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Senator Ted Cruz urges gun companies to do more biz in Texas after Chicago Mayor attacks them.
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Fox News alert we also have breaking news this hour on a gun control story we have been following closely here in America live.
Last week Chicago mayor and former chief of staff to President Obama Rama Manuel sent an open letter to several big banks.
Pressuring them to cut off funds to firearm companies that don't actively get behind President Obama -- gun control efforts he says get on board.
Or.
These companies need to get on -- -- Bank of America TD bank and other should just cut them off.
Today a response from Texas senator Ted Cruz he has just sent a letter to the CEOs.
Of several gun manufacturers and to the banks.
The letter is full of fiery language he writes in part quote.
Should mayor -- manuals bullying campaign proved successful.
I am confident that there are numerous financial institutions in Texas that would be eager to earn your business.
And in the event that it might prove helpful I would be happy to personally introduce you.
To their readers.
-- mayor Emanuel is not the only politician now getting attention for using high pressure strong arm tactics.
In this gun debate that was supposed to involve a modest proposal that both sides could potentially agree upon.
Meet build a -- yeah.
He's here in New York City he's the man who wants to be the next mayor of new York and he has been attacking investment firms here.
That had any dealings with a gun and street if they invest in the gun industry there on his list.
But can lawmakers legally appeal to banks and investors to cut off cash flow to hurt businesses.
Simply to win a political argument or because those gun manufacturers won't get on board with their political argument.
Just -- an apology on it was a Fox News senior judicial analyst judge welcome back this this I mean I'll tell you as a as somebody practiced law for almost a decade.
This is scary to me when you've got somebody who's got the power of government behind them threatening private industry to cut off relationships.
With with.
Law abiding entities it is not like these people have committed any violation of law even allegedly.
They are following the law it's just that Rahm Emanuel on this build of Lazio don't like their chosen business.
To get the power the government pressuring them.
To sever these relationships my question -- -- is.
Is it even legal.
Well he answered a word is no it's not legal Megan and there are a couple of clauses of the constitution.
Some well now on some not so well known.
That were written prohibit this -- one of the causes -- the contracts clause and it basically says.
That state governments or city or municipal governments that are well formed in the states.
Cannot interfere with contracts that are freely entered into that -- lawful at the time they were made.
So because it is still lawful for gun manufacturers to manufacture guns.
And that is still lawful for banks to lend money to the gun manufacturers and still lawful.
For hedge funds to invest in gun manufacturers.
It is unlawful for the government to interfere with that relationship now this is not rom Emanuel.
As a private citizens -- that would be different right saying.
I don't like what you're doing with your investment so I'm gonna take my investment out of yours.
This is the mayor of the city's second largest city of the country's second largest city.
Threatening term used the coercive power of the government.
To punish these corporations.
If they don't invest money as he wants them to.
Yes they think that's that that's were I wanna go with this because I realize and there's another -- separate apartment constitution.
A civil claim called tortuous interference with contract that he might be guilty of violating -- can't interfere with somebody contractual relation -- like that but.
Let me ask you about First Amendment speech because.
Viewpoint discrimination is not allow when you have the federal government trying to say you all think like I think I'm gonna punish you right.
That's not okay when Rahm Emanuel try to punish these gun manufacturer to get what they say he's trying to punish -- for -- For not advocating the president's proposal they all see eye to eye with him on it so he wants them punished.
Well that the First Amendment.
And most school children can quote the words from -- congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech the word congress since the civil war and the civil war amendments means no government.
Can make any law abridging the freedom of speech.
The corollary of that is no government can force you to speak.
You have a right to remain silent you also have a right to speak out as you see fit.
So for the government the city of Chicago under Rahm Emanuel or the city of new York -- -- the -- -- becomes Medicare.
To punish.
Investment houses and banks and manufacturers.
Because they don't say what these politicians want them to say.
It's a blatant and direct violation.
A first amendment rights which are enjoyed by individuals by investors by corporations by everybody and everything in the United States.
You think about how dangerous this is think if you had some very pro life politician who is running around two apartment complexes saying.
I'm not saying you can't rent to a woman who's had an abortion.
But I'm gonna give you the list of all the women who have visited Planned Parenthood on the days they provide abortions.
And I strongly encourage you to -- consider doing business with women who have had abortions.
As as the public official as the mayor of Chicago I strongly encourage it -- you imagine the outrage in this country judge.
Well -- the left of which counts among the -- -- -- and mayor Emanuel are prime examples.
Is only too willing.
To use the power of the government.
To enforce conformity with their wishes.
There are no more interest in and freedom and they -- jumping over the -- they're interested in an end result -- almost don't care they get there but your point is a great one.
They don't realize that the power that they used today against law abiding citizens who don't speak as they want them to speak.
Could be used five years from now against law abiding citizens who agree with them to force them to do things and say things.
That they don't believe -- this is why these clauses were written in the constitution.
To guarantee an area of human behavior.
Thought speech silence commercial activity that should be immune from government interference in government bully.
And because we know there is a difference between a private citizen speaking his or her mind and the power the power.
Of someone who holds the office like Chicago mayor or potentially New York mayor doing it they have a lot more authority -- a lot more power to bully.
That needs to be checked judge thanks for being here pleasure --
