On Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North was been picked to be the new president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), following the current president Pete Brownell deciding not to seek a second term with the organization.
“I am honored to have been selected by the NRA Board to soon serve as this great organization’s President,” North said in a news release according to Fox News. “I appreciate the board initiating a process that affords me a few weeks to set my affairs in order, and I am eager to hit the ground running as the new NRA President.”
NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre commented on the group’s new successor saying that North is a, “legendary warrior for American freedom, a gifted communicator and skilled leader.” The CEO said the announcement was, “the most exciting news for our members since Charlton Heston became President of our Association.”
North served the U.S. as a Marine for 22 years and was also influential during the Reagan Administration as a member of the National Security Council. He will also be retiring from his post at Fox News as a commentator effective immediately.
The Lieutenant Colonel has been a board member for the NRA and has also appeared at the 2007 and 2008 NRA national conventions. He attended a prayer breakfast at the NRA’s annual meeting in Dallas, Texas on Sunday.
“I want my grandkids to say that Granddad was a person who taught me how to fight the good fight, how to finish the race, how to keep the faith,” North said. “You see, that’s the most important lesson of all: We’re in a fight. We’re in a brutal battle to preserve the liberties that the good Lord presents us.”
NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch also added her congratulations for North on his new position at the organization.
“Thrilled about the Oliver North news. A total warrior for freedom, this is the last person that anti-gun advocates would want as the new President of the NRA board,” she tweeted.
