The decision by New York’s Democrat Attorney General Letitia James to sue the National Rifle Association (NRA), aiming to dissolve that gun rights group, is legally preposterous. It is also politically revealing. Look deeper than the filing, and you will see what is afoot.
This is not a dispassionate lawsuit. This is a bold political shot, fired across America’s bow by an emboldened Democratic-Socialist – or rightly put, Socialist-Democrat – political party. Behind the curtain, is an audacious agenda.
For starters, understand that James is a diehard Democrat. She sued New York’s Police Department and tried in 2016 to pressure financial institutions into cutting off gun makers. Like the national party, she is against police, against gun manufacturers, and against gun owners.
Second, as the Wall Street Journal noted, the suit is laughable: “You have to smile at her audacity.” It is also serious, like trying to dissolve the other political party, impeach a president without facts, or end conservative advocacy. It has profound meaning – because the intent is nefarious. See, https://www.wsj.com/articles/gunning-for-the-nra-11596756500.
Third, the suit makes clear 2020 Democrats are taking aim at the 2nd Amendment, which gives Americans their right to “keep and bear arms.” Founding Father Richard Henry Lee explained: “To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike especially when young, how to use them.”
Nevertheless, while Democrats 75 years ago would have fought for those rights – they are today pushing to strip Americans of them. The contrast is startling. Democratic president Harry Truman not only loved guns; he loved the NRA.
In a letter of November 1945, Truman observed that NRA training “materially aided our war effort,” and hoped “the splendid program which the National Rifle Association has conducted for three-quarters of a century will be continued.”
What a contrast to anti-gun ownership sentiments of Democrats today. Former Democrat presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke said “hell, yes, we are going to take” your guns, and pushed for confiscation. https://www.foxnews.com/media/beto-orourke-gun-confiscation-buyback-police. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he will put Beto in charge of gun control. See, e.g., https://nypost.com/2020/03/03/joe-biden-promises-to-put-beto-orourke-in-charge-of-gun-control/.
Ironically, 60 years ago, Democratic Vice President Hubert Humphrey wrote: “Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of the citizens to keep and bear arms.” Where are those Democrats now? All gone.
The threat goes deeper. The goal is not trimming the 2nd Amendment but uprooting it from the Constitution. We heard this from Democrat surrogate John Paul Stevens. In 2018, he penned a column in the New York Times – another dying institution – arguing we should “get rid of the Second Amendment.” Ironically, illustrating how out-of-touch the paper is, they pictured an 18th century musket and labeled it a “rifle.” Muskets have no rifling. See, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/opinion/john-paul-stevens-repeal-second-amendment.html.
Fourth, profound things happen if you mix bad ideas – like defunding police and leaving criminals with guns. Can you imagine? If the both ideas are lunatic, together they spell disaster. Average Americans know it, which is why gun purchases are going through the roof. No one in their right mind wants to defund police and empower criminals.
Already 2020 has seen more FBI background checks than ever. “March saw 3.7 million checks, May 3.1 million, and June 3.9 million.” See, https://dailycaller.com/2020/07/01/2020-gun-sales-june-record-fbi/. Americans know gun ownership is essential, even if Democrats do not.
Fifth, an unspoken truth needs re-speaking. Gun ownership is not just about protecting the family, or even the right to own. It is about protecting all other rights in our Constitution – including free speech, religion, assembly, travel, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, and rights reserved to the People. They all depend on gun ownership – which is why socialists want to crush that right first.
Sixth, if the law can be twisted by a state-level Attorney General, it can be twisted at the federal level. A Biden presidency would create the opportunity. Beware: Once laws are made senseless and fungible, subject to political whim, socialists will have breached our gates. Freedom dies.
Seventh, if a prosecutor can curtail gun ownership, sovereignty vanishes. People are no longer sovereign, no longer in charge. As in Communist China, Venezuela, Cuba, Laos, or former Soviet Union, the government is then in charge.
That is why, a man of non-violence – Mahatma Gandhi – wrote: “Among the many misdeeds of British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.” If non-violence is best for promoting change, People are sovereign only so long as they can enforce their sovereignty and deter government from stealing it.
Eighth, Democrats seem not to understand the seeds they are sowing. Disbanding the NRA is tantamount to threatening the right of Americans to protect themselves, families, and sovereignty. Tying that to defunding police, Democrats push lawlessness. This is how societies are lost. That is not just un-American – it is anti-American.
Ninth, if the notion of dissolving an advocacy group is nonsensical, the irony is this lawsuit may accelerate gun buying, broaden those concerned about the right, and amp up fear of Democrats.
Finally, to quiet all worried hearts, one thing is clear. If this suit were taken seriously, and mismanagement banished the NRA – or any conservative group – new groups would spring up to defend our constitutional freedoms. The best spur to freedom is a political threat.
What is the bottom line? What is the meaning of this noxious suit, aimed at dissolving a national organization fighting for constitutional rights? It is a warning. Do not take freedom for granted. The suit is preposterous but reveals where socialist-leaning Democrats are headed. They have an agenda – and it is not defending your constitutional freedoms.
A Democratic Marxist Communist lifestyle will not live long in the United States. I’m not a Democrat and have been free all of my life. Living with/under the freedom and liberties given to us by and thru the Constitution of the United States. Yeah, I have a couple of 16g,, 22 rifle, and a Double Barrel Shotgun. I can shoot each of them, but with severe bruising at both shoulders.
I truly believe, except for the elderly, those of us who want to continue our lives as free Americans that refuse to give up our rights, pursuant to the Amendments of the U.S. Constitution will go to war inside this country to maintain our freedom. I may be ugh 60, but I won’t back down.
Are you going to join us, or live in this Communist lifestyle where our flag will be burned and our Constitution burned and replaced with their ideas of how the laws shall be written.
If Lil’ Wayne and Co. had kept their focus on actual advocacy, and tried to protect our right to keep and bear arms, they would not have found themselves susceptible to this kind of attack. Instead, Mr. LaPierre’s focus has been on building his personal wealth portfolio, at the expense of the well-intended membership: Worse yet under his “leadership” the NRA has drifted further away from their motto “America’s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights.” Though, not as if they actually have a history of defending it in the first place.
AG Letitia James should forego a case against a legitimate grassroots organization on its mission to defend and protect the Second Amendment.
The embezzlement situation happens in many organizations and the NRA is the victim of theft by employee(s). That being said, NAGR, the National association of Gun Rights has seemed more active in California and is probably gaining a lot of NRA members. Sometimes I feel like the NRA has given up on California.
Real Americans who believe in this Country better prepare for the fight of our lives, these socialist demagogues have no end to their attempt at destroying it!
May God be with us!
Not another planet, but non-American aliens from our planet.
I am a NRA Life Member and agree the lawsuit is politically motivated. However, I have been uneasy about the organization from the time Oliver North left it. Having read the lawsuit filed by AG Letitia James, it brings up some points that need to be looked at by an independent source. I think Wayne LaPierre and others in the leadership positions of the NRA may have spent funds for their benefit and not the organization. I ask myself how the organization could go from having millions in the black to having millions of debt without an accounting for this circumstance to the membership. Perhaps it is time for us, the members, to demand the facts. I do not want the NRA disbanded, I want it to be an organization that values its mission and protects the 2nd Amendment.
This AG needs to be removed from office as she is violating her oath of office. The 2nd Amendment must stand!
Move the NRA Headquarters to Texas! Here they would be welcomed with open arms, no pun intended. Our Attorney General won’t file suit on them here. Now I’m headed to the NRA website to stand with the NRA!
Thoughtful and hard-hitting.
Democratic party has turned into the Hitler party!!!
Perhaps it is a niggling point, though I agree with the article, I take exception to the statement that “the 2nd Amendment, which gives Americans their right to “keep and bear arms…..”. The Constitution and the amendments to it DO NOT GIVE any rights. The Constitution ENUMERATES, DEFINES, and LIMITS the power of the Federal Government. It acknowledges the pre-existence of the RIGHTS we find enumerated in the first ten Amendments. Were it to “give” rights, it would actually be granting privileges – which can be taken away. Please, do not conflate RIGHTS with PRIVILEGES.
I am an NRA member because I value my 2nd Amendment rights as an American and the NRA has done more to help protect those rights than any other organization. I have never had to threaten anyone with my weapons and hope to go to my grave never having had to do so although I’m very concerned over the lawlessness in our nation today. But regardless of what opponents of the NRA actually do, the 2nd Amendment still stands until it’s repealed, and there is not nearly enough support in the country to repeal it. In fact, every gun restriction whether in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, or elsewhere is blatantly unconstitutional, obvious to anyone who can read the simple language of the 2nd Amendment. The NRA is no one’s enemy. But those who refuse to believe in our Constitution are everyone’s enemy.
As a long time Life Member of the NRA, I have been a single issue voter. If someone is seeking an elected office, whether local, municipal, state or federal, I ask one question. “What is your stance on the 2nd Amendment?” If said someone can’t support the right that protects all others, I don’t need to here anything else said someone has to say. Period, end of discussion.
Trump 2020! GBA!
These are these same Bolsheviks who represent the Marauders known as ANTIFA and Black lies matters, no mystery here, we can sees what Satan’s children are up to.
This is a well written article. At present my concern is with a super well funded group called Indivisible – operating nationally and especially in Arizona where I live, is putting on a campaign to defeat Senator McSally. They are democrat radicals and also the Prescott College has hired one of the founders of BLM to be on their faculty – this could bring violence to our area – so there are many concerns and prayers being offered by myself & friends regarding these concerns.
The Volstead Act of 1919 was used to enforce the 18th Amendment (aka Prohibition). This has been on the (history) books for over 100 years and yet few Democrats choose to remember the catastrophe it created. It made common people into criminals and criminals into millionaires. One can only guess what will result with repeal of the Second Amendment. American hoodlums of the 1920’s would be considered amateurs compared to the international gun-running gangsters waiting in the wings and licking their chops as this nonsense unfolds; praying, of course, it never does.
The NRA is the best vehicle for defending the 2nd Amendment. Unfortunately within the organization individuals have made it their personal piggy bank. This abuse has made the NRA vulnerable to attack at the worst possible time.
Clear the grifters, institutionalize transparency and get back to work on defending our charished freedom to keep and bare arms.
Your article is right on in every way. But when you say that they don’t understand,you are wrong. They know exactly what they are doing. This been in the works for decades. We are underestimating them. We are in deep danger of losing everything.
My question is why do intelligent, educated Americans desire to vote for radical, communist, anarchists who slaughter the pre-born, promote pornography, hate our constitution, foment racial hatred, promote the dissolution of orderly society, and love confiscatory taxes. I do not understand. If Biden-Harris wins, then our nation deserves what it will get. Unfortunately, what it will get is catastrophic collapse. May God forbid!
Isn’t it obvious, People be ready to fight to protect your freedoms and liberty. Whether they win or lose this next election, I believe we will be forced to fight ! I believe it is inevitable!
Eloquently written! We must expose these Socialist Democrats at every turn and pray and vote red in November!
I own several guns, and rifles and have a concealed weapon permit, and believe me, I can hit what I aim at. I am in my 70, but if they want my guns, they will get them bullets first!!
This is how all anarchist governments control the people! People can’t get the government to work for the people if the people are unable to defend themselves from whatever restrictions the government wants to impose!
Thank you for keeping us informed. My father was a Marine. I am a veteran. We take our oaths to our protect and serve our country seriously. This week I upgraded my annual membership to a lifetime membership. I hope this helps the NRA to help us with their work to preserve our 2nd amendment.
I am currently running to unseat a D in the November election for IL House District 67 State Representative. I will do everything within my power to protect our constitutional God given rights including our 2A. It is a tough fight. Please send your prayers and contributions to Citizens for Kathie Hansen Po Box 6744 Rockford IL 61125.
Better idea is to dissolve the democrat party as a marxist party!!!
I sleep safe every night with a 38, a 20 gauge shot gun, a 12 gauge shot gun, 4 Bowie knives, 2 baseball bats, a 7 ft long wooden rod and a good watch dog. Come on over you hippie demorat politicians. You’ll have to take them off my stiff dead hands. Why don’t you demons grow a brain.
I’m having trouble understanding the real motivation behind Ms. Jones’s filing of this lawsuit. As AG, why didn’t she file criminal charges for fraud and violating NY’s charity laws? Since she is NOT an NRA member, she has no standing as an injured party and is not entitled to compensation. What game is she really playing? What does she really want to accomplish? It seems unlikely that her lawsuit will be successful, so what’s really going on here?
The democrats today are completely opposite of what they were thirty some years ago.Most people in those times past loved AMERICA.Todays democrats are a nancy pelosi knockoff,mean,bitter and vindictive and are throwing temper tantrums when they don’t get their way.I feel that todays democrats hate AMERICA and embrace communism and that is very,very scary.
Haven’t fired a weapon since Vietnam. Looks like I’m heading to the gun store to buy a weapon for my safety and my families safety. I have resisted the urge to do so but I think I might be time
As long as the Second Amendment stands, there can be no One World Government! Stand-up for America!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!!
Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc. are all Communist Collaborators and are Anti-American!! Stand-up for America!!!! Stop using Google, Facebook, and Instagram!!!!! Demand DOJ file Anti-Trust Lawsuits to brake-up the Cabal!!!!!
There is NO Free Press today! Every Major New Outlet is owned by a small group of Billionaires!! All World, and most local News is controlled by a small Cabal!!! Take-back OUR Country!!! Stand-up for America!!!! Remove Every Democrat!!!!! Demand DOJ file Anti-Trust Lawsuits to brake-up the Cabal!!!!!
Remember, “Socialism is really Marxism without the guns”. This is why they want our guns. If we still have them, we are more powerful than they are.
The 2nd guarantees and protects the rest. If the 2nd goes, the rest will follow. Go Trump Go! 2020
The whole intent of the “Progressive” Democrat party is to destroy the constitution and turn us into a socialist third world country. God help us.
My 1950’s aunts and uncles would tell me horror stories of living under governments (fascist and communist), and the one thing they emphasized in allowing themselves to be taken into serfdom and political slavery and control by these abominations was not realizing – – until it was too late – – -that these people were intent on enslaving everyone to their way of politically thinking. I am of hundreds of thousands that will not allow the despots of the “left” or “right” begin their propaganda with intent on enslaving people again. Yes…their inroads have been made……..but they have been exposed as the totalitarians they are in almost all cases. An armed populace will allow those who profess “life – liberty – and the pursuit of happiness” as the belief of all life to be able to expose the totalitarian death merchants. Death to tyrants.
Hey AMAC, don’t bother sending me a renewal…censorship is wrong no matter what side of the aisle you pretend to be on. Once you start censoring what myself and other members post, then I can only assume your’re no better than the left wing hacks at Facebook and Twitter…Next you’ll be gathering information on us to give to big brother. I’m finished with you!!!
If you hate The United States of America, vote for Democrats.
What the devil has happened to our politicians? How can so many have ideas and beliefs so far off the rail it’s insane. Their thoughts are illogical, sinful and treasonous. Nothing can destroy a town, state or country quicker than corrupt politicians. Don’t think so? Look at Seattle, Portland, New York, Chicago, California or Michigan to name a few. Time to vote out Rinos, liberals, radicals, and be very careful who we vote for. The life of our country depends on the 2020 election. MAGA. TRUMP SAVES.
I’m rejoining right away!!!
Churchill said–” We will not ALL share equally in the fruits of capitalism, BUT we will ALL share equally in the miseries of socialism”.
The best gun salesman up to NOW–Obama–He has been superseded by BLM. As an NRA member– just move your quarters and take in the increased membership to come about as a result of this fiasco. My wife and I are now in the process of getting our CWP permits.Everything one of these loons from NY get involved in something-it just drives people further apart. Ask Cuomo– NOW begging the rich elitists to move back to NY to prop up the cesspool that NY has become. The Marxists behind ALL this treasonous type activity have no idea of what Karl Marx was about. Marx was Jewish and had a penchant for referring to blacks as the “N WORD”. The excuse that a black was killed is the most heinous reason for looting and killing other people. The Democraps are playing blacks like a used fiddle–EXCEPT the ones that know TRUMP has done everything he possibly could to improve their lives. Blacks will help Trump win re-election and the responsible ones will reap the benefits.
God forbid these as you put it (primitive thugs) been turn over to Reprobates!
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall (NOT) be infringed.
F—- THEM WHERE THEY BREATHE. This is garbage, Why are we even discussing this? I know this will not be allowed under certain regulations which include the attempted censorship of my comments. Have a great day. FIGHT OR DIE. KAG 2020
Why was my comment deleted? Everything I said was truthful, WHY IS AMAC ACTING LIKE MSM AND CENSURING PEOPLES COMMENTS?
I’ve lost a little respect for AMAC…I posted an article that was written during the Obama administration but I thought was relevant to the above article. After I made the post I started reading other post from AMAC members about the above article, I then noticed that what I posted was “waiting approval”. Awaiting for approval from whom? I’ve read some pretty questionably stuff on this web page from other AMAC members so I never gave it a second thought that I needed Masters approval first before posting anything. I see that it is still waiting for approval, which to me says that you/AMAC are no better than the liberal hacks that are determining what is said on other social mediums…IE, Facebook, Twitter, etc, etc. Depending on the outcome of this, I may be finished with AMAC because nothing in what I posted could be considered Foul or Repulsive in any way shape or form. May GOD continue to bless the USA…And Save Our Republic, Vote TRUMP 2020!!!
Time for all gun owners to vote Republican only. Even if the NRA has some internal problems, it is still the best defender of our 2nd amendment rights and as the article clearly explains, this gal who has declared the NRA a terrorist organization, is just another political hack using her position to try and sway the election. This is the same tactic the Obama administration used when they weaponized the IRS and all the intelligence agencies against Republicans in past elections. They are unable to compete unless they cheat. NRA member all my life and a professional biologist and I will continue to support the NRA against the Democrats who have now become the American Socialist Party. Also, to the anti-gun Democrats, good luck with trying to take away our guns after the recent huge sales of new guns to new gun owners. Hundreds of millions in private ownership now and many more gun owners. Id the do cheat enough to win, no gun owners are going to bend the knee to their anti gun laws anyway.
For future reference: once the ( D ) party is completely crushed, like the “feenix” rising, they will attempt to infiltrate the ( R ) party. Right now the American communists are working that angle by recruiting politically confused military veterans and CIA / FBI types. RINOS like Romney and Graham must be replaced with true conservatives and Constitutionalists. This all for the sake of preserving the USA.