“Defendants seek to silence one of America’s oldest constitutional rights advocates,” it said. “If their abuses are not enjoined, they will soon, substantially, succeed.”
The N.R.A. is a staunch, sometimes incendiary defender of the Second Amendment with a long record of hobbling regulatory efforts[1], grading legislators on their voting histories and running ads suggesting that the rights of gun owners are forever under siege.
During the 2016 presidential election cycle, the N.R.A. spent $20 million[2] to persuade voters to reject Hillary Clinton and another $11 million in support of Donald J. Trump[3]. Public records from that year showed that the organization’s expenses exceeded revenues[4] by about $46 million.
Donations to the organization spiked after the Parkland shooting, according to records from the Federal Election Commission[5].
William Brewer, a partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors who is lead counsel in the organization’s lawsuit against the New York officials, said on Saturday that the N.R.A. is growing and “in good financial standing.”
“However, the conduct of defendants, from the home state of the N.R.A., now threaten the financial growth and overall trajectory of the organization,” he said.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Cuomo doubled down in his opposition to Carry Guard, announcing[6] a “national effort urging states across the country to follow New York’s lead and outlaw” the insurance program.
“At a time when Washington has completely abdicated its responsibility to protect the American people, states must lead,” he said in a statement.
References
- ^ hobbling regulatory efforts (www.nytimes.com)
- ^ the N.R.A. spent $20 million (www.documentcloud.org)
- ^ in support of Donald J. Trump (www.nytimes.com)
- ^ expenses exceeded revenues (projects.propublica.org)
- ^ records
