On Monday, saying he did so with “a heavy heart,” and “effective immediately,” NRA board member Richard Childress resigned from the Second Amendment organization. Childress becomes the fifth high-profile member of the NRA’s board to resign in the last couple of weeks. Childress becomes another in a steady stream of defections that began with chief lobbyist Chris Cox stepping down at the end of July due to “improprieties,”followed by three board members alleging an unwillingness on the part of NRA brass to investigate internal improprieties, and followed by the early exit of professional sport shooter and board member Julie Golob.
Childress’ resignation is not at all surprising as he was the co-author along with former NRA President Oliver North of a letter that questioned some of the financial extravagances going on inside of the organization. It was Childress and North’s letter that subsequently leaked along with Wayne LaPierre’s own leaks to the media alleging extortion tactics on the part of North and others in an increasingly ugly internal power struggle.
NPR reporter Tim Mak posted an image of Childress’ reported resignation letter.