In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sided with the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Thursday, ruling that the New York State Department of Financial Services violated the NRA’s First Amendment rights by effectively blacklisting the group.
The decision, surprisingly authored by far-left Justice Sonia Sotomayor, affirmed that the NRA “plausibly alleged” that its free speech rights were stifled by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) under directives perceived to be politically motivated.
The case, rooted in actions taken by former DFS Superintendent Maria T. Vullo, has ignited fierce debates over the intersection of regulation and free speech.
Vullo, acting on what many conservatives see as a directive from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, issued “guidance letters” to financial institutions in 2018 which effectively coerced them into severing ties with the NRA.