Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
The National Rifle Association's Institute of Legislative Action announced Wednesday that it is firmly opposed to the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, highlighting the D.C. Circuit Court judge's judicial record on the Second Amendment.
President Barack Obama walks with Judge Merrick Garland, before announcing his nomination to the Supreme Court. | Getty
"With Justice Scalia’s tragic passing, there is no longer a majority of support among the justices for the fundamental, individual right to own a firearm for self-defense. Four justices believe law-abiding Americans have that right – and four justices do not. President Obama has nothing but contempt for the Second Amendment and law-abiding gun owners," Chris Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement, remarking upon Obama's past Supreme Court nominees and their own records on the issue.
Cox concluded that "a basic analysis of Merrick Garland’s judicial record shows that he does not respect our fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense."
"Therefore, the National Rifle Association, on behalf of our five million members and tens of millions of supporters across the country, strongly opposes the nomination of Merrick Garland for the U.S. Supreme Court," Cox said in the statement.
The statement follows the conservative Judicial Crisis Network announcing an additional $2 million ad campaign in opposition to Garland. Carrie Severino, who heads the group, pointed to Garland's "history of general hostility to the Second Amendment," in particular his decision to vote in favor of reviewing a ruling on a restrictive gun law that had already been struck down. The Supreme Court ultimately affirmed the circuit court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller.
In his speech Wednesday in the Rose Garden, Garland portrayed himself as someone who hews closely to the Constitution and does not advocate from the bench. "For a judge to be worthy of such trust, he or she must be faithful to the Constitution and to the statutes passed by the Congress. He or she must put aside his personal views or preferences, and follow the law — not make it,” he said.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/merrick-garland-supreme-court-nra-guns-220892