- Term
- 2023-2024
National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo
Here, the right-wing Supreme Court provided itself an opportunity to hand the National Rifle Association an extraordinary remedy to a gun safety regulation. The NRA endorsed an insurance program in New York that would pay legal costs for customers who shot another person — including in circumstances where the insured person acted with criminal intent. That kind of business is illegal. But in Vullo, the court considered a challenge involving legal business between the NRA and outside companies — running the risk of the court affirming not only these business dealings, but also the previously illicit ones protecting people who commit criminal acts with firearms. In addition to the amicus filers connected to the powerful friends and benefactors of the court in this case, the NRA is a named party to this case and is affiliated with powerbroker Leonard Leo, who has deep ties to Justices Thomas and Alito.
On May 30, 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the defendant, a New York official, had violated the NRA’s First Amendment rights.
