRA's support of them.

 

[Geeko Sportivo]

Like I said, you don't know shit (except what you read in your anti-gun avenues) about local schools and gun clubs and the NRA's support of them.

RB, I am all for gun safety and education!

I wish that was what the NRA stands for, but that is such a small fraction of what the NRA actually is, I believe you are intentionally ignoring the overall intentions of the NRA and missing the point!

That's OK, we can all be guilty of being a bit tunnel-visioned!

Just make sure what you are investing in! Know the whole story!

I tried my best to provide you with some information that should help!

 

[SmarterthanYou]

I recall challenging you to walk into a courthouse with your gun in hand. Why didn’t you ever follow through? Is it because SCOTUS was correct that you can’t have any gun, any place, at any time? Or is it because you’re a loudmouth pussy?

no, you hatefilled bloodthirsty fuckstick. the difference between you and I is that YOU won't do a fucking thing unless the government tells you that you can. I, unlike you, am not a fucking moron and am not going to try and exercise my rights where the government would kill me to your fucking hate filled cheers and approval.

what YOU fail to realize, because you're an absolute failure as an American, is that the government does not dictate what rights you have, though they can certainly deny them with traitorous approval of cowards like you who are terrified of other people.

 

[domer76]

no, you hatefilled bloodthirsty fuckstick. the difference between you and I is that YOU won't do a fucking thing unless the government tells you that you can. I, unlike you, am not a fucking moron and am not going to try and exercise my rights where the government would kill me to your fucking hate filled cheers and approval.

what YOU fail to realize, because you're an absolute failure as an American, is that the government does not dictate what rights you have, though they can certainly deny them with traitorous approval of cowards like you who are terrified of other people.

Ah, so loudmouth pussy it is.

Shocked, I say! Shocked!

PS, dumbfuck, proper grammar is “the difference between you and me”. You’re ignorant there as well as the law.

 

[floridafan]

Armed homeowner who defended family in driveway shoot-out says he's been stripped of gun permit
A Los Angeles homeowner who used a firearm to fend off apparent would-be robbers at his home said his concealed carry permit was taken away just days after the residential-neighborhood shoot-out.

"After successfully defending my home and my family and my 5-month-old child, California has now decided to suspend my Second Amendment [rights]," L.A. resident and married father of one Vince Ricci said in a video for the NRA that was exclusively shared with Fox News Digital.

Ricci told Fox News Digital that the sheriff's office called him Thursday morning to inform him his concealed carry permit was "revoked," and he said it was due to him "yelling" at Los Angeles police officers when they visited his home to investigate the shooting three days after the incident. Ricci previously railed that the LAPD – the department investigating the case – carried out "sloppy police" work, including allegedly not picking up the casings scattered near his home as evidence.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter, and it is unclear if other factors played a role in the homeowner losing his concealed carry permit.
A gunfight broke out on Ricci’s front door on Nov. 4 just after the homeowner returned to his gated Los Angeles house after hitting the gym. Two armed men jumped his fence and tried to force their way in the house as Ricci was about to unlock his front door. Ricci’s wife, 5-month-old daughter and the family’s nanny were inside.

Obtaining a concealed carry permit in California has historically been difficult compared to other states, with Ricci previously telling Fox News Digital it took months for his permit to process.

Ricci, however, used his firearm on his private property. California law allows legal U.S. residents over the age of 18 to carry firearms on private property and residences without a permit or license.

Ricci said in the NRA video that the shooting is a clear self-defense case, noting he was confronted by two men "pointing guns at my chest" as he tried to make his way into the home.

"My situation is unique because it happened at my front door, all on camera. But this happens time and time again all over the country … People sweep it under the rug because it doesn't behoove their political agenda. The fact is, evil will always exist," he said.....

"His decisive actions to protect his wife and daughter embody the core principles that NRA members fight for every day," NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "It's reprehensible that California is shredding his Second Amendment rights after he defended his family. Governor [Gavin] Newsom and [Los Angeles County District Attorney George] Gascon's pro-criminal policies have transformed Los Angeles and the wider state into what resembles a war zone. The NRA stands with Vince and every responsible gun owner in California, firmly committed to defending their rights to protect their families and communities."...

..."The fact that anyone, our politicians, our law enforcement officers, our district attorney could see this man as anything but a hero defending his family is absolutely disgusting," Stuart said....

...Ricci said his Second Amendment rights are now "in jeopardy" thanks to left-wing California politicians.

"When the incident happened, there were only two things I could rely on: myself and the Second Amendment; and now that's in jeopardy. The leftist gun grabbers do not care about your safety. The NRA does," he said.
======================
So a legal CCW gun owner uses his weapon legally to defend himself , his wife, and his 5 month old baby daughter and the gun grabbers take his right to defend himself and his family away. The politicians would rather let two gun-wheeling criminals invade this man's home where he and his family would be defenseless.

This guy is a hero and the gun grabbing politicians are now treating him like the criminal. Just remember when you need the police in seconds the police are only minutes away. I see why Cawacko pointed out that Californians are increasingly arming themselves. Taking this man's permit is nuts. (watch the video)

Was his weapon taken away from him? NO!

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

I think I know enough about them already! You say I know nothing- Let me know if I missed anything! THANKS! [snipped for brevity]

I've got more on request- BUT THIS WILL GET YOU STARTED!

The NRA used to be a useful group for education, training, hunting info, etc. Then at some point it made a far right turn and became a lobbying arm of both the RNC and the makers of firearms. Mr. Owl used to belong; it was a condition of his membership in the shooting range club he joined. So I read the magazines (American Hunter) when they came. They still present educational stuff, but it is also heavy on the political shit. The also donate heavily to (R) candidates. The magazine does make good bird cage bottom linings, though. Nice heavy moisture-resistant paper stock.

 

[PostmodernProphet]

PS, dumbfuck, proper grammar is “the difference between you and me”.

well, that and the fact he uses the brain God gave him......

 

[NiftyNiblick]

I'm willing to bet that none of us know the entire detailed story as to this situation.

Without knowing for sure, of course,
I suspect that the gunowner's account of the incident can't be right.

People don't lose gun permits for defending themselves.
Perhaps temporarily for an investigation, but that's usually about it.

Our friend Breakdown isn't above offering an incomplete story, after all.