NRA Chief’s Disturbing Past: Tortured a Cat as Fraternity President

Trigger Warning: Animal Cruelty

In a disturbing revelation, Doug Hamlin, the current CEO and Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association, has a dark past involving the torture and killing of a cat during his college years alongside fraternity brothers. This shocking behavior raises serious concerns about his character and qualifications for leadership.

Hamlin was later found guilty of these heinous acts, though the charges were eventually wiped from his record. The details of this egregious animal cruelty, along with a failed attempt to cover it up, paint a grim picture. The judge described Hamlin’s actions as “unconscionable and heinous,” “cold and calculated,” and “inexcusable.” Such descriptions spark concerns about his capacity for empathy and morality.

In December 1979, while attending the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Hamlin and four fraternity brothers brutally murdered the house cat named B.K. They horrifically cut off the cat’s paws, hung it from a tree, and set it ablaze, justified by their outrageous claim that the cat “failed to use its litter box.” A concerned bystander, disturbed by the cat’s screams, reported the gruesome act to law enforcement.

The unimaginable suffering that cat endured is beyond comprehension and utterly unjustifiable. This was not a mere act of peer pressure; Hamlin was entirely in command of the situation and could have intervened at any time to halt the cruelty.

Yet, Hamlin chose not to intervene. Instead, he actively sought to cover up his actions to escape repercussions.

Earl Carl, the cook for Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the time, testified that Hamlin called a house meeting to intimidate other fraternity members into silence regarding the incident. Although Carl encouraged his peers to report the crime, he was met with threats to his safety for doing so.

Carl resigned just a week after the cat’s death and subsequently took legal action against the fraternity, specifically naming Hamlin as one of the individuals who pressured him to remain silent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU0DkxludZA

Doug Hamlin: NRA's New CEO & EVP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU0DkxludZA)

Fortunately, justice was served when Hamlin and his accomplices pleaded no contest to the charges of mutilating and killing B.K. District Court Judge S. J. Elden admonished the fraternity brothers for their actions, particularly singling out Hamlin for his opportunity to prevent such cruelty. Alarmingly, Hamlin displayed a shocking lack of remorse, stating, “We did everything we thought we could do to resolve this thing. We think that now it’s gone a little too far.”

Despite a significant public outcry, the punishment inflicted upon the students was disappointingly lenient. They were assigned to carry out 200 hours of community service focused on animal care, received one-year deferred sentences, incurred $360 in court fines, and were expelled from their fraternity.

Given the atrocious nature of their offenses, the consequences faced by Hamlin and his fraternity brothers seem woefully inadequate. It’s concerning, particularly considering Hamlin’s current role within the NRA, how such an individual is entrusted with leadership responsibilities.

In May, Hamlin was appointed as CEO of the NRA, succeeding Wayne LaPierre, who was ousted for misusing funds. It is distressing and telling that the NRA appears to be comfortable with appointing leaders with such alarming pasts concerning animal cruelty and financial misconduct.

(Featured image: NRAPubs/YouTube)

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