By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
The anti-gun Moms Demand Action organization is cheering over a decision by Facebook and its Instagram subsidiary to “take significant steps to block potentially illegal firearm sales through their platforms,” but is their victory substantial, or flash without substance?
Either way, it appears to be part of a bigger push to discriminate against gun owners that have lately included efforts to convince various businesses to refuse service to legally-armed citizens.
In Seattle, Wash., an MDA group gathered in front of the Seattle Public Library main branch to demand a change in that state’s gun laws to prohibit the carrying of firearms in the library or its branches. Currently, under the state’s model preemption statute, passed in 1983 and strengthened in 1985, libraries and other public buildings cannot enact their own regulations regarding firearms.
In Framingham, Mass., a group of MDA protesters showed up outside a Staples office in an attempt to force that national chain to refuse business to armed citizens. They had a petition that reportedly carried more than 12,000 signatures. In an ironic turnabout, they were asked to leave the premises.
Last year in Seattle, former anti-gun Mayor Mike McGinn launched a “gun free business” campaign that encouraged private businesses to refuse service to people carrying firearms. McGinn was a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which joined with MDA in December to form a huge gun prohibition organization.
All of these efforts convince gun owners that these groups are engaging in and encouraging social bigotry.
According to an MDA press release, the Facebook decision came after a “month-long campaign” by the organization that included a meeting between Facebook officials and Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the group started by billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ex-Boston Mayor Tom Menino.
According to MDA, the campaign to pressure Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom “drew more than 230,000 supporters.”
Under the new Facebook policy, the following “educational and enforcement efforts” will apply to people who talk about the private sale of “regulated items”:
- Any time we receive a report on Facebook about a post promoting the private sale of a commonly regulated item, we will send a message to that person reminding him or her to comply with relevant laws and regulations. We will also limit access to that post to people over the age of 18.
- We will require Pages that are primarily used by people to promote the private sale of commonly regulated goods or services to include language that clearly reminds people of the importance of understanding and complying with relevant laws and regulations, and limit access to people over the age of 18 or older if required by applicable law.
- We will provide special in-app education on Instagram for those who search for sales or promotions of firearms.
In response, the National Rifle Association and National Shooting Sports Foundation both issued statements that cast doubt on the impact of the Facebook announcement:
“The NRA enjoys 150 times more support on Facebook than Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “That’s why Bloomberg and the gun control groups he funds tried to pressure Facebook into shutting down discussion of Second Amendment issues on its social media platforms. Bloomberg failed. NRA members and our supporters will continue to have a platform to exercise their First Amendment rights in support of their Second Amendment freedoms.”
“Facebook today acted to provide clarification to its policies on postings concerning firearms and agreed to provide educational messaging on its platform. We are in agreement that all applicable laws should be observed in the private transfer of firearms. We would have welcomed the opportunity to provide our industry’s perspective, however, and regret that we were not consulted. Facebook’s clarification will not affect the lawful commerce in firearm and ammunition products for NSSF members and their customers.”
