The National Rifle Association is concerned about Barack Obama’s radical pick for the Supreme Court and her respect for the Second Amendment.
The Hill reported:
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has questioned Sonia Sotomayor’s fitness to serve on the Supreme Court, a troubling sign for the nominee in what has so far been a smooth confirmation hearing.
The NRA is considered one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington and holds sway with Democrats from conservative states, who could side with Republicans in opposing the nominee.
Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA, blasted Sotomayor for ruling that the Second Amendment’s protection of gun rights does not apply to state and local governments and for being “evasive” when asked about whether gun ownership is a fundamental right.
“As the Senate considers the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Americans are watching to see if this nominee would lend her support to those who’ve declared war on the rights of America’s 80 million gun owners,” LaPierra wrote in a statement posted on the group’s website Wednesday. “After the first day of confirmation hearings, gun owners have good reason to worry.”
Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, referred to the NRA’s statement during Wednesday’s question-and-answer session.
Sotomayor ruled in Maloney v. Cuomo (aka Maloney v. Rice) that the Second Amendment only applies to federal law. In U.S. v. Sanchez-Villar, Sotomayor concluded that the right to possess a gun is not fundamental.
Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn (R) repeatedly asked Sotomayor whether she believed citizens have a right to defend themselves, a line of inquiry the nominee dodged.
“I don’t know if that legal question has ever been presented,” Sotomayor said.
Coburn kept pressing: “I wasn’t asking about the legal question, I’m asking about your personal opinion.”
The Washington Times has more.
A new poll by Rasmussen shows that a plurality of Americans oppose Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation after two days of testimony. 37% of voters now favor her confirmation while 43% are opposed.
