Supreme Court sides with NRA in free speech ruling that curbs government pressure campaigns [View all]

[sarisataka]

Supreme Court sides with NRA in free speech ruling that curbs government pressure campaigns

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously backed the National Rifle Association in a First Amendment ruling that could make it harder for state regulators to pressure advocacy groups.

The decision means the NRA may continue to pursue its lawsuit against a New York official who urged banks and insurance companies to cut ties with the gun rights group following the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 people dead.

“Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the most senior liberal, wrote for the court.

“Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech,” Sotomayor added.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/politics/supreme-court-first-amendment/index.html

9-0. Regardless of one's thoughts of the appellant, it does seem allowing the government to use coercion of third parties to suppress speech would be a bad precedent.