On Friday, National Rifle Association (NRA) CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation from that organization effective January 31st. Mr. LaPierre cited health reasons for this decision. LaPierre has worked for the NRA since 1977 and has served the NRA as Executive Vice President since 1991.

"With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA," LaPierre said in the NRA's press release, which was exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. "I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever."

NRA President Charles Cotton said during the board meeting Friday in Irving, Texas, that he accepted LaPierre’s resignation. LaPierre, 74, cited health reasons as motivation behind the departure. 

The resignation will take effect Jan. 31. Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA’s executive and head of general operations, will serve as interim CEO and executive vice president of the NRA.

The NRA was founded in 1871 to promote civil marksmanship training, by Union Civil War officers Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate, who were disenchanted with the poor shooting skills of Union troops during the late conflict. Union General Ambrose Burnside served as the NRA's first President. In 1872, the fledgling NRA opened the famous range complex at Creedmore on Long Island. The NRA now operates a massive range complex at Whittington Center in New Mexico. NRA has also certified firearms instructors, many of whom provide training to citizens and law enforcement.

In more recent years the organization has been involved in the preservation of American's Second Amendment rights.

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During the time Wayne LaPierre has worked with the NRA, American Second Amendment activists have seen some key victories, not least of which is the expansion of "shall-issue" concealed carry laws, Constitutional carry laws (legal concealed carry without a permit required), and of course the landmark "New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen" decision. Thanks to Bruen, the right to bear arms for personal defense outside the home is now an established right. 27 states are now Constitutional carry states.

Mr. LaPierre, along with the NRA, has been the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accusing the NRA under Mr. LaPierre's leadership of fraud, financial misconduct, and misuse of charitable funds. Opening arguments in that case are scheduled to start on Monday (January 8th.) The case, the original filing of which may be viewed here, describes "dozens of examples where the four individual defendants failed to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the NRA and used millions upon millions from NRA reserves for personal use, including trips for them and their families to the Bahamas, private jets, expensive meals, and other private travel."

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Mr. LaPierre is named specifically in the filing, along with NRA executives Wilson Phillips, John Frazer, and Joshua Powell.