In a significant blow to the gun lobby, a Federal judge has denied the National Rifle Rampage Association's effort to declare bankruptcy and thereby avoid a suit by the New York Attorney General over its corrupt activities. In yesterday's ruling, Judge Harlan Hale skewered the NRA's suit, saying:
“The Court finds, based on the totality of the circumstances, that the NRA’s bankruptcy petition was not filed in good faith but instead was filed as an effort to gain an unfair litigation advantage in the NYAG Enforcement Action and as an effort to avoid a regulatory scheme." (our emphasis)
The judge took particular aim at the sinister and corrupt Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's leader:
"In his decision Tuesday, Hale cited 'lingering issues of secrecy and a lack of transparency' in the management of the nonprofit. But he said he was most troubled by 'the surreptitious manner in which Mr. LaPierre obtained and exercised authority to file bankruptcy for the NRA,' noting that the NRA chief had not informed the majority of the board of directors, the chief financial officer or the general counsel." (our emphasis)
The judge's full ruling can be read here.
The surprising thing is that the lavish-spending LaPierre isn't already behind bars for something. New York Attorney General, the estimable Letitia James, would love to get this bloody-handed gun peddler under oath in a courtroom and ring up multiple counts of perjury while nailing him on other crimes. The next move is up to AG James, and we hope her lawsuit to dismantle the NRA succeeds.
(photo: Is LaPierre practicing surrendering to law enforcement? Michael Conroy / AP)
