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NRA Sues San Francisco For Declaring It a 'Domestic Terrorist Organization'

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  September 10, 2019 7:30 AM

The National Rifle Association sued San Francisco on Monday for declaring the group a “domestic terrorist organization.”

The gun rights group argues in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, that the city and county of San Francisco as well as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors infringed on the NRA’s free speech rights and is trying to blacklist those associated with the group.

The gun lobby wants the court "to instruct elected officials that freedom of speech means you cannot silence or punish those with whom you disagree."

“This action is an assault on all advocacy organizations across the country,” said William A. Brewer III, the NRA’s attorney. “There can be no place in our society for this manner of behavior by government officials. Fortunately, the NRA, like all U.S. citizens, is protected by the First Amendment.”

The resolution was passed last week and accuses the group of using "its considerable wealth and organizational strength to promote gun ownership and incite gun owners to acts of violence."

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Supervisor Catherine Stefani introduced the resolution after the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, which killed three people, including two children.  

"The National Rifle Association spreads propaganda that misinforms and aims to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence," the resolution states. "The National Rifle Association through its advocacy has armed those individuals who would and have committed acts of terrorism."

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said the group will keep never give up its fight for gun rights.

“This lawsuit comes with a message to those who attack the NRA: We will never stop fighting for our law-abiding members and their constitutional freedoms," he said. "Some politicians forget that all 5 million of us in the NRA stand for freedom and that we believe it is a cause worth fighting for. We will always confront illegal and discriminatory practices against our organization and the millions of members we serve.”