NRA sues San Francisco for labeling it a 'domestic terrorist organization'

The National Rifle Association on Monday filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco — and every member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors — for designating the Second Amendment rights group as a "domestic terrorist organization."

What are the details?

Last week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a resolution stating "That the City and County of San Francisco intends to declare the National Rifle Association a domestic terrorist organization," accusing the NRA of spreading "propaganda that misinforms and aims to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence."

The resolution goes on to state that the city and county "should take every reasonable step to assess the financial and contractual relationships our vendors and contractors have with this domestic terrorist organization" and to "take every reasonable step to limit those entities who do business with the City and County of San Francisco from doing business with this domestic terrorist organization."

According to the NRA's complaint, the resolution is "obviously unconstitutional," and violates the organization and its members' rights of free speech and freedom of association under the First Amendment by attempting to "blacklist anyone linked to the NRA."

"The government cannot apply its powers in a targeted, adverse manner against those with whom it disagrees," the plaintiffs argue. "And the government certainly cannot do so in order to stifle or punish disfavored speech."

In reaction to San Francisco's labelling of the organization, the lawsuit states, "The NRA's nearly five million members include countless military veterans, first responders, and law enforcement officers who have risked everything to protect Americans from terrorism. Therefore, the Resolution's 'terrorist' designation is a frivolous insult — but San Francisco's actions pose a nonfrivolous constitutional threat."

Anything else?

The suit demands a trial by jury "on all issues so triable," and is seeking an injunction and damages.