First and second amendment collide in NRA Supreme Court case
The NRA is usually busy defending the Second Amendment - But Monday the organization found themselves in the crosshairs of a first amendment free speech case.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Following the deadly 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a New York State regulator urged companies to cut ties with the NRA.
The NRA is now suing, saying that’s a violation of their first amendment rights.
“It was a campaign by the state’s highest political officials to use their power to coerce a boycott of a political advocacy organization because they disagreed with its advocacy,” said Lawyer David Cole.
But Lawyer Daniel Alter argues, it’s within the right of a regulator to influence groups with which they work.
“It’s important for the government that’s elected to express its policy views and the way it thinks about the world and how people should act may not be accepted by the majority,” said Alter.
Justices seemed divided on the issue -
“Retaliation is a familiar concept in a lot of our case laws,” observed Justice Gorsuch.
“How do we avoid a world in which advocacy organizations are exempt from regulation?” wondered Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
A ruling in this case is expected by June.
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