ANALYSIS/OPINION:
The American Civil Liberties Union[1] filed an amicus brief in federal court in defense of the National Rifle Association[2]’s legal right to do business in New York — and in opposition to Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo[3]’s pressure on insurance and financial organizations to cut ties with those who do business with the firearms group.
The ACLU[4] defending the NRA[5]? Yes, you read that right.
Even a clock’s right twice a day.
As the Daily Caller noted[6]: “The NRA[7] filed a lawsuit against Cuomo[8] and the state’s financial regulatory bureau in July, contending that the agency instituted a ‘blacklisting campaign’ by threatening insurers and financial institutions that associate with the organization. The bureau warned that by continuing to work with the NRA[9], banks and insurance companies could face regulatory action.”
This is blackmail, pure and simple. And it’s akin to what Eric Holder, while attorney general, tried to do against banks and financial institutions that did business with pawn shops and firearms retailers — to make suspect legal transactions.
But the fact that the ACLU[10] would not only acknowledge but take active measures to fight this government blackmail is somewhat astonishing.
Here’s a bit of the organization’s amicus brief: “Those allegations [from the NRA[11]] represent[12] a blatant violation of the First Amendment. Although public officials are free to express their opinions and may condemn viewpoints or groups they view as inimical to public welfare, they cannot abuse their regulatory authority to retaliate against disfavored advocacy organizations and to impose burdens on those organizations’ ability to conduct lawful business.”
Amen to that.
The NRA
