Where does Dick Heller get his funding?

[brianko]

I read where Heller is now suing the DC government. Where, exactly, does this guy get his funding? I would imagine a SCOTUS case would run into the tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds. Are his attorneys doing all of this work pro bono? If not, who's paying the attorney fees?

[Charles L. Cotton]

The Cato Institute was paying for "his" attorney. Another organization paid for and/or arranged for and/or did most of the briefing that won the case. Paying for Heller's attorney (Gura) was the least expensive part of the battle.

Chas.

[Pinkycatcher]

I don't care, I just hope he has more of it so he can keep on suing, a nationwide broadcast for donations could probably get a whole bunch for him too

[Charles L. Cotton]

I don't care, I just hope he has more of it so he can keep on suing, a nationwide broadcast for donations could probably get a whole bunch for him too

I agree about a nationwide donation effort. Just click on the "Join the NRA Here" button at the top of this page and donate to the NRA.

Chas.

[Pinkycatcher]

I don't care, I just hope he has more of it so he can keep on suing, a nationwide broadcast for donations could probably get a whole bunch for him too

I agree about a nationwide donation effort. Just click on the "Join the NRA Here" button at the top of this page and donate to the NRA.

Chas.

I could, but I just signed up so I'm gonna give it a bit to let my credit card cool off, well that and college is not cheap....

And ammo...And range fees...And new magazines...And etc.

[Liberty]

The Cato Institute was paying for "his" attorney. Another organization paid for and/or arranged for and/or did most of the briefing that won the case. Paying for Heller's attorney (Gura) was the least expensive part of the battle.

Chas.

I might be wrong on this but I was under the impression that Robert Levy paid the bills personally. Robert Levy works for the CATO institute.

[Liberty]

I wanted to set the record straight on this. In Roberts Levy's own words.

To Levy the libertarian, though, the effectiveness of the law -- its success or failure in curbing crime -- isn't the core issue. What matters most to him is whether the statute unjustly infringes on personal liberties. He doesn't dispute that "reasonable" gun controls are permissible under the Second Amendment. But the District's law amounts to "an outright prohibition," Levy said, and "that offends my constitutional sensibilities."

So he opened his wallet and did something about it.

Because of his and Tom Palmer's involvement in the case, Levy said, a mistaken impression has spread that the Cato Institute instigated the lawsuit. "They love this case and they've been very, very supportive," he said. But Cato is a think tank, not a law firm, and hasn't so much as filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. "This is my venture," Levy said.

The lawsuit failed last year in U.S. District Court, prompting the appeal that succeeded this month. Although gun-rights advocates and other organizations have offered to aid the case financially, Levy said, "I've taken nothing. Zero." The reason: "I don't want this portrayed as litigation that the gun community is sponsoring. . . . I don't want to be beholden to anyone. I want to call the shots, with my co-counsel."

Robert Levy had designed and built this case from the very start. As far as how much it costs.

One of his co-counsels, Neily, is working on the lawsuit for free. The other, Alan Gura, a high-priced civil litigation specialist, was hired by Levy to serve as lead counsel and argue the case in court.

"To take something like this all the way through the Supreme Court, you're talking about several hundred thousand dollars," Levy said. But because Gura is charging a reduced rate, "it hasn't been nearly that much." Levy wouldn't cite a figure but said it was "a considerable sum." Whatever the price, he said, "happily, I'm in a position to pay it."

There were likely other costs court fees etc. They were all paid for by Levy. A private citizen who could well afford it. Strange thing is he has little personal interest in guns himself, It was a constitutional, libertarian and human rights issue with him.

This doesn't mean that groups like the NRA didn't help with the supporting briefs, and got paid some high priced lobbiest to get Congress critters to write a brief. I'm sure they spent a substantial amount of money getting the lawyers and speakers to the court on time. While there can be no doubt the NRA played a significant part in this win, I think it is a disservice to him not to recognize Levy's personal achievement in this case.

[WildBill]

I wanted to set the record straight on this.

Thanks Liberty.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I wanted to set the record straight on this.

Thanks, I didn't know he was paying the tab himself.

Chas.

[BigBlueDodge]

Robert Levy had designed and built this case from the very start. As far as how much it costs.

Yes, I was always confused why Bob Levy never got more credit for the case. IMO, he is the REAL architect for this ruling, and Gura seems to be his pawn. I never really understood why he financed it, wrote several articles about gun rights, but always stayed in the shadows and let Heller and Gura take the publicity. I credit the DC vs Heller ruling to him more than any other person.

[Liberty]

Robert Levy had designed and built this case from the very start. As far as how much it costs.

Yes, I was always confused why Bob Levy never got more credit for the case. IMO, he is the REAL architect for this ruling, and Gura seems to be his pawn. I never really understood why he financed it, wrote several articles about gun rights, but always stayed in the shadows and let Heller and Gura take the publicity. I credit the DC vs Heller ruling to him more than any other person.

He became a little controversial when the NRA attempted to sabotage the suit with legislative actions. Early on the NRA was scared that Levy would lose this, and were afraid of the consequences. I think the NRA was a little embarrassed that they weren't the ones behind the suit, and the membership was asking questions. There is no love lost between Levy and and the NRA. Levy accused them of sabotage. The NRA accused them of blundering and taking too big of a risk. The debate has been played out in this forum. Levy has made it pretty clear he has no real interest in guns. His interest is about basic human rights and constitutional law. Levy is a Lecture speaker for the CATO institute. One would assume he isn't all that shy. If he were to assume a more public position on this, the disagreement and resentment he has toward the NRA and the NRA towards him would have been the focus. Not good for the cause.