Anyone who reads this little blog of mine throughout the years knows I have a soft spot for junior shooters. They are the future of our shooting sports and there’s no denying that. While I’m sure no organization in the country today–public or private–would dare take a stance against the fundraising activities of a group of juniors trying to get their team to a national championship, that all seems to change if even the mention of guns or ammunition becomes present in the fundraising pitch.
Such is the experience I have had with GoFundMe when they yanked the fundraising for the New Jersey Junior Pistol Team because the words “firearms” and “ammunition” were used.
Now mind you, this pitch did not have those words used in a threatening or somehow intimidating fashion. “Raising money so these kinds can get firearms and ammo to blast away at passing school buses” was never implied in any way. I believe it was something to the tune of; “We need to raise money for transportation, housing, meals, team shirts, firearms maintenance and upgrades, ammunition for the matches, and general, unknown expenses for the week.” Something along those lines.
Well they yanked it and thanks to a lot of back and forth with them between myself and especially Lateif Dickerson of NJ Firearms Academy in Jersey City, NJ, they agreed to allow us to repost the fundraiser (along with their 13.5% fees) so long as no mention of the words; “firearms, guns, ammo or ammunition” are used. Somehow I get the feeling if we got cute and used some word magic to make reference to firearms or food for firearms, they would yank it once again.
Do I think that GoFundMe is anti-gun? Very possibly.
Do I think that GofundMe has a legal team that set the rules here to govern what is mentioned and what is not mentioned? Absolutely. If you think your world is run by people represented through government then you are quite wrong. Your world on a local, state and federal level are all run by lawyers and legal teams.
Second amendment be damned, apparently. If GoFundMe pulled my ad because I utilized freedom of speech (like I am using to write this article about them), people would be outraged. Because they pulled it due to my attempt to raise money to exercise our second amendment rights, the view of most of the country, and especially most of its lawyers is little more than “meh…”.
So instead of banging my chest about it, I will play along like a good little sheep and repost the fundraiser without mentioning firearms or ammo. Luckily, since I posted a PayPal donate link on this website (click here), I will use THOSE donations for the ammo and most of the gun repairs and upgrades. We will use the GoFundMe dollars (if we get any at all) toward the other stuff.
Yes, it really sticks in my craw, but ultimately its all about the kids.
This Jew Shoots Guns… and still needs to raise funds for these kids so they can too.
Bogie Firearms Academy 