Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge penned an op-ed on August 21, 2020 calling out Democrats for their gun-grabbing agenda heading into the 2020 election.
She cited the Biden/Harris ticket’s anti-Second Amendment platform and New York Attorney General Letitia James’s lawsuit to break up the NRA.
Rutledge noted the following:
The left has long attacked the Second Amendment, as they believe it is antiquated and unnecessary, and have assured us they can protect us better than we can protect ourselves. But in a time of crisis, many of them have revealed that they won’t actually use law enforcement and even support defunding the agencies that protect and serve all communities. Now they are attacking a private organization that’s trying to do the same.
She then mentioned the state of New York’s attack on the NRA:
Just three months before a presidential election, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed suit against the NRA and several members of its leadership, seeking to have the gun rights organization dissolved. This lawsuit, filed in New York state court, is the apex of a longstanding feud between the NRA and the Democratic state attorney general. James attacked the NRA while she was a candidate for attorney general, calling it a “terrorist organization” and a “criminal enterprise.”
The Arkansas Attorney General understands what’s at stake regarding the potential destruction of the NRA:
James knows that if the NRA were dissolved, it would be a huge personal and political victory, as the Democrats would finally be able to silence the largest Second Amendment and gun safety advocate in the country. The NRA promotes responsible and safe firearm ownership and self-defense, and it encourages favorite pastimes like hunting and recreational shooting. That’s a staple of life for folks like us in Arkansas, and a far cry from James’ nefarious “terrorist organization” and “criminal enterprise” labels.
Although the attorney general of a state can investigate non-profits for wrongdoing, Rutledge acknowledges that this case is clearly a political witch hunt:
As state attorneys general, we are tasked with protecting the interests of consumers and holding bad actors accountable. Since the NRA is based in New York, James’ office has the jurisdiction to investigate this organization, like any other charity or nonprofit. But while the lawsuit alleges that NRA leadership misused the organization’s funds for their own personal gain, no NRA executives have been charged with any crimes, though James has threatened criminal charges pending the outcome of her office’s investigation.
Rutledge ultimately knows what’s at stake with regards to this case that James is prosecuting against the NRA:
Moreover, James doesn’t seem to be too worried about protecting the interests of the “consumer”: those who are NRA members. If successful, the lawsuit could permanently bar the strongest Second Amendment advocate from raising funds for its cause and ultimately dissolve the multimillion member organization. Instead of holding the alleged bad actors accountable, James seems to believe she has found a way to finally rid the left of one of its greatest political adversaries — and, possibly, its least favorite constitutional amendment.
The U.S. clearly needs more leaders like Rutledge who recognize what the Left’s endgame is all about — control.
The NRA has it faults, but it should be defended in this case when they’re confronting a radical Left that has no interest in maintaining right wing discourse.
The NRA should follow President Trump’s advice and move its operations to Texas, a more pro-Second Amendment state that won’t try to persecute its free speech.
