The NRA's Financial Mess

April 22, 2019

Recently I listened to an episode of the New Yorker Radio Hour titled "The NRA's Financial Mess". Reflecting upon it presented me with an interesting and unexpected conundrum. The podcast was largely an interview with Aaron Davis, a former employee at the National Rifle Association. Davis, who worked for nearly a decade in the fund-raising department, offered valuable insight into the internal operations of the historic and highly controversial corporation. The story begins with the NRA's long time contractor, Ackerman McQueen. The Oklahoma-based marketing company had become inextricably intertwined with the non-profit organization over the past three decades. Ackerman executives had offices in NRA buildings and were de facto bosses of Davis's entire department. They oversaw and directed all advertisement campaigns and marketing projects. It wasn't until 2017 that the problems with this relationship became apparent. Ackerman McQueen had infiltrated so far into the daily working of the NRA that their influence was almost absolute. It was then discovered that the for-profit marketing company had diverted the non-profit funds raised by the organization towards its personal enrichment. The NRA is now in a lawsuit with the company for their nefarious mismanagement. This misappropriation of money made a tremendous dent in the association. The NRA had to cut many programs and in March, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's top executive, sent a desperate letter to the organization's members begging for money.

In almost any other context, I would feel empathy for the non-profit association being screwed over by the embezzlement of the big corporate marketing conglomerate. But then the end of the podcast reminded me who the protagonist in this saga is. Aaron Davis eventually quit his job due to ethical disagreements with the NRA. Specifically, he cited the association's unapologetic and disrespectful response to the Sandy Hook mass shooting as an example of the cruel and inhumane ideology the NRA displays. This reminder put the story in a new light. I was confused as to how I should respond. Who should I root for? The producer of killing machines? The greedy capitalist enterprise? I was at a loss. I don't know why I felt the compulsive need to take sides, but my inability to do so struck me. Ultimately, I decided that if they were both evil, it kind of all balanced out in the end.

The New Yorker Radio Hour - The NRA's Financial Mess