ACLU and NRA unite in landmark free speech case at Supreme Court

Mar 19, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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Supreme Court justices heard arguments in NRA v. Vullo on Monday, March 18. The landmark case has brought together two unlikely allies, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The case centers on allegations made by the NRA against Maria Vullo, a former New York state official who previously held the position of superintendent at the New York State Department of Financial Services.

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Vullo allegedly suggested that companies reassess their connections with the NRA after the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida and issued warnings of potential enforcement actions against those that didn’t comply.

Central to the arguments is the question of whether government advocacy crossed the line into suppression of free speech. The NRA argues that Vullo targeted the group for its speech, violating its First Amendment rights. Conversely, Vullo asserts that she was within her rights to enforce the law and express policy views.

The NRA responded by filing a lawsuit, claiming unlawful government coercion.

In an unexpected turn, the NRA found an ally in the ACLU, which argued that the group’s speech was undeniably targeted.

The outcome of this case could significantly influence how government officials engage with controversial topics and regulate speech.

A decision is expected this summer, and witnesses suggest that the justices appeared inclined to side with the NRA.

Tags: ACLU, First Amendment, Free Speech, National Rifle Association, New York, Supreme Court

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IT’S A SUPREME COURT CASE BRINGING THE NRA AND ACLU – TOGETHER.

ON MONDAY – JUSTICES HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE OF NRA V. VULLO – IN WHICH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION ACCUSES A FORMER NEW YORK STATE OFFICIAL NAMED MARIA VULLO – WHO WAS THEN SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES – HAD SUGGESTED THAT COMPANIES REASSESS THEIR TIES WITH THE NRA FOLLOWING THE PARKLAND, FLORIDA, HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE IN 2018 – AND ALLEGEDLY ALSO ISSUED WARNINGS OF POTENTIAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST THOSE COMPANIES IF THEY DIDN’T COMPLY.

THIS PROMPTED THE NRA TO FILE A LAWSUIT, CLAIMING UNLAWFUL GOVERNMENT COERCION.

ARGUMENTS CENTERED ON WHETHER GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY CROSSED INTO SUPPRESSION OF FREE SPEECH.

THE NRA CONTENDS THE OFFICIAL TARGETED THEM FOR THEIR SPEECH, VIOLATING THE FIRST AMENDMENT. CONVERSELY, THE OFFICIAL ARGUES SHE WAS WITHIN HER RIGHTS TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND EXPRESS POLICY VIEWS.

IN WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A SURPRISING TWIST, THE NRA HAS FOUND AN ALLY IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION – WHICH EMPHASIZED THAT THE GROUP’S SPEECH WAS UNDENIABLY TARGETED.

THE OUTCOME COULD SIGNIFICANTLY SHAPE HOW GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ENGAGE WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS AND REGULATE SPEECH.

A DECISION IS EXPECTED THIS SUMMER, AND ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE JUSTICES SEEMED POISED TO SIDE WITH THE NRA.