{"id":2658,"date":"2023-12-13T01:43:39","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T01:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/?p=2658"},"modified":"2023-12-13T01:43:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T01:43:39","slug":"why-the-aclu-is-defending-the-nra-in-the-supreme-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/?p=2658","title":{"rendered":"Why The ACLU is Defending the NRA in the Supreme Court"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"td-post-featured-image\">\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-scaled.jpg\" data-caption=\"Shutterstock\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"497\" class=\"entry-thumb td-modal-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-696x497.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-696x497.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-700x500.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-2048x1462.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-1068x763.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-1920x1371.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-588x420.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-100x70.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shutterstock_1780191794-560x400.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" alt=\"Andrew Cuomo\" title=\"Andrew Cuomo\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-next-post-navi\">\n<p>\nNext Post Coming Soon&#8230;\u25b6\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019re on the right side of the political spectrum, you probably don\u2019t think much of the ACLU. After all, they\u2019ve gone to bat for all manner of unpopular individuals including including nazis, satanic churches, and even child molesters. One the most notorious cases that earned them almost universal hate was when they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/press-releases\/aclu-statement-defending-free-speech-unpopular-organizations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defended NAMBLA<\/a> (the North American Man-Boy Love Association). So, yes, it\u2019s no exaggeration to say they\u2019ve defended actual child molesters.<\/p>\n<p>You probably also know that one of the civil liberties they\u2019ve been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/aclu-we-need-to-restrict-the-second-amendment-to-preserve-the-first\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noticeably shy about defending<\/a> is the right to keep and bear arms. That being the case, you might think that their recent decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/regulation\/court-battles\/4351668-aclu-represent-nra-ny-free-speech-challenge\/#:~:text=Back%20in%20November%2C%20the%20Supreme,insurers%20from%20working%20with%20them.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">represent the NRA<\/a> is unusual.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: We\u2019re representing the NRA at the Supreme Court in their case against New York\u2019s Department of Financial Services for abusing its regulatory power to violate the NRA\u2019s First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>The government can\u2019t blacklist an advocacy group because of its viewpoint.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ACLU (@ACLU) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACLU\/status\/1733528454115496219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 9, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>There\u2019s a deeper truth behind the ACLU that many of its detractors don\u2019t get. Most political organizations tend to stick to whatever partisan leaning they prefer. Republican groups support Republican causes. Democrat groups support Democrat causes. But, the ACLU is actually pretty consistent, at least where freedom of speech is concerned.<\/p>\n<p>Back when virtually everyone raked them over the coals for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/press-releases\/aclu-statement-defending-free-speech-unpopular-organizations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defending NAMBLA<\/a>, they said . . .<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In representing NAMBLA today, our Massachusetts affiliate does not advocate sexual relationships between adults and children.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>What the ACLU does advocate for pretty consistently is robust First Amendment rights for everyone. The NRA lawsuit involved here, if it fails, would strike at the heart of freedom of speech and empower governments to severely restrict the rights of anyone with views they disapprove of.<\/p>\n<p>Predictably, though, in announcing its support for the lawsuit, the ACLU made sure to do <em>a lot<\/em> of throat-clearing to make it <em>very<\/em> plain to one and all that it nauseates them to be on the same side of an issue as the NRA.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACLU\/status\/1733528454115496219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1733528454115496219%7Ctwgr%5E385b625844c47f04e9d66bed7c6060ad68d4a376%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetruthaboutguns.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D543663action%3Dedit\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-543728 size-full\" alt=\"\" width=\"1478\" height=\"1155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu.jpg 1478w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-700x547.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-768x600.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-696x544.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-1068x835.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-537x420.jpg 537w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-560x438.jpg 560w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1478px) 100vw, 1478px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu.jpg\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-543728 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1478\" height=\"1155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu.jpg 1478w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-700x547.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-768x600.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-696x544.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-1068x835.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-537x420.jpg 537w, https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/aclu-560x438.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1478px) 100vw, 1478px\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But the First Amendment issue before the Court is important enough that the ACLU felt it had to overcome its disgust for the plaintiff.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/case-files\/cases\/national-rifle-association-of-america-v-vullo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The case<\/a> before the Supreme Court challenges the state of New York\u2019s attempt to blacklist the NRA following the Parkland shooting with threats made against other businesses like banks and insurers that did business with the association. Basically, Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/cuomo-targets-nra\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the regulatory levers of government<\/a> to squeeze an organization that espouses a message he didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We understand that gun violence is a real and present threat and that America\u2019s approach to guns causes harm in many communities.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, while we vigorously oppose the NRA\u2019s viewpoint, we cannot give government officials the power to silence those with whom they disagree.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ACLU (@ACLU) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACLU\/status\/1733528457533907311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 9, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Basically, the ACLU is (and really always has) playing the long game on freedom of speech. The ACLU may like shutting down the speech of someone they don\u2019t like in the short run, but in the long run, it can come back to bite everyone in the ass.<\/p>\n<p>And really, that\u2019s how free countries slide into authoritarianism. By taking advantage of something heinous like a school shooting, bad people working in government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/rahm-emanuel-not-wanting-sandy-hook-to-go-to-waste-pushed-for-an-assault-weapons-ban\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trick the weak-minded<\/a> and shortsighted into supporting what seems (at the time) to be a reasonable restriction. Later, however, they find that those restrictions tend to expand. Bad things happen again and then another salami slice of freedom is lost.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not perfect by any stretch, but the ACLU understands that and tries to step in when nobody else will. Even if you don\u2019t like nazis, satanism, or pedophiles, letting the government establish a precedent for taking some people\u2019s rights away sets the stage for taking everyone\u2019s rights away down the road. When satanists lose their freedom of religion, Christians aren\u2019t far behind, for example.<\/p>\n<p>While they\u2019re pretty solid on freedom of speech, one area where the organization is notably short-sighted is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/discrimination-why-the-aclu-wont-defend-the-free-speech-of-those-who-carry-firearms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the right to keep and bear arms<\/a>. The national ACLU doesn\u2019t stand up for gun rights, and has repeatedly said that they think \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/aclu-we-need-to-restrict-the-second-amendment-to-preserve-the-first\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reasonable restrictions<\/a>\u201d are lawful. In at least one case, however, the organization\u2019s Nevada affiliate <a href=\"https:\/\/lasvegassun.com\/news\/2008\/jul\/11\/only-nevada-aclu-opposes-gun-control\/\">did stand up for gun rights<\/a>, so not everyone in the organization feels that way.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, there are plenty of other gun rights organizations like Gun Owners of America, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, among others, who are there to fight for that right.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-next-post-navi\">\n<p>\nNext Post Coming Soon&#8230;\u25b6\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthaboutguns.com\/why-the-aclu-is-defending-the-nra\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shutterstock Next Post Coming Soon&#8230;\u25b6 If you\u2019re on the right side of the political spectrum, you probably don\u2019t think much of the ACLU. After all, they\u2019ve gone to bat for all manner of unpopular individuals including including nazis, satanic churches, and even child molesters. One the most notorious cases that earned them almost universal hate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2658","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reviews"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2658"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2658\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}