A spokesman for the Second Amendment Foundations explains why this is a significant victory for all gun advocate groups, as well as private gun owners.
Gun advocates had been facing all sorts of fire from regulators and other types, trying to discourage businesses and bankers from working with them in any regard. But the Supreme Court has apparently decided enough is enough with a particular case surrounding the National Rifle Association (NRA).
The Court recently ruled that the NRA’s lawsuit against the New York Department of Financial Services can continue, despite opposition from former Superintendent Maria Vullo and others. These regulators had previously discouraged insurers and bankers from doing business with such groups, using mass shootings and major lawsuits as poor – and misleading – examples.
This comes after an Appeals Court previously threw out the NRA’s case, save for a minor First Amendment squabble with Vullo. Apparently, the Supreme Court took objection to this.
“Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or, as alleged here, through private intermediaries,” noted Justice Sonia Sotomayor in the decision.
The most notable example of the harm these regulators did comes with a February 2018 meeting, in which Vullo spoke with various insurance executives about the NRA. As a result, Lloyd’s of London cut back on certain policies. “In short, she made it no secret that her purpose was to penalize an advocacy group because she opposed its political views,” the NRA noted.
A representative for another gun group, the Second Amendment Foundation, joins us now to discuss this decision, and how it’s an appreciated victory.
Q&A:
- What are your thoughts on the Supreme Court siding with the NRA and allowing the lawsuit against New York regulators to continue?
- New York has certainly been tough on guns for some time. Why are they so determined to have them or certain aspects of them banned?
- Wouldn’t New York be better off hiring more police officers instead of having regulators do such dirty work as to have businesses disassociate with gun groups like the NRA?
- What do you think Vullo and her fellow regulators will do next? Will they cut back on trying to hurt gun groups, or perhaps formulate a new plan?
- Do you see this as a victory for gun groups as a whole, as well as private gun owners?
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation?
a. You can visit our 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.
