GUN LAWS – Tom's Blog

Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms reported that Facebook and Instagram have now banned influencers from promoting firearms, tobacco, and vaping products through “branded content” on these social media platforms.

This move could prove to be detrimental for firearms companies since it could disproportionately impact their marketing and advertising strategies. Additionally, influencer’s ability to make money on these platforms could also be dramatically affected.

Instagram announced Wednesday it would no longer allow “branded content” that promotes those goods on either platform…

This change closes a loophole in Facebook’s advertising policies. Even though Facebook’s ad policies have banned the advertising of vaping, tobacco and weapons, private users can post about them, and until now advertisers could theoretically put paid promotion behind those posts.

The company said it would begin enforcement of the new rule “in the coming weeks.” An Instagram spokesperson said this is the first time it’s implementing restrictions around the type of items that can be promoted for branded content.

Edwards noted that “If this only affects companies that pay to promote the posts by influencers, as CNBC reports, this won’t have much of an impact.”

However, he believes that “if this is truly a ban on ‘branded content,’ it’s going to affect much more than that, and I fear that’s actually the case.”

Taking a look at how Facebook defines “branded content” should be a cause for concern:

“Branded content is produced by a publisher or creator for payment by a business partner, where the partner influences the content or is featured in it.”

Instagram’s defines branded content as the following:

We define branded content as a creator or publisher’s content that features or is influenced by a business partner for an exchange of value (for example, where the business partner has paid the creator or publisher).

Our policies require creators and publishers to tag business partners in their branded content posts when there’s an exchange of value between a creator or publisher and a business partner.

Given how important influencers are for gun businesses, this announcement by the social media giants may present many problems for gun-related companies in the future. After all, influencers are some of the most effective ways for companies to expand their audiences on social media.

Although social media companies are private entities and they can craft policies that they see fit, the political nature of some of their decision-making is worrisome.

In a much saner America, companies knew their role and stayed away from politics. Now, it seems that every company feels obligated to have a political take and craft policies that are in line with the Politically Correct Left.

Social media consumers on the Right should not lay down and let Big Tech abuse them. They should continuously voice complaints and also team up with wealthy right wingers to exercise shareholder influencer over these companies. By using market pressure and shaming, right wing social media consumers can at least make Big Tech thought policers think twice before considering more woke policies.

By Jose Nino -12/17/2019

Democrat politicians in D.C. say that local police who refuse to enforce gun control bills likely to pass in Virginia should be subject to prosecution and even intimidation from the National Guard.

Following Democrats’ success at the polls in Virginia’s November elections, gun control legislation such as universal background checks, “assault weapons” bans, and red flag laws are back on the menu.

Grassroots gun organizations have teamed up with sheriffs across the state to form Second Amendment sanctuary counties, which have the explicit purpose of empowering law enforcement to protect the Second Amendment against any of the gun control bills passed in the Virginia state legislature.

So far, over 75 counties in Virginia have passed Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions in the state, with the latest being Spotsylvania County. The board of supervisors unanimously voted to approve a resolution stating that county police will not enforce state-level gun laws that infringe upon the Second Amendment.

Virginia Democrat officials, however, have another view about these law enforcement agents’ actions. They believe they will face consequences if they don’t carry out any law the legislature passes.

“I would hope they either resign in good conscience, because they cannot uphold the law which they are sworn to uphold, or they’re prosecuted for failure to fulfill their oath,” Democratic Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly told the Washington Examiner of local county police who may not enforce laws that infringe upon on gun rights. “The law is the law. If that becomes the law, you don’t have a choice, not if you’re a sworn officer of the law.”

Democratic Congressman. Donald McEachin even suggested slashing state funds to counties that do not comply with any gun control laws passed by the Virginia legislature.

“They certainly risk funding, because if the sheriff’s department is not going to enforce the law, they’re going to lose money. The counties’ attorneys offices are not going to have the money to prosecute because their prosecutions are going to go down,” he stated.

McEachin also highlighted that Democrat Virginia Governor Ralph Northam could summon the National Guard, if things get really out of hand.

“And ultimately, I’m not the governor, but the governor may have to nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law,” he added. “That’s his call, because I don’t know how serious these counties are and how severe the violations of law will be. But that’s obviously an option he has.”

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring pinned the blame on the “gun lobby” for moving numerous Second Amendment resolutions as a tactic to supposedly” scare” state residents.

“The resolutions that are being passed are being ginned up by the gun lobby to try to scare people. What we’re talking about here are laws that will make our communities and our streets safer,” Herring told CBS 6.

“So, when Virginia passes these gun safety laws that they will be followed, they will be enforced,” he continued.

Despite what the Virginia political class says, Virginia gun owners are taking cues from other grassroots activists across the nation who are using their counties and municipalities to revolt against federal and state level gun grabs.

The current two-party system has no reliable bloc that will automatically defend gun owners’ interests, so gun owners will have to get creative in trying to preserve their Second Amendment freedoms.

Tag: GUN LAWS

Virginians are Forming MILITIAS to Protect Second Amendment

By The Red Elephants Vincent James – 12/18/2019

Never ever let them take the guns. That will be how freedom ends.

Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms reported that Facebook and Instagram have now banned influencers from promoting firearms, tobacco, and vaping products through “branded content” on these social media platforms.

By The Red Elephants Vincent James – 12/18/2019

Never ever let them take the guns. That will be how freedom ends.

Democrat politicians in D.C. say that local police who refuse to enforce gun control bills likely to pass in Virginia should be subject to prosecution and even intimidation from the National Guard.