NRA wins big in Facebook’s gun decision

(Washington Examiner) – They did it again.

In a battle over the ability to talk guns and make sales on Facebook with anti-gun advocates like former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the National Rifle Association, with its 3 million Facebook supporters, is attempting to temper liberal efforts to rid the site of gun-themed pages.

Instead, Facebook on Wednesday announced a compromise that will continue to allow gun talk and sales, but will restrict access to users 18 and older. It will also be on the lookout for sales of illegal guns, which the NRA doesn’t want sold either.

“People sometimes use our free tools to discuss products that are regulated or controversial. In some cases they promote these products for sale or use, even though it’s not possible to complete a sale on Facebook or Instagram. While we’ve recently heard specific concerns from people about offers for the private sales of firearms, this is one of many areas where we face a difficult challenge balancing individuals’ desire to express themselves on our services, and recognizing that this speech may have consequences elsewhere,” said Facebook’s Monika Bickert, head of global policy management.

Facebook had been under pressure to greatly curb gun talk, but in the end just decided to set up some new rules. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence condemned Facebook’s decision.

“Under pressure from the Brady Campaign and our partners, Facebook released an updated gun policy today. Some will call this a victory; we strongly disagree.

“Facebook’s new policy continues to allow unlicensed sellers to advertise guns for sale – a policy we have told Facebook makes it far too easy for dangerous people to buy guns without a Brady background check,” said Brady.

The NRA was quick to give their Facebook supporters credit in blocking efforts like those of MAIG, which has just 20,758 “likes” on the popular social network.

“The NRA enjoys 150 times more support on Facebook than Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns. 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,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.

“NRA members and our supporters will continue to have a platform to exercise their First Amendment rights in support of their Second Amendment freedoms,” added Cox in a statement.

Below is Facebook’s statement. It doesn’t specifically mention the NRA, but does thank anti-gun groups for their “advice.”

Facebook, Instagram Announce New Educational and Enforcement Measures for Commercial Activity

March 05, 2014

Monika Bickert, Head of Global Policy Management

Facebook, at its heart, is about helping people connect and communicate. Because of the diversity of people and cultures on our services, we know that people sometimes post or share things that may be controversial or objectionable. We work hard to find a balance between enabling people to express themselves about topics that are important to them, and creating an environment that is safe and respectful.

This balance is important to how we view commercial activity on Facebook or Instagram. We have strict rules about how businesses can use our advertising tools. For example, we do not permit advertising for illegal drugs, tobacco products, prescription pharmaceuticals, weapons, and several other products and services, and restrict advertising for products such as alcohol, adult products, and gaming. In all cases, we have systems in place to review and remove advertising that violates our policies, is false, deceptive, or misleading.

Of course, most of our tools are free to use, and many people and organizations use them to establish a presence on Facebook, including to promote commercial transactions. While people can’t use our services to actually sell things to each other, they can set up a Page or make an occasional post to their Timeline to find a roommate, sell a home, or solicit contributions for a church or nonprofit organization. Just like posting on a bulletin board at a supermarket or community center, these activities may be considered commercial, but we treat this type of sharing like any other type of sharing on our services – and we respond to reports when something violates our Community Standards.

People sometimes use our free tools to discuss products that are regulated or controversial. In some cases they promote these products for sale or use, even though it’s not possible to complete a sale on Facebook or Instagram. While we’ve recently heard specific concerns from people about offers for the private sales of firearms, this is one of many areas where we face a difficult challenge balancing individuals’ desire to express themselves on our services, and recognizing that this speech may have consequences elsewhere.

Today, we are introducing a series of new educational and enforcement efforts for people discussing 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.

We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law. For example, private sellers of firearms in the U.S. will not be permitted to specify “no background check required,” nor can they offer to transact across state lines without a licensed firearms dealer. We have worked with a number of individuals and organizations on the development of these efforts, which will be implemented and enforced in the coming weeks. We are grateful in particular for the advice offered by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Americans for Responsible Solutions, Sandy Hook Promise, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and Moms Demand Action, which helped us develop an approach for the private sale of firearms. We also appreciate the feedback provided by the Facebook Safety Advisory Board.

As always, we encourage people who see anything that violates our policies to report it to us using the tools found throughout our services. Facebook and Instagram will continue to remove content, and notify law enforcement where appropriate, when we are notified about things shared on our services that suggest a direct, credible risk to others’ safety. We will also continue to strictly enforce our advertising policies.

We believe these collective efforts represent the right approach in balancing people’s desire to express themselves while promoting a safe, responsible community.

[H/T WashingtonExaminer: Paul Bedard]

Threats to CT Police Escalate Following CT Cop’s Gun Confiscation Comments – Cops Ask Pro-Gun Veteran to Help Cool Things Down

(Freedom Outpost) – There have been reports that Navy veteran John Cinque has been receiving threats because of his stance on the issue of Connecticut’s gun registration law. Apparently those reports are due to a misreading of a piece by the New Haven Register in which Cinque said, “There have been threats made — that I found out about today.” Freedom Outpost reached out to John Cinque, who spoke with us this morning and confirmed that the threats he was speaking about were towards the Branford Police, not towards him.

“The cops are having the threats…. they are scared,” he told us.

According to Cinque, Officer Joseph Peterson, who made comments in interaction on Facebook while off duty that he would “give my left nut to bang down your door and come for your gun…” has been placed on 24-hour guard due to threats on his life. This information came directly from Police Chief Kevin Halloran.

Mr. Cinque told us that he had a two and a half hour “sit down” with the Branford Police Department on Tuesday. He said that the Branford PD was supposed to come out with an apology for Peterson’s comments and wanted Cinque’s endorsement of the apology in an attempt to cool things down.

“The first words out of the police chief’s mouth… were ‘How can you help us with this?'” Cinque said. “They’re getting killed over there. They said they can do nothing but deal with this.”

Cinque’s endorsement would not be automatic. “There are some things here that need to be addressed before I endorse the apology,” he said. “Don’t make the apology to me. The apology has to be to the residents of Branford and to the citizens of the State of Connecticut.”

“If we are looking to tamp this thing down…none of us need violence here,” Cinque continued.

“We’re winning this thing; we’re winning this thing hard here,” Cinque said, referring to the efforts to ignore unconstitutional and unlawful legislation that seeks to have citizens register their semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines.

“That’s the last thing we need,” he added, referring to violence.

“We’re going to try to throw water on this thing and get it calmed down …” Cinque said. “The whole premise of where Joe’s coming from has to be addressed, and now it has been … Now it’s time to calm it down …

“The problem now is, we have a forest fire burning, and we’ve got to see how we can go about extinguishing it,” he said.

John Cinque stressed that threats and violence on both sides is not what will win the day. “None of us wants violence anyway.”

Cinque also pointed out that no ex post facto laws or retainers can be instituted, and that doesn’t apply to just guns.

For his part, Cinque said there would have to be several things in the apology before he would endorse it. One of those things would be remedial training in the United States Constitution for Officer Joseph Peterson and the other officers of the Branford Police Department. Another would be a stand that the Police Department would not be involved in the enforcement of the gun registration law.

Branford Police as scheduled to contact John Cinque today. At the time of the writing of this article, they have not done so. The purpose of the contact, according to Mr. Cinque, is to get his approval of their apology, which they will seek to have broadcast via television with Mr. Cinque lending his approval to the apology.

While Mr. Cinque has been thrown into a whirlwind of news publicity in the past week, he is confident that cooler heads will prevail and wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. That solution is to have constitutionally educated law enforcement officers, who also understand the history of gun registration / confiscation, and a citizenry who elect lawmakers who understand the same.

Mr. Cinque has said that he will update us on any progress of the Branford Police apology. If, and when, it becomes public, we will provide our readers with that information.

This is a lesson in how to deal with this issue in your own town, county and state. The people must be vocal and they must not back down. Threats of violence are not the way to go about things. Citizens are to remain vigilant, and the only proper use of force would be defensively. I applaud the efforts of patriots like John Cinque and others who have drawn a line in the sand, and unlike a certain occupant of the White House, don’t blink when the line is crossed.

[H/T FreedomOutpost: Tim Brown]

Student Suspended For Wearing This Pro-America T-Shirt

(Western Journalism) – Although he had worn the shirt previously and its message in no way violated the school’s dress code, a teacher told him to turn it inside out, calling the graphic “inappropriate.”

Less than two weeks ago, an American appellate court ruled students could be prohibited from wearing clothes bearing an image of the nation’s flag. Apparently, the mere sight of the Stars and Stripes can cause fellow students to fly into a fit of violent rage.

That unconscionable story was only compounded by the decision of administrators at one New York school recently. Grand Island High School sophomore Shane Kinney wore a T-shirt to school with a message supportive of the Second Amendment.

Although he had worn the shirt previously, and its message in no way violated the school’s dress code, a teacher told him to turn it inside out, calling the graphic “inappropriate.”

Kinney respectfully refused the command, prompting administrators to promptly suspend him. While there was never any evidence the shirt should have been banned, the principal defended the suspension by referencing a rule related to prohibited clothing.

By upholding such a seemingly disingenuous explanation, the school now has the implied power to force students to remove or reverse any type of clothing its staff members find personally distasteful.

As far as his fellow students are concerned, Kinney’s told a local radio station that they were completely supportive of the shirt’s message.

“They haven’t said anything bad about it,” he said. “The only people giving me trouble were teachers.”

A local NBC affiliate was unable to speak directly to the school district’s superintendent; however, she released a statement regarding the controversy.

“The Grand Island School District recognizes this matter as an opportunity to review its policies, procedures and actions to ensure that they are consistent with our commitment to provide a safe learning environment and protect students’ Constitutional rights,” she wrote.

Terese Lawrence further emphasized that “no student was disciplined for wearing a shirt expressing a position on the NRA or gun control.”

By all accounts, however, Kinney was suspended for refusing to turn the shirt inside out – despite the fact that the school’s dress code supported his right to wear it.

[H/T WesternJournalism: B. Christopher Agee]

Citizens revolt, refuse to register guns

(WND) – Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents are refusing to register their firearms in defiance of new gun-control laws.

In December 2012, the nation was horrified by the merciless killings of a classroom of young children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. In response, the Democratic state legislature approved sweeping new gun-control laws, and Gov. Dan Malloy signed them into law. Several other states followed suit, including New York, Maryland and Colorado.

In addition to banning new sales of many types of firearms and larger capacity magazines that were previously legal, the state is also requiring residents who legally purchased those weapons and magazines to register them with the state.

For many Connecticut residents, that is a bridge too far, and they are refusing to comply with the law. Gun-rights groups are standing with them.

“The revolt is underway. Tens of thousands of people in Connecticut have intentionally missed the deadline. They are not registering. Some of them actually said they would not when they were at the hearing when the law was being considered in the legislature,” said Gun Owners of America Executive Director Larry Pratt.

Listen to the WND/Radio America interview with Larry Pratt below:

 

Pratt said the backlash does not stop there. He said Connecticut state lawmakers from both parties who supported the new gun laws are facing fierce tests at the ballot box.

“Almost all of the RINOs in the State Senate that voted for the measure are being opposed in the primary,” Pratt said. “Democrats, you might have to face some angry voters in November, but Republicans are looking over their shoulder right now.”

He also said Connecticut and other states with new gun-control laws will have a tough time enforcing them because of a growing resentment toward the law among police officers. Pratt said as many as 250 peace officers in Connecticut signed a letter saying “they are not going to enforce the law,” but it’s unclear whether that letter actually exists. At the time of this report, some blogs were reporting that the letter was a hoax.

Pratt noted that the resistance from law enforcement in Colorado is even stronger.

“All but two of the state’s county sheriffs have said, ‘We’re not enforcing the law.’ To the surprise, I think, of a lot of legislators, it turns out lawmen are not particularly enamored with gun control. After all, they own guns personally. A lot of them enjoy recreational use of guns, and for them to be put in the position of collecting guns for some liberal ideologue in the legislature, they didn’t really sign up for that,” Pratt said.

Gun Owners of America is urging residents in Connecticut, Colorado and other states to reject new laws requiring the registration of newly illegal weapons. But at a time when many on the right condemn President Obama for alleged selective enforcement of laws, are those same conservatives guilty of a double standard in this situation?

Pratt said the Constitution provides the road map in both situations.

“Frankly, I don’t have a constitutional problem with what the president is doing. We can deal with him and his party using the means provided in the forthcoming elections. If we end up sending a tsunami wave over his party and making his last two years in office totally miserable, that’s the way the system permits it to be done,” Pratt said.

“Same thing in Connecticut. People are saying, ‘I’m prepared to go to jail.’ Well, if you get so many tens of thousands of people saying that, it becomes difficult to imagine how that (many arrests) can happen,” he said.

“I think it’s an American’s right to exercise his conscience. He has to be prepared to take the consequences, just like Martin Luther King. He exercised his conscience. (Rosa) Parks went and sat down right in the front of the bus. Now she was taken off the bus and escorted away, and she was put in jail for a bit. She was prepared to take the consequences, but she had decided, ‘No more,’ Pratt said. “The people of Connecticut, I think, are in the same frame of mind.”

{H/T WND: Greg Corombos]