I personally think the NRA board chose Oliver North because 1.) conservatives like him and 2.) because they knew it would send critics into orbit. I am sure the folks down in Fairfax, Virginia are getting a hearty chuckle over the reactions just like yours.
You make it a point to say you’re not scared of the NRA. I am not sure what there is to be scared about; we stopped sending Ted Nugent on house calls years ago. But if it makes you happy, so be it.