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Pro-Second Amendment Facebook Pages

Facebook recently started to crack down on pro-Second Amendment pages, completely removing several including our friends at 556 Tactical and AR-15 News among others. For those of us who use Facebook, this is obviously a bit alarming. After speaking with the owners of 556 Tactical and AR-15 News, as well as re-reading Facebook Page and Ad Guidelines, here’s the situation as I see it, and what I think we should do about it.

First, let’s get on the same page with our terminology.

A Facebook page is for an organization, business, celebrity, brand, etc, an example of which is the Monderno Facebook page. A Facebook profile is for an individual for personal use, like my Facebook profile. The difference matters.

What’s Going On

In short, just about anything pro-Second Amendment seems to be in violation of Facebook policies. According to Facebook Page Guidelines, page post content, along with ads and commercial content, is subject to Facebook Advertising Guidelines.

Ads and commercial content (including Page post content) are subject to the Advertising Guidelines.

Looking at the advertising guidelines, the underlying problem is identified:

Ads may not promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.

From the language above, it looks like any post on Facebook, by a Facebook page, that promotes the use of weapons is against Facebook guidelines. This means that any pro-Second Amendment Facebook page could be taken down at any time.

Sources

How It Happened

The short version is that a liberal website posted an article calling out 556 Tactical, AR-15 News and Pittsburgh Tactical Firearms for giving away firearms on Facebook. I’m not linking to that post and any comments that do so will be deleted. We do NOT need to be giving them anymore exposure.

What We Can Do

First off, we can complain. If enough of us contact Facebook and give them negative feedback on these policies, there’s a chance Facebook will change them.

Contact Facebook here, select the “Negative” option, and in the text area for feedback, politely and respectfully let Facebook know that you want their policies changed.

We can also spend our time on other social media platforms that appreciate the Second Amendment, or at the very least, don’t censor it. Here are some options.

Pheed (Update 4/21/2013)

I just found this today thanks to a comment on Facebook. I signed up and so far I’m very impressed. This has a very real chance of surpassing Facebook in popularity.

Sign up for a free account and follow us on Pheed.

Shooters Legion

Shooters Legion, as the name suggests, is a social network for shooters. It has some similar functionality of Facebook, but I’ll be honest, it’s still a little rough. This one has a lot of potential though, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

Sign up for a free account and join the Monderno group on Shooters Legion.

Gunway

Gunway is essentially Pinterest for the firearms community. You can post images with links and text, and then users can comment on posts.

Sign up for a free account and follow us on Gunway.

Twitter

Twitter has nowhere near the functionality of Facebook (for example, group discussions are all but impossible), but can still be a great way to keep up with your friends and favorite companies. Posts on Twitter (called “tweets”) are limited to 160 characters, so the experience is definitely different to that of Facebook.

Sign up for a free account and follow us on Twitter.

Instagram

Instagram is essentially a photo sharing social network. Once you post a photo, people can like the photo as well as comment on it. I really like Instagram, and I have all but stopped referring to it as “hipstergram”. It used to be iPhone only, but has since branched to Android and is coming to Windows Phone soon.

Sign up for a free account and follow us on Instagram.

Email Newsletter

If you want to keep up with our posts on Monderno.com, sign up for our email newsletter. On the right hand side of your screen near the top you’ll see “Subscribe Via Email” – this will add you to our email notification list. Please note that we do not share this list with anyone, and that we respect your privacy.

Wrapping Up

I’ll share more information once I have it. Now that the playbook has been identified (see the How It Happened section above) I think we can expect more of this in the future. If my Facebook page is shut down, so be it. You can connect with us on one of the above social media platforms, and the website isn’t going anywhere.

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44 Responses to Pro-Second Amendment Facebook Pages

  1. Hillbilly Bob April 21, 2013 at 3:27 pm #

    I dont “do” facecrook, never have, my wife made me a page for a contest one time but I refuse to use that commie crap
    Plus I am old so leave me alone haaa

    • Allen April 21, 2013 at 3:40 pm #

      Cool story bro, want a cookie?

      • Hillbilly Bob April 21, 2013 at 3:43 pm #

        Nope not into trolling for “dates” on facecrook like “some people” are so keep your dough to yourself pal

        • Eric Lopez April 21, 2013 at 4:28 pm #

          Well put Hillbilly Bob, way to squash that troll!

  2. jeff April 21, 2013 at 3:42 pm #

    Posted on my wall I will be turning my fb acct off as 8am tomorrow due to this bs fb can kiss my ass

  3. Ryan April 21, 2013 at 3:51 pm #

    hipstergram, haha.

  4. Lane April 21, 2013 at 3:52 pm #

    This is what I sent to Facebook’s feedback department:
    I am distressed to discovered Facebook has deleted several several commercial firearms pages and that Facebook policy states:
    “Ads may not promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.”
    I, and many other gun owners – hunters, sportsman and competitive shooters – that come here to socialize on Facebook, find this to be discrimination against the Second Amendment of The Constitution. WHAT IS NEXT, DELETING PAGES BASED ON RELIGIOUS CONTENT OR FOR SUPPORTING THE WRONG CANDIDATE? Please change this policy.

    • Verace LaBoissonniere April 21, 2013 at 8:37 pm #

      In other news… they have deleted pages for being atheist pages. They treat the first amendment with the same degree of respect as the second, and it’s disgusting considering it’s an American site.

  5. Ash April 21, 2013 at 4:17 pm #

    So if “use” of weapons is included in the list of things prohibited on “pages” (vs. profiles), why aren’t they also shutting down the pages of Law Enforcement agencies? Most of them that I’ve seen have at least some pictures depicting officers carrying and deploying weapons. And depending on the jurisdiction, some K9s are still considered weapons, not officers. Are the K9s next?

    I’m definitely on the IG team, all this FB drama is pure nonsense.

  6. siddharthaipriest April 21, 2013 at 4:25 pm #

    Kenn Blanchards Freedoms Network is also a good avenue to take as well.

  7. Brig April 21, 2013 at 4:25 pm #

    Just making sure all are aware that Facebook owns Instagram

  8. Uncle Kenny April 21, 2013 at 4:25 pm #

    Call me paranoid, but do we know that Shooters Legion and Gunway are not just honey pots to collect the personal information of RKBA folks? Do we know the founders and operators personally, where they really stand, and if they are really on our side? Or are they folks looking to leech off the RKBA community like that Farago guy? I have no idea either way, but I have plenty of paranoia to go around, if anyone wants some.

    • Brandon April 21, 2013 at 4:32 pm #

      LOL – I know the founders of Gunway, and they are good guys that I can vouch for. I don’t know the guy behind Shooters Legion. I also just signed up for Pheed, and it actually looks pretty decent.

      https://www.pheed.com/Monderno

  9. Jeremy April 21, 2013 at 4:30 pm #

    But promoting a Facebook game like Mafia Wars or The Walking Dead (which shows zombie brains being blown out of zombie heads on their timeline picture) is ok? I call liberal bias bs.

  10. aaronymous April 21, 2013 at 4:42 pm #

    Facebook owns Instagram. So don’t get too complacent thinking your photos are any safer there.

    • Brandon April 21, 2013 at 5:59 pm #

      Yeah I know, but as of now IG doesn’t block weapons.

  11. Brett April 21, 2013 at 5:19 pm #

    Just as an fyi Facebook owns Instagram unfortunately

  12. Doug April 21, 2013 at 5:31 pm #

    I’d appreciate it if Facebook would reconsider their anti 2nd Amendment stance. Deleting entire pages for organizations such as 556 Tactical and AR-15 News among others tells we individual users that Facebook doesn’t wish to serve the needs and wants of a large percentage of it’s current users.

    Respectfully, Doug

  13. Mamba April 21, 2013 at 5:41 pm #

    There is also https://www.teapartycommunity.com/ , which works in similar fashion to FB.

    • The only real issue I have with this site, is that I am not as far to the right as the tea party. There are a whole slew of us Libertarians out here who are not as conservative.

  14. DB April 21, 2013 at 6:13 pm #

    What about Google + ? anyone know if they are any better ?

    • Brandon April 21, 2013 at 6:16 pm #

      Google is worse.

      • z0phi3l April 21, 2013 at 7:36 pm #

        I looked and G+ has quite a few pro gun communities, some are broad pro gun and a few are specific, like an AR15 group, Google cares about data, they don’t seem to care what the data is about, just that it’s data

        • Richard April 22, 2013 at 12:09 am #

          Have you tried to do a gun search on google? They specifically filter their results. Just check their policies page.

        • Brandon April 22, 2013 at 8:24 am #

          Google can spy on everyone else, I’m not going to participate.

  15. Chris Butilier April 21, 2013 at 6:58 pm #

    I’ll look in to some potential solutions I may be able to setup in the next few days. I have various community software licenses not in use so can easily register a domain, and give people a place to go. I’ll see what I can do – no guarantees. If someone else beats me to the punch, all the better!!

    The only way to speak is in a language Facebook understands and if we can have a dedicated area in which pro-second amendment pages, organizations, people, etc. can go and not have to worry I think it will make for a more effective foundation for discussions and progress as we come up against future issues.

    Although of course, maintaining a Facebook presence at least at a minimal degree will still be good to spread the message, gain additional support, etc.

    This comes on the heels of Facebook deleting a Business’ Facebook that I work for. It’s a small business, but had over 6300 likes that were all lost due to not responding and assisting us in any way when the page went “missing” one morning, while I was very aware of ALL the terms and conditions for pages and made sure we were to never violate any. I still have not heard from Facebook and it was over 3 weeks ago, and I had filed 4 tickets/reports.

    They are an awful company that seemingly has one concern these days. Hopefully we will all find a new home soon and I will certainly do what I can to help.

    /Chris.

  16. Walter daniels April 21, 2013 at 7:13 pm #

    I have suggested in other places, and told FB that I will contact all advertisers. I will tell them that as long as FB discriminates against a *(legal* activity and businesses, I will BOYCOTT them. FB depends on _our_ eyeballs to sell to advertisers, let’s reach them by closing our eyes.

    • Verace LaBoissonniere April 21, 2013 at 8:41 pm #

      Just get Adblock Plus. They haven’t made a nickel off of me.

      • getfreight April 22, 2013 at 11:45 pm #

        They still make money off of you as a registered user similar to distribution numbers in newspaper advertising.

  17. Penny McClain April 21, 2013 at 8:41 pm #

    Well I have an idea why don’t we just create another social media site, and no liberals allowed. I am serious about this.

    • Verace LaBoissonniere April 21, 2013 at 8:43 pm #

      That would be just as bad as what they’re doing now. I’m all for a social networking site being created – heck, I’d even help make it with a few folks if they’re interested. You have to allow everyone in and censor nobody if you do.

  18. Derek April 22, 2013 at 2:08 am #

    I posted a complaint that brought up that they have no problem will pages filled with porn accessible to children, pro-illegal drug use and dozens of other businesses selling their wares including alcohol, which causes 100x the deaths that firearms do. If they are going to ban one, then ban all, otherwise they are hypocrites.

  19. 100atr April 22, 2013 at 7:09 am #

    Seems they got you in a “Catch 22” dude. I guess you’ll have to resort to email again.

    • Brandon April 22, 2013 at 8:25 am #

      No they don’t. It’s just Facebook, there are many alternatives if they shut my page down.

  20. I was reading the terms of service for Pheed. I found something very disturbing in there….

    “Processing Companies. Pheed has retained the services of certain third party processing companies, including Briantree and Bank of America, and may retain the services of other third party processing companies to perform payment processing services (together, the “Processing Companies”). Pheed shall use the Processing Companies at Pheed’s choosing and sole discretion. Pheed bears no responsibility for any actions or omissions of third parties, including the Processing Companies, and bears no responsibility for any damage and/or loss and/or expense caused to you and/or third party as a result of and/or in relation to Pheed’s use of the Processing Companies’ services.”

    Bank of America??? Isn’t that the very same bank that has told some gun dealers that they had to find a new bank because BoA wouldn’t be their bank anymore? Just how does using BoA give Pheed any level of credibility? Most gun shops and ammo suppliers I talk to are RUNNING from BoA as fast as they can. It doesn’t make sense that a social site designed specifically for gun owners, dealers, and related businesses would use the one bank that has emerged as the most restrictive where gun and gun related businesses are concerned.

    • Brandon April 22, 2013 at 8:22 am #

      That means they are using BoA for credit card processing, in the case of creating Premium content. But I agree, BoA is anti-gun scum.

  21. Sharon April 22, 2013 at 9:42 am #

    I’m curious as to when those Terms of Service were included or added by FB. Was it recently due to the anti-gun push by Obama? Odd that it’s coming at this time since these types of pages have been on FB for awhile now. If gun pages continue to be deleted then I will delete my account.

    • Sharon, I don’t know when the TOS was changed, but I do know that gun, and gun related, pages started to be affected last fall. These pages mentioned here are only part of the last 5 that were affected last week. AR15news has been reinstated, per a facebook post just a few moments ago. There was no legitimate reason to close these 5 pages. Really there was no legitimate reason to close any of them. These are all small companies who play by the ATF rules. They just happen to sell gun, or gun related items, instead of koolaid.

  22. ben April 22, 2013 at 10:09 am #

    Ok first off Facebook is doing every thing the government is telling them to do and when.The government has taken over the internet in whole. Im on Google+ and its just like the old facebook befor they screwed it all up. So if enough people move over there maybe they will get it in there heads to stop telling us what we can and cant talk about on facebook.

  23. getfreight April 22, 2013 at 11:38 pm #

    Ate they also removing anti 2nd Amendment sites? Most likely not.

    I sent a message asking for this to change. If this cannot be resolved shortly, I will be removing all organizational pages and my personal page from Facebook and encouraging others to do the same. If enough do this, it will impact their advertising revenue. Everyone please do this that believes the same. Delete the pages though do not just have them sit inactive. Inactive sites will not affect advertising. Deletion will.

  24. KSullivan April 28, 2013 at 12:35 am #

    I have also hooked up with Tea Party Community. That is the name, but there are all different views of conservatism on there. Free to state how you feel….seems to be NON-CENSORED.
    I’ve been on there many times and I like the freedom. Try it !!!

  25. Ken 5919 April 28, 2013 at 7:45 am #

    And how come they sell ADs for ammo AR-15s and other gun related items.

  26. Grabber April 28, 2013 at 8:34 am #

    Complaint filed:

    To whom it may concern:

    I’m writing regarding your ad guideline (Ads may not promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.).

    Apparently the verb ‘use’ has been interpreted to remove several Facebook Pages that are pro-Second amendment via complaints from gun control enthusiasts.

    While I’m sure the word ‘use’ could be appropriately interpreted to promote one side of this political argument to win the hearts and minds of the unthoughtful, I assume this was not Facebook’s intent.

    Since my personal belief is that the Second Amendment is the one amendment that makes all other constitutional ‘rights’ possible, I think Facebook needs to make it appropriate for pro-second amendment discussions to be present in Facebook.

    It is important TODAY because there are several misguided gun control bills under consideration that COULD seriously impact the intent of the Second amendment by creating a ‘de-facto’ gun registry to disarm the US sometime in the future.

    To those of you in Facebook who will cry preposterous….consider how the word ‘use’ in the Facebook policy has been interpreted to remove some sites like: 556 Tactical and AR-15 News.

    Thank you for your time.