A majority of the Supreme Court appeared on Monday to embrace arguments by the National Rifle Association that a New York State official violated the First Amendment by trying to dissuade companies from doing business with it after a deadly school shooting.
The dispute, which began after a gunman opened fire in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., was one of two cases on Monday that centered on when government advocacy crosses a line to violate the Constitution’s protection of free speech.
After the shooting, which killed 17 students and staff members, Maria Vullo, then a superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, said banks and other insurance companies regulated by her agency should assess whether they wanted to continue providing services to the N.R.A.
The gun rights group sued, accusing Ms. Vullo of unlawfully leveraging her authority as a government official.
Persons:
Marjory Stoneman, Maria Vullo, Ms, Vullo
Organizations:
National Rifle Association, New York State, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, New York State Department of Financial Services
Locations:
Parkland, Fla