ACLU Pro 2A?

[MudCamper]

The ACLU fights to protect 9 of the 10 Bill of Rights. But sadly they do not protect the 2A, nor even believe in it. Here is their idiotic hypocritical statement about Heller:

http://www.aclu.org/blog/organization-news-and-highlights/heller-decision-and-second-amendment

One can choose to support the ACLU for their defense of 1A, 4A, 5A, etc., and support NRA, SAF, CGF for the defense of 2A. That is what I choose to do, even though I don't always agree with everything the ACLU nor the NRA do or say.

[bwiese]

• Many ACLU state sub-orgs are recognizing 2A as individual.
• The national org as it stands is "unhappy but resigned".
• There are significant areas of mutual concern btwn ACLU and gun
  orgs regarding privacy, civil rights violations, arrest & search/seizure matters.
  
  Rather than making ACLU "pro gun" it's far better to work on areas
  of mutual concern, esp in areas where they've done well.

[lasbrg]

Not entirely true. They, unlike almost all other large organizations, have shown willingness to take up very unpopular clients.

This puts them in a very good position to take a very firm civil rights stand on the 2A post Heller. They have the reputation, precedent, and PR capital to withstand any (engineered) negative publicity fallout with ease.

Exactly. I think they really enjoy taking stands like this. They seem to go out of their way to represent unpopular groups like the Klan, Nazis, etc.

[lasbrg]

The ACLU fights to protect 9 of the 10 Bill of Rights. But sadly they do not protect the 2A, nor even believe in it. Here is their idiotic hypocritical statement about Heller:

http://www.aclu.org/blog/organization-news-and-highlights/heller-decision-and-second-amendment

One can choose to support the ACLU for their defense of 1A, 4A, 5A, etc., and support NRA, SAF, CGF for the defense of 2A. That is what I choose to do, even though I don't always agree with everything the ACLU nor the NRA do or say.

The national ACLU is wrong here. Scalia's Heller opinion makes clear why (and is probably the best thing he ever wrote):

The Second Amendment provides: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In interpreting this text, we are guided by the principle that “[t]he Constitution was written to be understood by the voters; its words and phrases were used in their normal and ordinary as distinguished from technical meaning.” ...

The first salient feature of the operative clause is that it codifies a “right of the people.” ... Nowhere else in the Constitution does a “right” attributed to “the people” refer to anything other than an individual right.
...
From our review of founding-era sources, we conclude that this natural meaning was also the meaning that “bear arms” had in the 18th century. In numerous instances, “bear arms” was unambiguously used to refer to the carrying of weapons outside of an organized militia.

Regardless of what they thought before, the Supreme Court has weighed in and 2A is an individual right. There is no longer any doubt about it.

[HowardW56]

I believe some state and local ACLU chapters support the 2A, but ACLU National still believes that the 2A does not protect an individual right to keep and bear arms.

ACLU national isn't a bad organization, but they aren't a friend to the 2A

They have done some good work on 1st, 4th & 5th Amendment cases... They serve to keep local governments and law enforcement somewhat in check....

[4th Gen]

ACLU & GUN RIGHTS

The NRA and other gun rights groups should be fully engaged to get the ACLU onboard. They don't necessarily see gun ownership as a civil right, they focus more on the invasion of privacy issues. If there can be a way to bridge that divide it would add a substantial boost to the clout of gun owners and 2A advocates everywhere.

I agree strongly with you, Frito. Calm information sharing discussions with uninformed, so called, "liberals" could help our cause much more than simple name calling. The ACLU should be encouraged to give the 2nd Amendment more thought.

[NHP1127]

ACLU are left wing zealots. Not a good fit and I don't see them or their occu-poo supporters ever being on this side of the issue.

[HKC]

ACLU are left wing zealots. Not a good fit and I don't see them or their occu-poo supporters ever being on this side of the issue.

So I take it you didn't read the link I started the thread with?