NRA Against Sotomayor - Finnaly!

[Guest oldfella]

Joint Statement

Wayne Lapierre, Executive Vice President, National Rifle Association

And

Chris W. Cox, Executive Director, National Rifle Association - Institute For Legislative Action

On

Judge Sonia Sotomayor's Nomination To The United States Supreme Court

Other than declaring war, neither house of Congress has a more solemn responsibility than the Senate's role in confirming justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Senate considers the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Americans have been watching to see whether this nominee - if confirmed - would respect the Second Amendment or side with those who have declared war on the rights of America's 80 million gun owners.

From the outset, the National Rifle Association has respected the confirmation process and hoped for mainstream answers to bedrock questions. Unfortunately, Judge Sotomayor's judicial record and testimony clearly demonstrate a hostile view of the Second Amendment and the fundamental right of self-defense guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

It is only by ignoring history that any judge can say that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right and does not apply to the states. The one part of the Bill of Rights that Congress clearly intended to apply to all Americans in passing the Fourteenth Amendment was the Second Amendment. History and congressional debate are clear on this point.

Yet Judge Sotomayor seems to believe that the Second Amendment is limited only to the residents of federal enclaves such as Washington, D.C. and does not protect all Americans living in every corner of this nation. In her Maloney opinion and during the confirmation hearings, she deliberately misread Supreme Court precedent to support her incorrect view.

In last year's historic Heller decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees the individual's right to own firearms and recognizes the inherent right of self-defense. In addition, the Court required lower courts to apply the Twentieth Century cases it has used to incorporate a majority of the Bill of Rights to the States. Yet in her Maloney opinion, Judge Sotomayor dismissed that requirement, mistakenly relying instead on Nineteenth Century jurisprudence to hold that the Second Amendment does not apply to the States.

This nation was founded on a set of fundamental freedoms. Our Constitution does not give us those freedoms - it guarantees and protects them. The right to defend ourselves and our loved ones is one of those. The individual right to keep and bear arms is another. These truths are what define us as Americans. Yet, Judge Sotomayor takes an opposite view, contrary to the views of our Founding Fathers, the Supreme Court, and the vast majority of the American people.

We believe any individual who does not agree that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right and who does not respect our God-given right of self-defense should not serve on any court, much less the highest court in the land. Therefore, the National Rifle Association of America opposes the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

[Guest Jcochran88]

A little late for this now, ain't it?

[Guest Old goat]

A little late for this now, ain't it?

I don't think so, timed about right I say. Hearings going on, lot of coverage, won't be confirmed til August.

Do I think it change anything, no, Fox is probably the only one that may report it.

[Guest oldfella]

A little late for this now, ain't it?

Yes - Too little, too late; that is the main reason I like GOA better.

Pete

[Volzfan]

I have received numerous alerts from GOA on this but I don't think we can do anything about it. The Dems have the votes to confirm but that doesn't mean that I am not sending the emails and making calls. I will be very surprised if any Dems break rank and vote against her. I even expect our very own TN Traitor, Sen. Alexander, to vote to confirm her, based on the emails replies that I have received from him.

GOA is much better than the NRA. LaPierre seems to be only concerned with keeping the money flowing to his personal bank account.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Support them both if they'll continue to fight the good fight.

[Guest oldfella]

Support them both if they'll continue to fight the good fight.

Amen to that...I'm a life member of both!