The new head of the National Rifle Association was involved in the brutal torture and murder of a cat when he was a fraternity brother in college.
Douglas Hamlin, who was named executive director of the NRA this year, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor animal cruelty for the vile murder of his fraternity cat, BK, in 1980.
Hamlin was a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor when he and four of his Alpha Delta Phi brothers were accused of capturing the cat, cutting off its paws, skewering it and setting it on fire.
The students killed the cat because they were angry that it wasn’t using its litter box, according to local news reports at the time discovered by the guardian.
Douglas Hamlin, who was named executive director of the NRA this year, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor animal cruelty for the vile murder of his fraternity cat, BK, in 1980.
Hamlin, who served in the Marine Corps after college, previously served as executive director of the NRA’s publishing division.
The killing of the animal, which occurred in December 1979, sparked fury in the community at the time and all five students were expelled from the fraternity, including Hamlin, who was the group’s president at the time.
District Court Judge SJ Elden singled out Hamlin during the case, saying he could have stopped the “unconscionable and heinous” murder as fraternity president.
Judge Elden also suggested that the fraternity attempted to cover up the crime to protect its members.
One of the fraternity brothers involved in the murder told The Guardian that the incident was “unfortunate” and “not a good chapter for anyone.”
District Court Judge SJ Elden singled out Hamlin during the case, saying he could have stopped the “unconscionable and heinous” murder as fraternity president.
Hamlin, pictured with his wife, was elected executive vice president and chief executive officer in May.
The fraternity’s cook, Earl Carl, resigned after the murder, Michigan Daily reported, and filed a lawsuit alleging that members of the group tried to silence him.
Carl said Hamlin initiated an attempted cover-up.
The five men had their records expunged after each completed 200 hours of animal-related community service.
Hamlin told DailyMail.com on Monday that he was not directly involved in the cat’s murder.
“I in no way condone actions that took place more than 44 years ago,” Hamlin said.
‘I took responsibility for this unfortunate incident as chapter president, although I was not directly involved. Since then I have served my country, raised a family, volunteered in my community, started a business, worked with Gold Star families, and raised millions of dollars for charities. I have strived to live my life in a manner beyond reproach.
“My focus now is on protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Hamlin, who served in the Marine Corps after college, previously served as executive director of the NRA’s publishing division.
He was elected executive vice president and CEO in May after former NRAS chief Wayne LaPierre was found liable in February in a civil trial in New York for misusing millions of dollars of the organization’s money to pay for a lifestyle extravagant.