NH INSIDER

"The whole concept of 'Congress Shall Make No Law' in the First Amendment has gone missing in The Times as does the larger case history."—TimesCheck.com Editor Kevin Mooney.

March 19^th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government's TimesCheck.com today released an analysis of New York Times' coverage of recent significant Supreme Court decisions.

"Americans from both sides of the political spectrum must accommodate themselves to Supreme Court decisions that are offensive to their ideological convictions. The liberal editors with The New York Times resolve this dilemma by ignoring the majority opinions in their coverage, while martyring dissenting justices," said Kevin Mooney, Editor of TimesCheck.com.

"Despite all of the editorial posturing on behalf of civil liberties and constitutional rights, it is evident from recent reports that The Gray Lady has not come to terms with high court rulings that expand on First Amendment and Second Amendment freedoms," Mooney added.

"Whatever the merits of a particular case, the majority opinion is the law of the land and deserves consideration and attention in the reporting," said Mooney.  "The cases should be open to criticism and scrutiny and it's find to give at least one dissenting view space and attention but not at the expense of arguments that carried the day in court."

The McDonald v. Chicago case now before the court is in many respects a sequel to the District of Columbia v. Heller case that ruled in favor of an individual right to own a gun. "The Times shows its hand by marginalizing the majority of opinion in Heller written by Justice Antonin Scalia. This does a great disserve to the readers because the justices who joined Scalia in Heller could very well rule the same way in McDonald," said ALG President Bill Wilson.

Mooney described other Times coverage as a "crusade in favor of legislative changes to the Citizens United V. FEC ruling, which restored First Amendment freedoms lost under campaign finance laws."

"Two of America's most important founding principles – the right to free speech and the right to freely associate – were recently reaffirmed by the court as it set aside unconstitutional restrictions," Mooney explained.

Mooney said the "whole concept of 'Congress Shall Make No Law' in the First Amendment has gone missing in The Times as does the larger case history. While it's certainly appropriate to raise questions the potential impact of the court ruling on upcoming political races, the larger case history has been omitted here to the detriment of readers."

"Allowing corporations, and for that matter unions, to have greater dexterity and flexibility where political advocacy is concerned will not threaten the republic's foundations and the burden should be on those arguing in favor of restrictions," Mooney added.

Wilson said The Times should be more "consistent," concluding, "The same newspaper that hides behind the First Amendment whenever it leaks national security information should put a little more weight into the clear constitutional language the high court has restored to its proper station."



GOP organization supports Friend of the Court Brief before the Supreme Court as part of an effort to secure citizens’ federal constitutional right to bear arms.

McDonald v. City of Chicago is one of several actions that have been filed as an aftermath of last year’s District of Columbia v. Heller decision in which the D.C. ban on keeping loaded, operable firearms in the home and possession of handguns was overturned. McDonald seeks to establish that the Second Amendment forbids both state and local governments from banning handguns.

The specific issue under consideration is whether the Second Amendment right to bear arms is incorporated by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and/or the Privileges and Immunity Clause and therefore applies to the states. The petitioners in the action make a persuasive argument that this right is incorporated and are seeking support from legislators across the country in the form of a Friend of the Court Brief.

Representative William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon), Co-Chair of the New Hampshire House Republican Alliance (NHHRA), stated that the right to bear arms is fundamental and not dependent on constitutional language alone. Therefore, the Second Amendment recognized right to bear arms applies directly against the states as well as the federal government, despite 19th century decisions that might be read as contrary. “This is a good brief and one that is worthy of the support of those members of the NHHRA and others who support the Second Amendment,” he said.  O’Brien added that “should this action be successful, it will provide long-lasting, constitutional protection of the fundamental right to possess arms against states seeking to infringe upon it”.

The NHHRA is comprised of members of the NH House of Representatives striving for legislative support for bills representing the NH and U.S. Constitutions and NH Republican party platform. For more information, please log onto http://www.nhhouserepublicanalliance.org.

James Pindell 8/24/09

http://www.nhpoliticalreport.com/

CONCORD -- It was more than awkward at the National Rifle Association Foundation dinner Friday night where a former state Representative took the microphone and for nearly 10 minutes went on a tirade about why Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte was not "good on guns" while she sat nearby.

Former state Representative Richard "Stretch" Kennedy has been viewed as a leader on gun issues for at least a decade. When he was offered a chance to speak the room at the Concord Courtyard by Marriott was packed with over 300 people. When Kennedy began questioning Ayotte's credentials he didn't even know she was in the room. But spotted her easily enough. She sat only 30 yards away. A source who was there said it was very awkward especially given that it wasn't a very political dinner. The NRA Foundation is the education arm that sponsors gun safety programs among other events.

In an interview Kennedy his main complaint was that Ayotte, while attorney general, actively lobbied against the "Castle Doctrine" bill that had passed the state House and Senate and that Ayotte encouraged Democratic Gov. John Lynch to veto, which he did. The Castle Doctrine considers deadly force against an intruder on a person's own property to be justifiable homicide. (As in a person has the right to defend his or her castle.) Guns groups strongly favored the bill. Ayotte stood with the state's police chiefs in being against it.

After the event was over Ayotte sought out Kennedy. They discussed the issue for about 20 minutes and agreed to talk about it in a separate meeting with other gun leaders.

"She was upset, but didn't deny the facts. Look, she is a nice kid, but she has no legislative experience and it is clear she has a lot to learn," said Kennedy, who served six terms in the House. Kennedy also recalled a bad experience with Ayotte's potential primary rival Ovide Lamontange when he ran for governor in 1996.

"By the time he met with us guns guys he just gave us a lot of lawyer B.S.," he said.

While Kennedy has been known for his often pugnacious and colorful remarks, his words are taken seriously with the gun rights community. And the speech comes at a critical time as Ayotte tries to both define herself politically and head off a primary opponent from the right.

To Whom It May Concern,

The LFOD Rally organizer's call out to 2nd amendment supporter's to beaware of this situationwith the Town of Jaffrey injunctionagainst thedemonstration shoot feature at Live Free Or Die Rally. The hearingis being held atKeene Cheshire County Superior Court Friday August 14th at 1.30 PM if any would like to appear in support.

We have all the other permit's and the LFOD rally is a go with hundred's of reservations. However, the Town fascist'sare still fighting allowing the Appleseed shoot feature at LFOD Rally. We or the Grand View Inn are not asking for a permanent commercial shooting range, just that Appleseed Projectbe allowed to have a one time free demonstration shoot under their and all of our's second amendment rights.

Thank You,

Jean Coutu, caacp01@aol.com, http://livefreeordierally.com