NRA and Freedom of Speech

NRA and Freedom of Speech
By Jeff Knox

Manassas, VA –-(Ammoland.com)- A Firestorm was ignited this week when it was announced that House Democrats had carved out an exemption for the National Rifle Association in proposed new federal campaign law legislation and that NRA was no longer going to oppose the bill.

The new campaign legislation is a response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. The Federal Election Commission. In that case the Court held that groups like NRA could not be blocked from mentioning a candidate’s name during the 60 days prior to an election. The proposed legislation – which is still only available in synopsis form – would tightly regulate the political speech of any corporation (most non-profits and political organizations are corporations) and require extensive record-keeping and public disclosure of contributors names. Such disclosure is particularly hard on gun rights organizations as our members tend to be vehemently opposed to having their names put on lists – particularly lists identifying them as likely gun owners.

NRA has long been a leader in defense of constitutionally protected political speech and they had stepped up in opposition to this latest threat. Unfortunately, rather than stand strong on principle of liberty and the rule of the Constitution, NRA suggested to the bill’s sponsors that as long as the proposed legislation did not apply to NRA, the association would withdraw their opposition.

Good for NRA, but bad for every other group and the Constitution.

Detractors immediately accused leaders of the 4 million member gun owner group of betraying their principles, their state affiliates, and all gun owners who support groups other than the NRA.

NRA Executive Vice-President, Wayne LaPierre strongly defended the association’s actions during an interview with syndicated talk show host Lars Larson. LaPierre declared that as CEO of NRA his first responsibility was to protect and defend the Second Amendment and NRA’s ability to defend those rights via the First Amendment.

LaPierre repeatedly stated strong personal and corporate repugnance to any attempt to abridge First Amendment rights, but made it clear that as long as the, so called, “DISCLOSE Act” did not directly impact NRA the association would not actively oppose the bill. In LaPierre’s words, “We’re not in it.”

In an ironic twist it appears likely that the NRA deal has seriously diminished the chances the “DISCLOSE Act” had of passing. At least three Democrat Senators have expressed their opposition to the bill; Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Dianne Feinstein of California object to NRA being exempted from the speech restriction bill, while Ben Nelson of Nebraska opposes the whole idea of restricting political speech. Their opposition places the Democrats’ ability to break a filibuster in serious doubt. Of course a filibuster would only succeed if all Republicans in the Senate were to stick together – something they are not noted for.

House members are also balking at the bill as the outrage of the grass roots is beginning to burn up their telephone and internet connections and more members of Congress learn the particulars of the bill and of the special treatment allotted to NRA.

Conservative and liberal groups alike are loudly objecting to the NRA exemption. This brings much-needed exposure to the speech limitation legislation and is causing conflict among the supporters of the bill. Many oppose the NRA exception, but many more, who depend on GunVoter support for reelection, say they will not support the bill if NRA or GunVoters oppose it. Sponsors of the bill are in the difficult position of either staying the present course and muscling through the objections of their fellow Democrats, broadening definitions to exempt many more groups, or removing the NRA exemption and having one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the country once again fighting the bill with all of their resources.

The confusion and conflict among Democrats is good news for supporters of liberty and the Constitution.

Had the current political situation been created in any manner other than NRA placing self-interest above constitutional principles I would be thrilled with the situation, instead I am frustrated and disappointed. As a Life Member of NRA I strongly support their political agenda as well as their shooting programs. In this instance I fear that Mr. LaPierre and NRA leadership have seriously shot themselves in the foot and their intransigent, unapologetic attitude is just adding insult to injury.

NRA’s opposition to the rape of the First Amendment should not be based solely on how such rape will affect them directly, but also how it will affect the movement as a whole, their state affiliates and fellow rights organizations, and the integrity of the Constitution itself. When they accepted this deal, NRA abdicated the moral high ground in favor of wallowing in the mud with the swine.

To receive The Firearms Coalition’s bi-monthly newsletter, The Knox Hard Corps Report, write to PO Box 3313, Manassas, VA 20108.

About:
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition is a project of Neal Knox Associates, Manassas, VA. Visit: www.FirearmsCoalition.org