“Unfortunately, the organization that refers to itself as “our nation’s guardian of liberty” is on the side of this illiberal process.”Not the first time.
On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its New York affiliate organization, the NYCLU, jointly announced they had submitted an amicus brief in the upcoming Supreme Court case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Corlett, which could determine the future of New York’s onerous, barely navigable process of concealed carry licensure. Unfortunately, the organization that refers to itself as “our nation’s guardian of liberty” is on the side of this illiberal process.
In the press release announcing the brief, the ACLU averred that “restrictions on guns in public spaces are appropriate to make public spaces safe for democratic participation, including First Amendment activity such as assembly, association, and speech.” In other words, the ACLU has decided that exercising one’s Second Amendment rights may run counter to someone else’s First Amendment rights, and is favoring the latter over the former. As evidence, the ACLU cites a case from last summer in which a Black Lives Matter rally in Florida was disrupted when a counter-protester—who also happened to be a concealed-carry license-holder—pulled out a handgun and threatened some marchers.
Regardless of one’s permit status, it is already illegal to threateningly brandish a weapon, including in Florida. It remains to be seen how one could not defend both rights equally, even in such a scenario.
