Turns out that jumping on the leftist bandwagon to restrict the constitutional rights of your fellow Americans is not a cost-free exercise in "moral" exhibitionism for all corporations. Ostracizing citizens who are exercising a legal right protected by the Bill of Rights can be very costly.
Here’s how it works.
First it requires conservative elected officials with backbones instead of the invertebrates we are accustomed to seeing in Washington. Second, it requires an opportunity. Louisiana has just provided both.
It started like this. Superior beings infesting management at Citigroup and Bank of America decided to enact their own gun control regulations after consulting with the hysterical Opposition Media and gun-grabbing busybodies.
According to The Washington Times, Citibank announced it would no longer work with retail clients who sold firearms if they did not restrict sales to buyers under age 21, refuse to sell “bump stocks,” and also stop selling “high capacity” magazines.
Bank of America unilaterally decided to stop making loans to gun manufacturers that make scary-looking “assault rifles.” As Anne M. Finucane, vice chairwoman at the Bank of America, smugly told Bloomberg TV, “We want to contribute in any way we can to reduce these mass shootings.”
Reuters didn’t detect a problem either as it observed, “The new rules could be seen as somewhat symbolic since they are unlikely to directly affect a large share of business at the bank, which had total assets of $1.8 trillion.”
Well, symbol this: The Daily Wire reported, “Louisiana officials denied two of America's largest banks an opportunity to be involved in a project worth hundreds of millions of dollars on Thursday because of their decision to align with left-wing activists and the Democratic party in pushing for gun control.”
Instead of the duck-and-cover conservatives voters typically see hemming and hawing on the news, these Louisiana officials stood up for their constituent’s rights and they weren’t ashamed to do so. Republican Rep. Blake Miguez asked the banks, “Why have you all decided to enter the policymaking business?”
Specifically, the Louisiana State Bond Commission banned the two blue banks from participating in a $600 million highway financing deal. State Treasurer John Schroder explained, “I personally believe the policies of these banks are an infringement on the rights of Louisiana citizens. As a veteran and former member of law enforcement, I take the Second Amendment very seriously.”
U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy summed it up by commenting, "If you have zero respect for the U.S. Constitution, then you don’t need to do business with the state of Louisiana.”
Personally, I would like to have seen the look on Ms. Finucane’s face when the Louisiana decision was announced. What conservatives need is for more elected officials to stand up for their base and face the "Social Justice Warriors" head on.
When insulting conservatives and infringing on our rights to make points with an elitist class that holds us in contempt starts to hurt the bottom line, these corporate fair weather friends will see just how quickly and quietly they can slip off the bandwagon.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.