"Congress should certainly preserve, and indeed strengthen, the Exclusionary Rule to safeguard citizen rights and curb police misconduct." Congress should heed this advice." [Insight on the News December 11, 1995]
In 1994, the group co-signed a letter to President Clinton that argued:
[for the] the appointment of a commission to review the practices "of all federal law enforcement agencies" as a result of "widespread abuses of civil liberties and human rights." [The American Lawyer November, 1995]
The group opposed the 1996 "Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" (AEDPA)that was a response to the Oklahoma City Bombing and severely curtailed habeas corpus rights.
"We are strongly opposed to provisions of the Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995, H. R. 896 or S. 390, which allow the government to engage in activities contrary to constitutional principles of due process, free speech, and freedom of association. We are also strongly opposed to proposals to increase the government's authority to monitor groups, domestic and international, in the absence of reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
"We are fully supportive of law enforcement, but history is clear that when the nation has overreached in moments of crisis, the results have been bad for basic freedoms and have diverted law enforcement from its basic mission of apprehending criminals. [PR Newswire, April 27, 1995,]
Here's how one newspaper described the joining of forces of gun groups and liberal organizations:
An odd coalition that includes the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Rifle Association urged Congress on Tuesday to create independent oversight of federal law enforcement agencies and back off legislation that would give more power to police.
Leaders of the groups said federal raids at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, showed a lack of consistent guidelines and accountability. And they said they were concerned that legislation like the anti-terrorism bill, written in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, would further erode constitutional rights.[Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK) October 25, 1995]
Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of Amercia, said at the time:
"When your house is on fire, you don't quibble with the guy who is bringing you a bucket of water especially when the arsonists are the Democratic and Republican leaders in Washington who want to torch the whole Bill of Rights." [Newsday, April 15, 1996]
As to the group's support for preserving the filibuster, their reasons no doubt will make liberals cringe. You can read their statement here.
Unlike most liberals, TalkLeft is a strong supporter of individual rights under the Second Amendment. Nonetheless, our advice to all liberals is: Take your allies where you find them. The point is, whatever your reasons, we must save the Filibuster.
