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Everytown Responds to NRA Bankruptcy Dismissal — An Unmitigated Disaster for the Gun Lobby
by Everytown for Gun Safety May 12, 2021 May 12, 2021
NEW YORK, May 11, 2021 — Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, hosted a press call today in response to Judge Harlin Hale's dismissal of the NRA's bankruptcy filing for lacking "good faith."
The call featured John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety, Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action,and Justin Wagner, a former prosecutor at the New York Attorney General's Office and Director of Investigations for Everytown for Gun Safety—diving into how the NRA got here, what the decision means for them, how and what's next legally with the myriad cases they must now return to defending against.
Additionally, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements today:
"Today's disastrous decision for the NRA shows that they can't even file for bankruptcy correctly, which doesn't bode well for the many lawsuits and investigations they must now face," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "The NRA was forced to hang its dirty laundry out for the world to see, and has nothing to show for it but another stack of legal bills. Their loss is a huge gain for the gun safety movement, and for the vast majority of all Americans who want stronger gun safety laws."
"The testimony, evidence, and resolution of the trial have further damaged what little is left of the NRA's reputation, painting the clearest picture yet of a non-profit organization that prioritized extravagant perks and insider payments to its executives at the expense of its rank-and-file members," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. "While Wayne LaPierre and NRA leadership embarrassed themselves on the stand, President Joe Biden took significant action on gun safety. And the split-screen couldn't be more appropriate, because while the NRA is getting its clock cleaned in court, the grassroots gun safety movement is stronger than ever."
"The NRA filing for bankruptcy was a disaster and a colossal mistake for the organization" said Justin Wagner, director of investigations for Everytown for Gun Safety. "Not only is the New York AG now well positioned to litigate its case against the NRA in New York state court, but because of this trial, the AG got a free bite at the apple, eliciting damaging testimony of NRA executives and developing a factual record of mismanagement and corruption at the NRA."
Everytown's new report —"NRA on Trial: Wayne's Kingdom of Orange Jumpsuits, Golden Parachutes, and Management by Chaos"— details the biggest revelations from the trial and what they mean for the future of the NRA. Everytown has chronicled court filings and news articles about the various NRA scandals at www.nrawatch.org.