The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has taken a significant step by filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, supporting the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) First Amendment lawsuit against Maria Vullo, the former Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
The brief accuses Vullo of abusing her office’s power to undermine the NRA’s advocacy by dissuading financial entities from engaging with them.
Joining SAF in this legal move are the John Locke Foundation and Independence Institute, represented by Joseph G.S. Greenlee of McCall, Idaho, David Kopel of Denver, Colorado, and Jonathan D. Guze of Raleigh, North Carolina.
The case, known as NRA v. Vullo, seeks to address alleged governmental overreach.
SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb highlighted the perceived governmental overreach, stating that the SAF itself has faced similar attempts by government agencies to curtail their free speech rights.
“In our brief,” said Gottlieb, “we point to Vullo’s abuse of governmental authority to punish the NRA for its lawful advocacy efforts. SAF has experienced similar abuse by government agencies, which have tried to use their power to block our free speech, and it is unconscionable.”
“This is why we felt it necessary to file this amicus, and we’re delighted to be joined by the John Locke Foundation and Independence Institute,” he added.
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Adam Kraut, SAF’s Executive Director, drew parallels between the current situation and historical efforts to suppress civil rights organizations, likening New York’s actions to those against the NAACP six decades ago.
According to Kraut, both instances involved governmental authorities leveraging their power to suppress constitutionally protected rights.
“In this case, New York attempted to cause financial ruin to the NRA because Vullo, and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, harbor considerable animus toward NRA and its members,” said Kraut.
Gottlieb emphasized the importance of this case as a measure to rectify and deter governmental abuse of power.
He argued that governmental bodies should not misuse their agencies to suppress dissenting opinions or activities, warning that such actions set a dangerous precedent.
“When a government is able to weaponize its agencies, and its authority, to stifle views and activities with which it disagrees, something must be done to stop it and set an example that discourages others from trying the same thing,” said Gottlieb.
The filing of this amicus brief marks a determined effort by the SAF and its allies to defend First Amendment rights against what they claim is a misuse of governmental authority, aiming to safeguard the principles of free speech and association against similar future infringements.
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in am3rika we have da free speech………..only when we say what we are told to say by government