A spokesman for the group explains why the ban is not only unnecessary, but also unconstitutional.
Cortland Housing Authority has taken its latest firearm ban too far – and the Second Amendment Foundation is ready to fight them over it.
The group filed a federal lawsuit against the CHA, noting that it has violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution by prohibiting tenants from possessing firearms on their premises.
Three private citizens – all current residents of the CHA – have joined the lawsuit, citing that its strict rules prevent them from being able to defend themselves as needed.
“The Supreme Court made clear in Heller, the home is where the need for defense of self, family and property is most acute,” SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut noted in a statement.
“We’ve been involved in similar cases and prevailed because a ban on the possession of firearms in public housing is a flagrant violation of Second Amendment rights. The public housing authority’s refusal to alter their lease agreement to comport with the requirements of the Constitution demonstrates their disdain for low-income, elderly residents being able to exercise their rights. SAF looks forward to vindicating their rights and forcing the housing authority to respect the Constitution.
“This case is nearly identical to one we handled a few years ago in Illinois,” recalled SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “We obtained a permanent injunction against the East St. Louis Housing Authority for the same violation.
“The prohibition on firearms on CHA property is unconstitutional on its face,” Kraut said. “We will pursue such cases when they come to our attention.”
A spokesman for the group joins us now to discuss the matter further.
Q&A:
- Why would a housing group go all out to deny homeowners the right to possess firearms? Shouldn’t homeowners be able to do whatever they wish on their property?
- Did the CHA go too far in trying to secure its complex, instead of trying to use funds to increase security or do something else to cut back on criminal activity?
- Should the CHA have done more research on why people buy firearms, especially with criminal activity being what it is today?
- Could other housing authorities attempt to do something similar to the CHA, or will this case serve as an example not to defy the Second Amendment?
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation?
- You can visit the official website at http://www.saf.org.
Second Amendment Foundation spokespersons available to be your guest:
ABOUT CHRIS CHENG (In Pacific Time)
Chris Cheng serves on the advisory council to the Second Amendment Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion and author of the book “Shoot to Win.” Cheng is an Asian D&I advocate in the gun community; a former Google employee who went from self-taught amateur to pro shooter.
ABOUT CAM EDWARDS (In Eastern Time)
Cam Edwards is the editor at Bearing Arms-dot-com and hosts the popular podcast Cam & Company that focuses on Second Amendment news and information. Cam is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has worked in radio, television, and online media for over two decades. He currently lives on a small farm with his family near Farmville, Virginia, and is a member of the board of Citizens Committee to Keep and Bear Arms.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS (in Eastern Time):
Mark Walters is a member of the board of directors for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As a nationally syndicated host of two talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, Mark is heard on hundreds of stations weekly across the country. Mark is the co-founder of Armed American News and the recipient of the 2015 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year award.” In addition, Mark Walters is co-author of three books, including Lessons from Armed America, Lessons from Unarmed America, and Grilling While Armed.
ABOUT LEE WILLIAMS (In Eastern Time)
Lee Williams is also known as The Gun Writer and has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than ten years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Reporting Project and is a frequent contributor to Ammoland News and Armed American Radio. In addition, Lee serves as a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. He was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. Lee has earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter and three medals of valor as a police officer.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN (In Pacific Time):
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com. He writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line, and is communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and co-authored seven books with Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb. Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry, and gun politics.
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing, and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 700,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or geraldmcg@outlook.com.
