Thread by @teamtrace, 1/ In 2013, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and his wife Susan travelled [...]

1/ In 2013, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and his wife Susan travelled to Botswana to hunt elephants. The trip was filmed by a crew from an NRA-sponsored television series — but never aired.

Those involved worried it could become a PR fiasco. http://thetr.ac/QOsTZ ">https://thetr.ac/QOsTZ&quo...

The Secret Footage of NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre’s Botched Elephant Hunt

LaPierre has cultivated an image as a paragon of American gun culture, but video of his clumsy marksmanship—and details regarding his Rodeo Drive shopping trips—tell another story.

http://thetr.ac/QOsTZ

2/ The Trace’s @mikespiesnyc obtained a copy of the video, which shows LaPierre struggling to kill the elephant, shooting it several times in the wrong place before another person delivers the fatal shot.

Video embedded here (contains graphic content): https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-secret-footage-of-nra-chief-wayne-lapierres-botched-elephant-hunt">https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...

The Secret Footage of N.R.A. Chief Wayne LaPierre’s Botched Elephant Hunt

The chief executive has cultivated his image as an exemplar of American gun culture, but video of his clumsy marksmanship—and details regarding his Rodeo Drive shopping trips—tell another story.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-secret-footage-of-nra-chief-wayne-lapierres-botched-elephant-hunt

3/ Later that day, Susan proves to be a better shot, felling an older bull elephant in one pull of the trigger.

“That was amazing. I feel great,” she says, just before cutting off the animal’s tail and showing it off to the camera.

4/ To avoid bad publicity — and at Susan LaPierre’s written request — body parts from both elephants were quietly shipped to the U.S. under someone else’s name.

The animals’ front feet were turned into stools for Wayne and Susan’s home.

5/ Published in partnership with @NewYorker, the video, paired with new revelations on LaPierre’s extravagant spending, offers a glimpse of the stage-managed, insular, and privileged life of the NRA’s top official.

More from @mikespiesnyc: https://thetr.ac/QOsTZ ">https://thetr.ac/QOsTZ&quo...

The Secret Footage of NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre’s Botched Elephant Hunt

LaPierre has cultivated an image as a paragon of American gun culture, but video of his clumsy marksmanship—and details regarding his Rodeo Drive shopping trips—tell another story.

https://thetr.ac/QOsTZ

6/ The NRA is weathering an existential crisis of its own making, which began with revelations of rampant self-dealing first reported in 2019 by @mikespiesnyc, also in partnership with @NewYorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/secrecy-self-dealing-and-greed-at-the-nra">https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...

Secrecy, Self-Dealing, and Greed at the N.R.A.

The organization’s leadership is focussed on external threats, but the real crisis may be internal.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/secrecy-self-dealing-and-greed-at-the-nra

7/ The Trace’s @w_vansant has been following the group’s ensuing legal fight with the New York attorney general and a humiliating bankruptcy trial.

Read his reporting: https://thetr.ac/Bjamp ">https://thetr.ac/Bjamp&quo...

To Escape a Legal Reckoning, the NRA Went Shopping for a Friendlier State

Documents show an NRA law firm developed the group's plan to declare bankruptcy and reincorporate outside New York.

https://thetr.ac/Bjamp

8/ We’ll continue to follow the story.

Have information about the NRA you think our reporters should know? Tip @mikespiesnyc or @w_vansant.

Want to support our work? Become a member: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=thetrace

Or">https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberfor... sign up for one of our newsletters: https://thetr.ac/E2dsj ">https://thetr.ac/E2dsj&quo...

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