Facing NRA Lawsuit, San Francisco Says “Uncle”
Who knew that “domestic terrorists” have lawyers and a copy of the Bill of Rights?
It’s a sad day for America when it becomes necessary to employ a very expensive team of lawyers to explain to a government body (in this case, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors) that the first two Amendments to the Constitution actually forbid them from blacklisting anyone with ties to the NRA from doing business with the city. However, the good news is that said very expensive lawsuit has resulted in San Fran Mayor London Breed publicly backing down from their egregious position on Second Amendment advocacy.
To recap, just about a month ago San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani resolved:
“The National Rifle Association spreads propaganda that misinforms and aims to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence,” the resolution states. “The National Rifle Association through its advocacy has armed those individuals who would and have committed acts of terrorism.”
The press release we’ve received from the NRA is below:
On September 3, 2019, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which is the legislative body for the City and County of San Francisco, unanimously approved a resolution that called for the City to investigate ties between its contractors and vendors and the NRA. The city declared the NRA was a “domestic terrorist organization.” Not surprisingly, the NRA sued.
On September 9, 2019, less than a week after the resolution was enacted, the NRA challenged it as government action adversely affecting its First Amendment rights. In its filing, the NRA called the resolution a “blacklisting” measure, and urged San Francisco’s federal court to “step in and instruct elected officials that freedom of speech means you cannot silence or punish those with whom you disagree.”
Late last week, rather than await “instruction” from a court, San Francisco Mayor London Breed backed down. In a formal memorandum to City officials, she declared that “no [municipal] department will take steps to restrict any contractor from doing business with the NRA or to restrict City contracting opportunities for any business that has any relationship with the NRA.”
“Through these actions and our public advocacy, we hope the message is now clear,” says NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “The NRA will always fight to protect our members and the constitutional freedoms in which they believe.”
The NRA is represented in its lawsuit by William A. Brewer III and Sarah Rogers of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, along with Garman Turner Gordon LLP.
“The memo serves as a clear concession and a well-deserved win for the First and Second Amendments of the United States Constitution,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for the NRA. “It is unfortunate that in today’s polarized times, some elected officials would rather silence opposing arguments than engage in good-faith debate. The NRA – America’s oldest civil rights organization – won’t stand for that.”
The NRA’s challenge to a similar ordinance in Los Angeles remains pending. Last month, the city’s motion to dismiss was denied in its entirety by federal district judge Stephen V. Wilson, who found that the NRA had stated a clear First Amendment claim.
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Follow the NRA on social at Facebook.com/NationalRifleAssociation and Twitter @NRA.
Does this mean that The Usual Suspects are going to stop this new tactic of theirs, formally blacklisting anyone with ties to an organization whose message they don’t like? In this writer’s estimation, yes it does–but all that means is that their next attempt won’t be quite so obvious and ham-handed. They’re fully aware that the NRA simply doesn’t have the resources to sue every government body that tries this sort of stunt, and they’re hoping to deal out a “death of a thousand cuts.” But rest assured…we’ll keep reporting on this situation as it develops!
Well I think it a shame that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote “socialist” ideals (who do you think are paying for the cities and states to defend themselves)! I am also sick and tired of other states telling the rest of country what we will do!!!
SANFRANFREAKO IS THE ASSHOLE OF THE USA. JUST LOOK AT THE DIRT THAT LIVES ON ITS STREETS AND THE FOUL AROMA OF THE ENTIRE CITY. HOPEFULLY A MAGNITUDE 7 QUAKE SOLVES THE CITY’S PROBLEMS AND SOON.
Under 1983 doctrine the NRA should be able to recoup any and all legal fees it pays from having to defend against such nonsense. But as stated above the taxpayers of these cities will end up footing the legal bill for their idiot socialist politicians.
Wayne, instead of bugging the crap out of members to join an contribute, send those who replied a membership form, And as a member I will need a copy of the legal brief as I will put my money up to file in court. I will go after those idiots.
I agree with the recurring theme that our Republican leaders need to speak up against these new age Democrats who view our country as a collective of violent, racist, oppressors.
They value ideology over reality or practicality. They make foreigners and immigrants into the poor victimized people of our country and then want to give them everything for free and support their views over those of established citizens and well established and long practiced traditions. They’re so set on being social justice crusaders that they are creating bad guys and good guys, but it’s all at the expense of Americans. They want to take away our rights, our country and our guns so they can dominate and oppress us in their fantasy utopia. They abuse social media and violate freedom of speech with rude remarks, foul language, false narratives and accusations filled with libelous and slanderous remarks.
The time is long over due for the other side’s voice to be heard and our messages to be printed or posted online. America is not for sale nor are we ready to give it all away to some sniveling snowflake cowards or to foreigners who can’t run their own countries or are too afraid to fight their governments and create their own free nations.
Their use of intimidation is an act of terrorism in itself.
So true I asked a bunch of illegals if America went to war would the they stand and fight with us? They replied I don’t want to die. Then I told them nobody wants to die and asked the same question. They told me no that they would go back to their country.
But yet in Socialist New York state they allow comrade Cuomo to turn all the banks an lending organizations against the NRA and it’s members
The idiots do the same thing here in the communist state of California. That is just one of the many reasons we are leaving this insane place asap!
Why resort to scatalogical terms to describe the editor/writer of these articles?
You look silly, and I find it disgusting.
Thanks
Hi! I’m the author, and I wrote my own bio. It may not be your cup of tea, but I’m proud of my dingleberry-farming heritage as well as my years of service with the Chairborne Rangers. Excelsior!
But, was this council’s vote receded, or is it still on the books?
This does not mean they won’t blacklist businesses that are NRA supporters. The individual businesses will have to be aware of being eliminated from competing for contracts in California.
san
Who are the “Lemmings” that elect these people?
The public schools have been indoctrinating our people for decades! That’s who!!!
This doesn’t look like a win to me. Is the NRA still considered a “Domestic Terrorist Organization”? Sounds like it is to me. Notice that the mayor doesn’t say anything about individuals or enforcement actions so membership can still be used for ERPOs (Red Flags) and other punitive actions against gun owners.
The NRA and all Constitutionalist Organizations should run a media blitz, informing the people of Kalifornia of this totalitarian, fascist/communist violation of their Constitutional Rights. If just one now, then which one(s) are next? Of course, it is hard to focus on your smart phone while picking your way through the artifacts of “social justice” littering the sidewalks, streets, and doorways/stoops of the city…
This is a copy of the letter I sent to my Senators/Congressmen, initially they all said thanks for your 2nd amendment concerns…
Perhaps the staff member who read my previous email misunderstood the content of my message. I did not write to you about a 2nd Amendment issue. It was more about a municipality usurping the responsibility of the United States Government and the 1st Amendment. When the city of San Francisco declared the National Rifle Association (NRA) a terrorist organization this, by definition, declared its members terrorists, based on their association with the NRA. This is a clear and flagrant violation of the 1st Amendments protection of freedom of association, and a usurpation of the U.S. governments responsibilities under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. As I previously stated, I am not a member of the NRA, I am however concerned when any public body can declare an association of law-abiding citizens a terrorist organization.
In your reply to me you mentioned being a supporter of so called “red flag laws”. That being said, does that make every NRA member residing in the jurisdiction of San Francisco subject to confiscation and prosecution based on them being “terrorists”? When reading the proposed legislation regarding these law the definitions and levels of “due process” are particularly vague.
I too Sir, am concerned about senseless violence perpetrated by any person. I would posit that very few, if any, are committed by citizens who would feel bound by any law or resolution passed by any entity. I would suggest that appropriate enforcement of current laws and an accurate NICS process would do more than any new legislation that is as under-enforced as our current set of laws. Let us all resolve to take firearms from those criminals and persons determined to be mentally unfit (by due process) vigorously and to prevent those persons from purchasing the same.
Demonizing any segment of the population based on a difference of opinion or politics is an anathema to our system of government and I would ask you to reject this on its face and speak out against it. I as a member of your constituency ask that you and all members of both Houses to come together and demand that the Rights of the People not be infringed (particularly the 1st) and not allow any entity to allow this to be done. These are the freedoms that our founding fathers enumerated and clearly described. I would also mention that my family and I, have been veterans of military service since the French and Indian war in 1756 and have fought and died to protect our American way of life and Rights protected under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I would ask that the blood spilled, and the lives lost by my family not be squandered for political expediency.
I am Sir, respectfully yours
Well written…!
Well said Glen, I also am not a member of the NRA but their rights need protection from the crazies in that well run city by the bay, I jest.on the last portion.
However I think the fault lays at the feet of the voters. As I learnt when I first came to CA the US is on a slope from the east down to the west and all the loose nots roll to the left coast.
After 40 years in CA I moved and now reside in AZ. Such a fresh breath of air.
Having met the gov of CA years back I thought what a nice gentleman he is (was). Compared to Governor Ducey here in AZ the CA gov is a leech.
You would not believe what the AZ governor has done for me just on a simple email question. Changing legislation, invoking a speed up of my complaint etc. I was stunned.
CA voters as the SF voters are a strange lot.
ALan Carnell
These anti-constitution commies have got to be educated and the American people must rise up and vote these socialist democrats out.
Long live our constitution and the NRA
Courts (and others) long ago explained that popular speech did not need protection. It is unpopular speech, often meaning speech one disagrees with, that needs and merits 1st Amendment protection.