National Rifle Association members overwhelmingly supported the gun rights group's longtime leader Wayne LaPierre with a vote of confidence on Saturday.

``I was basically under presidential threat without presidential security in terms of the number of threats I was getting,'' LaPierre said.

NRA executive Wayne LaPierre sent a letter to members warning of efforts by its president, Oliver North, to oust him by releasing "damaging" information about the long-time gun rights' advocate.