BACKI was flattered and agreed, but the new faction invited to
the board insisted that the position be opened to interviews. The meeting was
adjourned until the next day when the interviews proceeded with me and a couple
of others hastily called in. The board decided against hiring me as the
executive director. I was surprised and disappointed, but decided to continue on
the board and not fight the hostility represented on that board by the Tennessee
faction and the “NRA liaison”. LaPierre intervened and insisted on my
selection. The board relented and then held elections for board officers, naming
the wife as President of the board. She took advantage of the trip to go
downstairs and join the NRA for the first time in her life.
How many can spell “hand writing on the wall”?
I was caught up in the excitement, though, and went back to
California to resign my position with the San Jose Police Department, settle my
affairs, pack up for the move to a condo in Old Town Alexandria, VA, just across
the river from NRA headquarters in Washington DC. I was going to claim my fame
in DC politics!
I was informed of a $250,000 budget approved by NRA/ILA.
When I settled in Virginia, I began attending the weekly ILA meetings and
conferring with Baker about everything. I deposited the first $50,000.00 check
in a bank suggested by Baker, and rented offices from a business recommended by
Baker. I spent the first few months furnishing the office, purchasing and
installing computers, publishing our first newsletter, recruiting members,
meeting with local law enforcement types, and interviewing a variety of vendors
for publishing and mailing services, and design and production of organization
regalia.
From the beginning, the Tennessee officer and his wife, the
president, rejected the majority of my proposals. They insisted on making the
organization go heavy into the “victim’s rights” area, while my priorities
were with The Second Amendment. We met monthly by telephone conference call to
save money, with Baker attending every meeting. Most of his time was spent
trying to get some peace on the board. The hostility increased, eventually
leading to my dismissal.
It was during a meeting in VA that the wife who came along,
the president, asked for my resignation. I asked for a reason and she informed
me that the by-laws did not require that a reason be given. I then turned to
long-time shooting buddy on the board (currently on the NRA Board of Directors),
Dwight VanHorne, and asked him for a reason. He told me that it was because I
spent too much time on The Second Amendment.
I explained that if THAT was the reason, that I was
spending too much time on The Second Amendment, I refused to resign.
I was then fired after a lengthy debate caused by a great
amount of support from Tom Aveni and Harry Thomas.
The NRA “liaison”, Jim Fotis was hired immediately to
replace me.
BACK|
Leroy
Pyle is a career police officer, |
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