Going after SARC

[legaleagle_45]

As most of you know, the Second Amendment Research Center (SARC) is an anti 2nd Amendment group funded by the Joyce Foundation (which also funds the VPC and a host of other anti gun groups). Headed by Saul Cornell, it masquerades as a scholarly group which seeks to influence courts rather than the general populace. In fact, their "research" is oftentimes cited by courts for authority (Stevens cited their work in his dissent in Heller, for instance). Here is what Alan Gura recently wrote about SARC and the Joyce Foundation:

It might be useful to note that Cornell serves as the Director of something called “The Second Amendment Research Center,” created in 2002 with a $399,967 grant by the Joyce Foundation. Citation to Newly Published Authority Per Rule 28(j), at 2, Parker v. District of Columbia, 478 F.3d
370 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (No. 04-7041) (citing the Joyce Foundation website). The Second Amendment Research Center’s website now claims it is “supported by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation.” Second Amendment Research Center, http://secondamendmentcenter.com/
about_us.asp (last visited May 26, 2009). The Joyce Foundation is the nation’s preeminent and perhaps most lavish sponsor of extremist gun prohibitionist groups and publications, including the Violence Policy Center, Handgun Free America, and Legal Community Against Violence. The Joyce
Foundation, Grant List:

http://www.joycefdn.org/Programs/Gun...GrantList.aspx (last visited
Mar. 31, 2009).

It is unlikely that anything funded by the Joyce Foundation, or produced by its “Second Amendment Research Center,” would conclude the Second Amendment has any meaning as an individual right. I do not question the Joyce Foundation’s logic in funding work that supports its political objectives, nor would I fault Cornell for accepting support from sympathetic donors. Indeed, it is only natural and proper that people seek out and support those with whom they agree. The money does not alter the merits, if any, of their work. My point is only that political advocacy should not be taken at face value as neutral scholarship, regardless of the manner in which it is presented.

SARC is headquartered at Ohio State, and Ken Hanson of Buckeye Firearms Assoc. decided it might be interesting to see if Joyce had placed any limitations, restrictions or parameters on the funding to SARC... here is what happened, according to Ken:

We did a public records request to Ohio State University, which is where the SARC is housed, for the Joyce grants to see if there are funding restrictions requiring that the research “results” be skewed one way or another. Despite being CLEARLY public records subject to disclosure under Ohio law, OSU is hiding the papers. We have been waiting for sufficient funds to file the mandamus action to force release of those papers, but it is always a case of too little funds available for too much potential litigation, and this public records project has taken a back seat to litigation over actual criminal prosecutions against gun owners by Cleveland etc. (our injunction suits.) We’d hoped to force the disclosure in time for Heller part 2 (incorporation) at the SCOTUS but it appears that won’t happen.

OK... first let me state that I am not a member of Buckeye as I live in Oregon. Second, this may be a wild goose chase and may not lead to anything incriminating as to SARC or as to Joyce. However, the cost involved is not that significant. According to Ken:

The mandamus suit is fairly cheap as such things go, figure $5,000-$7,500 because you can file it as an original action in the [Ohio] supreme court and cut out all the appeals and BS discovery tactics. There is a “loser pay” provision that is not readily enforced in our courts, if the government entity has any plausible claim for why they didn’t disclose. Honestly a nationwide fundraising campaign to try and get the goods on the SARC might actually be of interest, as it isn’t strictly Ohio-centered in the ultimate result.

I asked Ken if Buckeye would honor donations which are earmarked for this specific project and he informed me that Buckeye would indeed honor such earmarked donations. I then told Ken I would spread the word as best I could to solicit donations. So here I am, asking for your donations. This could be extremely important in discrediting SARC so as to blunt their influence with the courts. Donations may qualify as a charitable contribution for tax purposes as the organization is a 501 (c)(3) organization. The organizational name and address for these donations is :

Buckeye Firearms Foundation
15 West Winter Street
Delaware, Ohio 43015

Note these donations should NOT be made to the Buckeye Firearms Assoc directly, but to their charitable foundation. All that is needed so as to insure that your donation is applied to going after SARC is either a simple cover letter or a notation on the memo line of the check indicating that the funds are for the "public records SARC fight".

THANX GUYS!!!


PS, I really, REALLY dislike SARC and VPC as I consider them to be intentionally dishonest. This is a chance to for all of us to do something about them.

 

[Gretzky09]

This might be against the rules but I'm bumping this on the basis of it being a good cause.

 

[kansas coyote]

Thanks for the info legalegal 45 this should be bumped dialy .