The Vote To Abolish The Special Litigation Committee

As has been reported elsewhere, the vote to abolish the NRA Board’s Special Litigation Committee failed as it didn’t get a super-majority. The good news was that it was done with a roll call vote which can now be reported. Thanks to Jeff Knox and his obtaining clearance to report the vote which is public information, we know who voted to abolish the SLC, who voted to keep it (and Brewer), and who was either absent or abstained.

The final vote was 34 in favor of rescinding the resolution authorizing the creation of the SLC with 26 opposed. There were 16 abstentions or absences reported. While there was a majority, it did not meet the threshold to rescind the resolution and abolish the SLC.

While those in favor should not all be considered reformers and all those opposed are not necessarily cabal supporters, it does give some indication of each director’s leanings. As such, with preparation for the 2025 election of directors in full swing, here is the roll call vote. I have annotated with whether or not the director could be up for election, if they were re-nominated by the Nominating Committee, or if they having to run by petition. A star next to the name of the director indicates their term will expire in 2025.

In favor of abolishing the SLC:

• Paul D. Babaz (*, petition)
• Bill Bachenberg
• Clel Baudler
• Ted W. Carter
• Anthony P. Colandro (*, Nom Comm)
• Rick Ector
• Todd R. Ellis (*, Nom Comm)
• Dennis Fusaro
• Craig Haggard
• Al Hammond (*, Nom Comm)
• Maria Heil
• Charles T. Hiltunen (*, Nom Comm)
• Phillip B. Journey
• Susannah Warner Kipke (resigned)
• Jeffrey A. Knox
• Willes K. Lee (*, petition)
• Robert E. Mansell
• Rocky Marshall
• Owen Buz Mills
• David Norcross (*, not running for reelection)
• Janet D. Nyce
• James W. Porter II (*, petition)
• David A. Raney
• Ronald L. Schmeits (*, Nom Comm)
• Steven C. Schreiner
• Leroy Sisco
• Amanda Suffecool
• Craig Swartz
• Mark E. Vaughan
• Linda L. Walker
• James L. Wallace (*, Nom Comm)
• Bruce Widener
• Robert Wos
• Cathy S. Wright (*, Nom Comm)

Those in favor of keeping the SLC:

• Joe M. Allbaugh
• Scott L. Bach
• Charles R. Beers III
• Donald J. Bradway
• J. William Carter
• Patricia A. Clark
• Charles L. Cotton
• David G. Coy
• Larry E. Craig (*, Nom Comm)
• Isaac Demarest (*, Nom Comm)
• Steven W. Dulan (*, Nom Comm)
• Edie P. Fleeman
• Carol Frampton (*, Nom Comm)
• Joel Friedman (*, Nom Comm)
• Sandra S. Froman (*, Nom Comm)
• Curtis S. Jenkins
• Amy Heath Lovato
• Bill Miller
• Johnny Nugent
• Jay Printz
• Kim Rhode (*)
• Barbara Rumpel
• Don Saba
• Danny Stowers (*, Nom Comm)
• Dwight D. Van Horn (*, Nom Comm)
• Eb Wilkinson

Abstentions or absences:

• Thomas Arvas
• Bob Barr (*, abstained, Nom Comm)
• Ronnie Barrett
• Kenneth Blackwell
• Matt Blunt
• Dean Cain
• Marion Hammer (*, absent-health, not re-nominated)
• Niger Innis
• Tom King (*, absent-health, Nom Comm)
• Mitzi McCorvey (*, Nom Comm)
• Mark Robinson
• Wayne Anthony Ross
• Jim Tomes
• Blaine Wade (*, absent, Nom Comm)
• Howard Walter
• Judi White

While the reformers hold the majority for now, three of them – Babaz, Lee, and Porter – can only get on the ballot for 2025 if they gather enough petition signatures. Furthermore, David Norcross will not be running for reelection and Susannah Kipke has resigned to take the position of Deputy Director for Advancement within the NRA. She will be replaced by John Sigler who probably is not a reformer and who is on the ballot thanks to the Nominating Committee. This means potentially a swing of five votes to the cabal.

This reemphasizes the importance of gathering enough petitions to get the reformers running by petition on the ballot. In addition, while I will be on the ballot thanks to the Nominating Committee, being placed on it by petition would give me a leg up on some of the cabal’s nominees. If you are a voting member and you haven’t signed the petitions, do it now! Time is running out.