Freedom of Speech vs. U. S. Congress

The politicians in Washington, D.C. today must really fear the National Rifle Association, and its members. Otherwise, why should they work so hard to suppress them? In case anyone hasn't heard, there is a bill in Congress at this moment that is called the DISCLOSE Act. H.R. 5175. This act, if passed, is a result of the Supreme Court overruling the McCain/Feingold Act that would have controlled/restricted donations to political campaigns and dissent on policies in Washington. It is in fact a back door way to strangle free speech. The bill will target not the group, but individual members in a group. Once the DISCLOSE Act has silenced groups, it will go after independent protesters: individual writers, bloggers, anyone who disagrees with what is happening in Washington.

How does this affect the NRA? The NRA has a war chest of millions that is uses to fight laws on gun control, and other Second Amendment issues. It keeps its members updated on how the despots in Washington work to stifle free speech (First Amendment) and the right to bear arms (Second Amendment). The DISCLOSE Act puts onerous regulations on those who protest. Initially, anyone who would pay for opposition ads in a political campaign would have to divulge its members list and large donors to the cause. The NRA does not want to divulge its members list because the next step is for the government to contact each member and harass them by any means at the government's disposal.

In a move to silence the NRA, and to protect the members list, the Democrats proposed to "exempt" the NRA and "other groups like the NRA" (quote from letter from NRA dated 6/15/10)from this bill. (Under further investigation, the only group actually exempted is the NRA. )

NRA's letter, in part, stated:


STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION ON H.R. 5175, THE DISCLOSE ACT

The National Rifle Association believes that any restriction on the political speech of Americans are unconstitutional.

In the past, through the courts and in Congress, the NRA has opposed any effort to restrict the rights of its four million members to speak and have their voices heard on behalf of gun owners nationwide.

The NRA's opposition to restrictions on political speech includes its May 26, 2010 letter to Members of Congress expressing strong concerns about H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act. As it stood at the time of that letter, the measure would have undermined or obliterated virtually all of the NRA's right to free political speech, and therefore, jeopardized the Second Amendment rights of every law-abiding American.

The most potent defense of the Second Amendment requires the most adamant exercise of the First Amendment, in order to protect and preserve the freedom of the Second Amendment.

The NRA must preserve its ability to speak. It cannot risk a strategy that would deny rights, for the Second Amendment cannot be defended without them.

Thus, the NRA's first obligation must be to its members and to its most ardent defence of firearms freedom for America's lawful gun owners.

On June 14, 2010, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives pledged that H.R. 5175 would be amended to exempt groups like the NRA, that meet certain criteria, from its onerous restrictions on political speech. As a result, and as long as that remains the case, the NRA will not be involved in final consideration of the House bill.


Many bloggers are saying the NRA sold out. Others are saying they blinked first. MY mind says they felt it more important, at this time, to preserve their ability to speak on other issues (gun owners rights, etc) than to continue to be vocal on this bill. Whatever the case, IF the NRA stands silent on this bill, it is everyone else's responsibility to stand up and protest. Letters and e-mails to Congress, House and Senate, must be sent immediately. This bill is being debated now. Urge your Senators and Representatives that a vote FOR H.R. 5175 is a vote FOR gun control, and AGAINST the First and Second Amendments.

Everyone reading this should send letters to their U.S. Representatives and Senators to express their outrage on this feigned finance campaign issue, to the real issue, if one group or one person's freedom of speech in infringed upon, then no one is safe!!