The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), in a coordinated move with the Department of Justice (DOJ), has filed a motion to amend a Louisiana district court’s judgment that mandated the organization hand over its member list as part of the ruling in the case of Reese v. ATF.
The underlying lawsuit challenges a federal law prohibiting licensed firearm dealers from selling or transferring handguns to adults under the age of 21.
The Contentious Order
Earlier this week, the court entered a judgment that contained an unexpected directive: “Within twenty-one days of issuance of this Judgment, those Plaintiffs…shall provide to Defendants a verified list of their members as of November 6, 2020.”
This order directly targeted the SAF, one of the organizational plaintiffs in the case.
SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut stated the organization’s immediate response: “Once we read the judge’s order, we took quick and decisive action to ensure our member data will not be supplied to anyone, much less the government.” Kraut stressed the organization’s firm stance, asserting, “SAF has never – and will never – provide the government a list of our members, and we won’t be strong-armed into turning over the private data of those who support SAF and the Second Amendment.”
DOJ’s Support and SAF’s Outrage
The partnership with the DOJ in filing the motion to amend is a significant development, as the DOJ is typically the defendant representing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in such challenges. Kraut expressed gratitude that the DOJ “agreed with our position” and joined the motion.
SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb called the court’s requirement “egregious,” stating, “In all my years working in and around the Second Amendment litigation space I have never seen such an egregious order issued by the court.” Gottlieb vowed to “fight tooth and nail to protect the privacy of all SAF members” and expressed hope that the joint motion with the DOJ would resolve the issue permanently.
The Reese v. ATF case also includes plaintiffs the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Louisiana Shooting Association, and three private citizens: Joseph Granich, Emily Naquin, and Caleb Reese. The motion filed today seeks to remove the requirement for the SAF to disclose its membership roster, focusing on protecting the privacy rights of its members.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
