In a throwback to the days when it was an actual defender of free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking up a Supreme Court First Amendment case involving the National Rifle Association (NRA) and efforts by Democrat tyrants to blacklist it.
On Saturday, the left-wing organization confirmed that it would be representing the Second Amendment advocacy group against the state of New York which pressured banks and insurance companies to cease doing business with it in the aftermath of the 2018 school shooting at a Florida high school that served as a pretense for an all-out assault on the NRA.
After 17 people were tragically killed by a deranged shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, former New York State Department of Financial Services superintendent Maria Vullo called for companies to consider their “reputational risks” in doing business with the NRA, a shocking abuse of government power that has now made to the nation’s highest court.
“We’re representing the NRA at the Supreme Court in their case against New York’s Department of Financial Services for abusing its regulatory power to violate the NRA’s First Amendment rights,” the ACLU said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The government can’t blacklist an advocacy group because of its viewpoint.”
BREAKING: We’re representing the NRA at the Supreme Court in their case against New York’s Department of Financial Services for abusing its regulatory power to violate the NRA’s First Amendment rights.
The government can’t blacklist an advocacy group because of its viewpoint.
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 9, 2023
“We don’t support the NRA’s mission or its viewpoints on gun rights, and we don’t agree with their goals, strategies, or tactics,” the once venerable organization added. “But we both know that government officials can’t punish organizations because they disapprove of their views.”
“It’s never easy to defend those with whom you disagree,” the group’s national legal director David Cole said, according to the New York Times. “But the ACLU has long stood for the proposition that we may disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”
However, another tweet by the ACLU calls into question the purity of its motivations and some cynics might be inclined to suggest that it’s more of a fear-based reaction to prevent the government that has been weaponized by leftists from being turned back on them if the political tides shift.
If the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene, it will create a dangerous playbook for state regulatory agencies across the country to blacklist or punish any viewpoint-based organizations — from abortion rights groups to environmental groups or even ACLU affiliates.
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 9, 2023
“If the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene, it will create a dangerous playbook for state regulatory agencies across the country to blacklist or punish any viewpoint-based organizations — from abortion rights groups to environmental groups or even ACLU affiliates,” the ACLU said in a clear effort to appease those who could ask why the organization is siding with the NRA, which Democrats are determined to eradicate.
Whatever the ACLU’s intentions may be, the help was welcomed by the NRA.
“The NRA is proud to stand with the ACLU and others who recognize this important truth: regulatory authority cannot be used to silence political speech,” said NRA President Charles Cotton.
“The NRA is proud to stand with the @ACLU and others who recognize this important truth: regulatory authority cannot be used to silence political speech.” –NRA President Charles Cotton@PeterCAitken/@FoxNews ➡️ https://t.co/FgNTeLZdAh pic.twitter.com/0YUAVC8IbN
— NRA (@NRA) December 9, 2023
“The ACLU joining as counsel underscores the importance of this First Amendment case and the NRA’s position that government officials cannot use intimidation tactics to silence those with whom those officials disagree,” said William A. Brewer III, a partner at the law firm Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors which represents the NRA, according to Fox News.
“We understand that gun violence is a real and present threat and that America’s approach to guns causes harm in many communities,” the ACLU wrote on X. “And yet, while we vigorously oppose the NRA’s viewpoint, we cannot give government officials the power to silence those with whom they disagree.”
The questions at the core of this case are about the First Amendment and the principled defense of civil liberties for all, including those with whom we disagree on the Second Amendment.
We won’t let the rights of organizations to engage in political advocacy be trampled.
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 9, 2023
“The questions at the core of this case are about the First Amendment and the principled defense of civil liberties for all, including those with whom we disagree on the Second Amendment. We won’t let the rights of organizations to engage in political advocacy be trampled,” added the organization.
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