“Are you now, or have you ever been associated with the National Rifle Association?” That’s the tenor of a new question all contractors who do business with the city of Los Angeles will have to answer. We noted the new ordinance mandating the declarations when it was enacted back in February.
Now that the law has taken effect, the NRA has sued the City of Angels over their anti-gun McCarthy-ite tendencies. We like their chances in federal court. The Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Arkansas back in 1960. But as far as Los Angeles is concerned, this is different because guns.
Here’s the AP’s report . . .
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The National Rifle Association is suing Los Angeles over a new law requiring companies that want city contracts to disclose whether they have ties to the gun rights group.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday claims the law violates the First Amendment right to free speech and association and its 14th Amendment right to equal protection.
The city says it will defend the ordinance, which took effect April 1.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell sought the ordinance in the wake of U.S. mass shootings. He said the NRA has been a “roadblock to gun safety reform” for decades.
NRA attorney Chuck Michel calls the law “modern-day McCarthyism” that would force NRA supporters to drop their memberships for fear of losing their livelihoods. Michel says he’s confident no judge will uphold it.