TexasAttorney GeneralKen Paxton slammed New York Attorney General Letitia James for trying to dissolve the National Rifle Associationand welcomedthe organization to his state sayingthat in Texas we care about what thefounders put in the Constitution.

Paxton made the comment Sunday on Fox & Friends Weekend,three days after James announced that her officehas filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association and its leadership, including Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

On Sunday Paxton said he is absolutely welcoming the NRA to come to Texas because they have done amazingwork over the years defendingthe Second Amendment.

I can tell you one thinginTexas that we care about,and I think wewill always care about, is Godand guns, he said, explaining that the First Amendment protects freespeech and religious expression and the Second Amendment protects theright of people to own guns.

James accused the NRA of having "a culture of self-dealing," taking millions of dollars for personal use and granting contracts that benefited leaders' family and associates.

NRA LAYS OFF DOZENS OF STAFFERS, CUTS PAY DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

In addition to asking for the organization to be dissolved, James' office seeks to have LaPierre and general counsel John Frazer removed from their positions, and a declaration from the court saying "that directors or members in control of the NRA have looted or wasted the NRAs charitable assets, have perpetuated the corporation solely for their personal benefit, or have otherwise acted in an illegal, oppressive or fraudulent manner[.]"

Host Griff Jenkins saidmany NRA members have wondered foryears why the NRA seated its charter inNew York to begin with to exposeit.

He then asked Paxton, Would they have a betterprotection? Would there besomething to benefit themlegally in Texas?

I think its a littlelate now, but we certainly wouldinvite them to come to Texas toavoid this in the future becauseif they're in New York, it opensthem up to investigation by theattorney general's office in away that I don't think wouldhappen in Texas, soI would encourage them to moveas soon as they can, Paxton said.

Jenkins then asked Paxton if he thinks there is achance that James actually winsthis?

We don'tknow all the facts yet, Paxton said, adding that his problem is with how the situation is being handled, noting that the lawsuit was filed right before an election with a big press conference.

It looksextremely political, Paxton said.

If you want to do thisinvestigation, do it quietly, he said.If youre going to announce something,announce it after the election, but what it looks like and she [James] claimsthey're a terroristorganization this looks like aterrorist operation goingagainst the NRA in trying to makeit political as opposed to alegitimate investigation.

I think it really hurts thecredibility of the New Yorkoffice when theyve done it inthis manner, Paxton said.

NRA President Carolyn Meadows called the lawsuit "a baseless, premeditated attack," claiming it targeted not just the NRA, but the constitutional rights it defends. She also noted the timing of the lawsuit and said it was a transparent attempt to score political points.

"You could have set your watch by it:the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle," Meadows said in a statement. "Its a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda. This has been a power grab by a political opportunist a desperate move that is part of a rank political vendetta. Our members wont be intimidated or bullied in their defense of political and constitutional freedom.

Meadows added that the NRA"will not shrink from this fight we will confront it and prevail.

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To that end, the NRA countersued James, seeking a court declaration that they are following state not-for-profit law and alleging that The New York Attorney General is targeting the organization for its political positions, violating its free speech rights.

Fox News Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report.

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Texas AG on NY AG seeking to dissolve NRA: In Texas we care about what the founders put in the Constitution - Fox News