NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre steps down

The chief executive of the US gun lobby group the National Rifle Association (NRA) has resigned, the organisation has said.

Wayne LaPierre, 74, will step down as of 31 January after leading the NRA for more than three decades.

His resignation comes days before a New York civil trial, in which he and other senior leaders are accused of misusing NRA funds.

In a statement, Mr LaPierre said he remains a champion of the NRA.

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"I've been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom," he said.

"My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever."

Mr LaPierre has cited health reasons as being behind his decision to resign, the NRA said in a statement.

His resignation comes as a New York civil trial is set to commence on Monday, in which it is alleged that he and three other current and former NRA leaders violated the state's non-profit laws.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the lawsuit in 2020, also accused the leaders of misusing millions of dollars of funds to pay for lavish personal expenses.

The other defendants are Wilson Phillips, Joshua Powell and John Frazer, though Ms James has categorised Mr LaPierre as the "central figure" in the case.

One example of misconduct alleged in the lawsuit states that Mr LaPierre visited the Bahamas more than eight times by private plane using funds intended for the NRA, for a total cost of $500,000 (£380,000).

The lawsuit also sought to oust Mr Lapierre from his leadership position.

Ms James said in a statement that his resignation is an "important victory" in the case, but said that her office's "push for accountability continues".

"Our case will move ahead, and we look forward to proving the facts in court," she said.

The trial is expected to last six weeks, and will be decided by a six-member jury.

In its statement announcing Mr Lapierre's resignation, the NRA said it will continue its defence of the lawsuit.

They have previously described it as a "baseless, premeditated attack".

The NRA is one of the most powerful political organisations in the US, known for its heavy lobbying against all forms of gun control.

The organisation has also argued repeatedly that more guns make the country safer.

It relies on, and staunchly defends, a disputed interpretation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which it argues gives US citizens the right to bear arms.

It directly funds US politicians and lawmakers who support its aims.

Its membership has declined in recent years, however. CBS reported in 2022 that the lobby group's revenue - a bulk of which comes from member fees - had shrunk by 23% from 2016 to 2020.

In 2018, the NRA said it had six million members. Three years later, Mr Lapierre said in a deposition that its membership had dropped to below 4.9 million.

Mr LaPierre, one of the most prominent guns rights lobbyists in the US, has led the organisation since 1991.

In a statement, NRA President Charles Cotton said that Mr LaPierre "has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone".

He called him a "towering figure in the fight for constitutional freedom" who helped build the organisation.

Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA's head of general operations, will take over as the interim chief executive and executive vice-president in February.