NRA: Boo -Hoo, We're In Financial Distress

In court filings with the State of New York, Russian money launderer and bad guys with guns the National Rifle Rampage Association is claiming that the State of New York is driving their association into dire financial straits. Rolling Stone reports that, according to documents that they've seen, the NRA can't obtain insurance due to a New York state insurance regulatory action that blocked the NRA from selling illegal "carry guard" policies that insured shooters from acts of intentional acts of wrongdoing. Their claim also alleges that the State is using its regulatory power to deny the NRA access to an array of financial service providers.

According to the Rolling Stone report,

"The NRA did not respond to a request for more detail about its financial distress, but its most recent financial disclosure also shows it overspent by nearly $46 million in 2016.
The lawsuit decries pressure from state regulators in the wake of the Parkland, Florida massacre — including a letter asking financial institutions to heed 'the voices of the passionate, courageous, and articulate young people who have experienced this recent horror first hand' — and from the governor himself. In April, Cuomo tweeted: 'I urge companies in New York State to revisit any ties they have to the NRA and consider their reputations, and responsibility to the public.'” (our emphasis)

The claims presented by the NRA are likely overstated in order to convince the court that they're suffering irreparable harm, in order to get a ruling in their favor. But the NRA has the backing of a multi-billion dollar industry that keeps it afloat and well-financed so as to ensure that no gun safety laws ever see the light of day. The Smith and Wessons, Remingtons, Rugers, etc. will come up with funding for them at all costs, so take that claim with 100 grains of gunpowder (though the prospect of taking a gun from the NRA's "cold, dead hands" is certainly appealing; also, "thoughts and prayers").

The more dangerous issue for the gun lobby is its involvement with Russian intelligence and the laundering of millions of dollars to the campaign of Putin loyalist Donald "Rump" Trump. They know that they're on the FBI's radar screen now, and were openly cultivated by forces close to the Kremlin for access to Rethuglican and right-wing political groups. For a group that styles itself as uber "patriotic," their sinister links with our most powerful adversary could prove even more deadly than this insurance case.