Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA *(ebook)
A blistering exposé of the National Rifle Association, revealing its people, power, corruption, and ongoing downfall, from acclaimed NPR investigative reporter Tim Mak “Tenacious, careful and incisive.”—Jonathan Swan • “Deeply and meticulously reported, colorfully and precisely written.”—Olivia Nuzzi • “Nonstop revelations are told with gripping detail and intimate insider knowledge.”—David Frum • “Fantastic.”—Chris Hayes The NRA once compelled respect—even fear—from Republicans and Democrats alike. Once a grassroots club dedicated to gun safety, the NRA ballooned into a powerful lobbyist organization that maintained an iron hold on gun legislation in America. This influential nonprofit raised millions in small fees from members across the country, which funded hidden, lavish lifestyles of designer suits, private jets and yachts, martini lunches and Champagne dinners—while the group manipulated legislators and flirted with a Russian spy. Yet in 2012, the NRA’s grip on Washington began to loosen in the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. Facing nationwide outrage, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre gave a speech claiming the solution was not fewer guns, but more guns, in schools. The group’s rhetoric only escalated from there, a misstep that sparked a backlash and invited the scrutiny of the government. Unveiled here for the first time ever are surprising, revelatory details spotlighting decades of poor leadership and mismanagement by LaPierre; the NRA’s long association with marketing firm Ackerman-McQueen; NRA executives’ 2015 trip to Moscow, a by-invitation affair packed with meetings with Russian government officials, diplomats, and oligarchs seeking influence in American politics; as well as the power struggle between LaPierre and former NRA president Oliver North that fractured the organization. Misfire is the result of a four-year investigation by journalist Tim Mak, who scoured thousands of pages of never-before-publicized documents and cultivated dozens of confidential sources inside the NRA's orbit to paint a vivid picture of the gun group's rampant corruption and slow decline, marking a sea change in the battle over gun rights and control in America. Read more
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Why Must Read Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA?
This easy to read narrative traces the history of the NRA and the trajectory of Wayne LaPierre, who has been the functional head of the organization for decades. LaPierre is described as an incompetent and weak man whose energy is primarily spent on self-enrichment from the NRA coffers. It is difficult to understand why rank and file individual members have allowed LaPierre to remain employed. Further, given the many schemes LaPierre wove to obfuscate his theft from the NRA, one wonders why some law enforcement entity has not yet brought criminal fraud charges against him and his facilitators. The NRA had no effective internal or external audit system in place to safeguard the org’s assets. Anyone who contributes should be most alarmed because their dough is financing frivolous exorbitant toys for LaPierre and is paying staggering legal bills incurred primarily to shield LaPierre personally from further scrutiny. I rate this book 4 stars (rather than 5) because it needs more editing. The end notes suggest that there was a rush to publish (and the text takes us into 2021); unfortunately, the rush shows. In many instances, it is unclear to whom pronouns (“he” usually) refer, requiring re-reading and guesswork. Also, the copy has sentences where the subject and verb do not agree. Basic errors such as these have no place in an important text like this. I hope the errors will be corrected in any future printings.
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