San Francisco Politicians Forced to Abandon Attack on NRA
The National Rifle Association (NRA) declared victory in San Francisco last week, after Mayor London Breed formally disavowed key provisions of a municipal resolution that signaled the blacklisting of contractors linked to the Second Amendment advocacy group.
On September 3, 2019, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which runs the City and County of San Francisco, unanimously approved a resolution that called for the City to investigate ties between its contractors/vendors and the NRA. The SF Board’s resolution 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 attacking 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.”
San Francisco Mayor Breed is the “Mayor for All San Franciscans”, unless, of course, you are a Republican, or a firearms owner, or an NRA contractor, or a supporter of the Second Amendment.
“The [Mayor’s] 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, 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 will always fight to protect our members and the constitutional freedoms in which they believe”, added NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre.
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 Dederal District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who found that the NRA had stated a clear First Amendment claim.
About the NRA
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. With over five million members, NRA fights to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against criminals. The NRA remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement, and the armed services.
