Not sure I agree that they base ALL of their cases on the Constitution.
They do, though. They don't go looking for anything and everything that violates the Constitution and then defends it that way (there's only so many unconstitutional infringements that one organization can deal with <snort>) but if something gets brought to their attention or someone asks for their help, they'll help on Constitutional grounds, even when they don't agree with what's being done (like the NAMBLA and child pornography cases, and of course the Westboro Baptist Church, where the ACLU flatly stated that the Church should not be doing what they are doing, even though they have the right to do so).
I have NOT seen them fight ANY infringement of Second Amendment rights cases. (could be wrong, just don't remember them EVER doing it)
A famous 2006 case where a regional library district in Washington state blocked access to pro-gun Web sites (ostensibly to protect minors), and refused to remove the restrictions when a adult patrons of the library asked them to do so. The ACLU won that case and forced the library to remove the blocks on pro-gun sites.
But the ACLU's position on the Second Amendment is that of a collective right, rather than that of an individual right. That position is certainly a valid interpretation (which I, and I believe you, do not agree with), but it was based in no small part on the the Supreme Court's 1939 decision in
United States v. Miller which reinforced the right to keep and bear arms as a collective right in the context of a well regulated militia. Of course, the Washing D.C. law that was struck down (
D.C. v Heller) threw all that out the window and put it right back into an individual right. The ACLU still interprets it as a collective right. But they don't actually have a position on gun control itself. In their view, neither the possession of guns nor the regulation of guns raises a civil liberties issue. I think they're wrong, but they certainly have the right to interpret things that way.
But they aren't anti-gun or pro-gun control at all, which is what many people think they are. Just like they aren't anti-religion or anti-expression of religion, the way many people think they are. Just because they fight for the rights of an atheist doesn't mean they are anti-religion. What it really means is, when religious folks want to trample the civil liberties of those who think differently, the ACLU will defend the rights of the trampled.
Freedom of speech ALLOWS prayer in public, so does freedom of religion yet the ACLU FIGHTS prayer in school.
No, they don't. They fight school-sponsored or school-mandated prayer. Yes, like NO prayer on the field prior to a game, or before classes start, if a teacher or other member of authority representing the state is involved. Student-led organizations, those without school sponsorship, can pray all they want. But because the ACLU is against state-sponsored prayer, a lot of people translate that into the ACLU fighting prayer, in any form, in school, which is incorrect. There have been several cases (like the athlete posting the Ten Commandments on their lockers) where the school (or some other government entity) tried to prohibit an individual or individuals from practicing their religion on their own, and the ACLU intervened saying that the government can't sponsor a religion, nor can they disallow one, since there is to be a separation of church and state.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the state participating a religion, like a Manger scene at Christmas, as long as it doesn't allow Congress to pass a law establishing a particular one.
I also remember calling them once YEARS ago just after I got out of the Army. I was having trouble finding work. Being denied work BECAUSE I was a veteran. I explained to the putz I was talking to what had happened. How I was NOT being allowed "equal opportunity" in the work place because I was a vet. His answer was something like GOOD!! We don't need baby killers working in our factories. Of course the ACLU LOVES killing babies. Kinda ironic since I never have killed a baby, or anyone else for that matter.
I got nothing.
