NRA Chief Wayne La Pierre Under Fire for 2013 Elephant Hunting Video

As an active gun rights lobbyist, America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is no stranger to controversy or scandal. However, a recent video circulating among critics has perhaps become the most unhelpful incident in the midst of its ongoing woes. The video in question features NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre in a 2013 elephant hunting expedition somewhere in Botswana.

News of the clip first broke out via two independent publications: the New Yorker and the Trace.

Leaked video stirs NRA backlash anew

The video in question features NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre in a 2013 elephant hunting expedition somewhere in Botswana. News of the clip first broke out via two independent publications: the New Yorker and the Trace.

According to the response by NRA spokesperson Andrew Arulanandam, the video was meant to be for a professional big-game hunting show titled Under Wild Skies and that the hunt was "fully permitted and conducted in accordance with all rules and regulations."

Regardless, the video still generated immense backlash from all the NRA's many culture war adversaries, including activists for animal rights, gun control and conservationists.

It also does not help that the leaked footage comes at a time when LaPierre is scheduled to appear for a major bankruptcy case regarding mishandled finances that were carried out under the NRA's status as a non-profit.

Incidentally, the video's origins are also tied in a separate legal dispute also involving the organization. Under Wild Skies was hosted by Tony Markis, an executive of the NRA's former (and major) advertising agency. But in recent years, the ties between the two organizations have soured due to issues with the agency's billing as well as dissatisfaction with its work promoting the group.

Also read: Will Namibia's Elephant Auction Really Improve Conservation of the Critically Endangered Specie?

NRA backlash heats up big-game hunting debate

The video has once again brought much public attention to the long, ongoing debate on big-game hunting and its place in a world working towards a healthier environment and a sustainable future.

Up until recently, the push to eliminate hunting altogether was gaining some traction among a handful of African states. But then, all that may have changed as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down wildlife tourism across the continent (including big game hunt safaris).

Rather than effectively eliminate attacks against endangered wildlife altogether (as some activists hoped), poachers have actually stepped up their activities due to the diminishing resources of conservation reserves. Wildlife tourism was the main source of income for many of the initiatives that helped local communities achieve more sustainable relationships with Africa's ecosystems.

Ironically, this was the sort of mission that Under Wild Skies claimed to support. And naturally, many members of the NRA make the same arguments. The slow death of wildlife tourism in many African states could very well be a strong case that big game hunting brings in the big money needed to support conservation work.

One thing is for sure, however. The efforts to reform Africa's wildlife tourism had clearly been halted because of the pandemic's devastating effect on the industry.

It remains to be seen whether the NRA's recent big-game hunting scandal will shift the conversation towards the realities of people who are now struggling to maintain what remains of their reserves (and their wildlife).