THE NRA AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT

By Bob Walsh

 

                          

 

I admit I was unfamiliar with this case until I read about it yesterday in the RIFLEMAN.  It seems that SCOTUS has recently agreed to hear the case of National Rifle Association of America v Maria T. Vullo.  

Last year the U S Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed the case.  In doing so the court asserted that in a time of "enhanced corporate social responsibility" it was legally acceptable for state officials to use regulatory power to target and harm persons and organizations that the state disagrees with. On Feb 7 of this year the NRA petitioned SCOTUS to hear the case.  On Nov 3 the high court agreed. 

The case began in 2018.  Maria T. Vullo was, at the time, the superintendent of the New York State Dept. of Financial Services.  She and then Governor Andrew Cuomo acted together (conspired?) to financially blackball the NRA by threatening to fuck with banks and insurance companies that did legitimate business with the NRA.  The tools used are called "guidance letters."  Essentially the state threatened official harassment of legitimate business that did routine commerce with the NRA.  This included threats to pull business licenses.

Since the state of N Y fought so hard to keep this out of court I am reasonably convinced that SCOTUS will find for the NRA in the matter.  One would, at least, hope so.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: As long as Wayne LaPierre has anything at all to do with it, the NRA deserves to be blackballed!