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Wayne LaPierre

American lobbyist

Quick Summary

Wayne LaPierre is an American lobbyist who served as the chief executive officer of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA, founded in 1871, is a prominent gun rights organization in the United States. Under new leadership in 1977, the NRA shifted its primary focus to protecting the Second Amendment right to bear arms.12

LaPierre led the NRA's effective lobbying efforts against gun control legislation, often characterizing such measures as infringements on individual liberty. He maintained this stance even after frequent mass shootings. In 2020, the New York attorney general filed a lawsuit alleging that LaPierre and other NRA officials misused organizational funds for personal enrichment. LaPierre resigned from his position in January 2024, and a civil trial found him and the NRA guilty of using funds for personal expenses, ordering him to repay over $4 million.12

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