Gun Free Zone

In lieu of lengthy explanations, I am posting the email exchange between Tom Gresham and Leslie Coleman PR of WWP. My comments will be at the end of the exchange.

After Sunday’s show, we’ve gotten many emails about Tom’s remarks after WWP declined an interview request on Gun Talk Radio because it’s a firearms-related show. We’ve also seen the forums that are suggesting many things that are not true. So, I’m going to lay it all out right here.

We thought it would be great to book the WWP on the Veterans Day show to promote the organization, so I contacted them. I was flabbergasted when their PR contact, Leslie, sent me an email saying they could not participate because our show dealt with firearms. Knowing that WWP has a booth at SHOT show and various gun shows across the US, takes wounded warriors on hunts and range days, raffles guns and accessories as fundraisers, etc., their policy didn’t make much sense. I forwarded the email on to Tom to get his take.

-Sarah

 

The following is the complete email exchange:

====================

Hello, Leslie:

Sarah forwarded me your email after I asked her to invite the Wounded Warriors Project to join me on “Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk” radio show.

I’m stunned at your email saying that the WWP doesn’t participate in an interview or activity related to firearms.  Inasmuch as there are 90 million gun owners and most of them support wounded veterans, I think they would be shocked to hear that they are, by way of their hobbies, somehow not worthy of helping with the Wounded Warriors Project.

Does your policy apply also to police agencies and the military, since they are “related to firearms?”

 I’m hoping that we have misunderstood your email.  Can you confirm that it is, in fact, an official policy of the Wounded Warriors Project to not do interviews with or participate in any activity related to firearms?

 Thank you.

Tom Gresham

 

============

 

Good afternoon —

 While we appreciate your interest in Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) you are correct that we decline the media opportunity.

 Please note the following notice that appears on our website which also applies to WWP public awareness policy and inquiries from media outlets:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/additional-opportunities.aspx

 WWP does not co-brand, create cause marketing campaigns or receive a percentage or a portion of proceeds from companies in which the product or message is sexual, political or religious in nature, or from alcohol or firearms companies.

Thank you for your inquiry.

LESLIE A. COLEMAN

public relations director

O: 904.405.1433

M: 904.654.8138

F: 904.296.7347

 Wounded Warrior Project

 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300

 Jacksonville, Florida 32256

 

====================

Thanks for confirming that, Leslie.  It was a simple opportunity to promote the WWP on a national program in an effort to send donations your way.

 I’ll pass along the info that you don’t want or need the help of America’s gun owners.  

 Best regards,

 Tom Gresham

 

=====================

 

Good morning —

This policy is not a judgment on those who own and use firearms – clearly every member of our armed forces has been trained in the use of firearms and then called on to use them in the course of their service to this country.

 Our position regarding firearms and alcohol is in response to the struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.

 Thank you.

 LESLIE A. COLEMAN

 public relations director

 

=============================

 

Hello, Leslie:

 Thank you for that explanation.

 I do think — and I’m being as kind as possible — that it’s the nuttiest thing I’ve heard in years. Suicides are not linked to firearms. Japan has a much higher rate of suicide than does the U.S., and they have essentially no firearms. Suicide is a serious issue irrespective of the methodology used.  

 This explanation doesn’t pass even the most simple “does this make sense” test.

 Your policy does, in fact, brand firearms and the companies which make them as undesirables, and by association, you are saying that those who own and use firearms for recreation, hunting, self protection, and other safe and legal uses are to be avoided.

 It’s certainly your option to ostracize the firearms industry, the 90 million gun owners in America, and the media which support firearms safety training.  

 At this point, I feel an obligation to make sure the millions who listen to my radio show and watch my two national television series know about your policy.

 I cannot fully express how much I feel you are doing a disservice to our wounded veterans, and how disappointed I am to discover this bias at the Wounded Warriors Project.

 Sincerely,

Tom Gresham

==========================

God, what a mess. This is The Make A Wish Foundation Screw Up for the new century.

Unfortunately this is clearly a politically motivated/pseudo scientifically taken decision by WWP. If they think guns are bad, they wouldn’t be proudly announcing in its webpage that Raytheon is a corporate sponsor.

Years ago I made the decision that I would not support Make A Wish with direct donations but I would not reject to offer direct help if asked. This came about one day at a previous job where we had the chance to give a four-year old who’d never seen the ocean a weekend at the beach. As much as I consider the organization’s stand against hunting stupid, I could not say no to a little kid enjoying his last summer on this planet even if the event was being sponsored by M-A-W.  You have to be a callous S.O.B. to say no to a dying kid and I am not that cruel. Also, besides this post, I will not endorse publicly nor come down on WWP. As misguided as they are on this subject, they are serving a good cause and they have a fair rating with Charity Navigator.

As for you reader, you take your own decision.

The Improvised Munitions Handbook is a popular item among our military.

And since it was paid by the taxpayer and published by our government, it must have CSGV’s Seal of Approval, right?

DISCLAIMER: The links provided in this post are for information purposes only. Information is power. However, if you choose to be an idiot with the information provided here, you are on your own lonesome and should take it like a man…or woman.

If you are somewhat involved in the Gun Blogs, you’ve heard about Tam’s situation. My Mom went through that (and we will be making a visit to a dermatologist soon as something has appeared again) and I personally know the feeling you get when what you thought was a zit gone a bit septic turns out to be basal C. Those who know me and bought the BS that it was a nose piercing gone bad, shame on yourselves and I have some swamp land available for purchase very cheap.

As usual I am late to the dance (And can’t dance either so no loss there,) but I want to add my small contribution. Cathy Desorcy, Product Manager of Super Brush LLC had sent me a package to give away in another contest I was planning. It has a selection of bore tips and swabs plus several cards with an online discount of 10% of their products. So here is what I am gonna do:

1) If you make (or made) a donation to Tam’s Paypal (check her blog, right hand side), you will enter in a raffle. The winner will be selected at random and gets the baggie with the goodies. I will select ten more people who will get the card with the online discount for a total of 11 winners.

2) In order to enter, you will need to email me the confirmation from Paypal that you have donated to the Tam Cause. You can forward the email or do a screen capture obscuring your info if you like, but I will need proof of contribution. Send proof to Miguel AT Gunfreezone DOT net.

3) Contest ends Thursday November 22 at 11:59 pm (23:59 for those civilian time impaired) and I’ll announce the winners the following day.

So, go donate a couple of credits for a good cause and get back to me.

You remember this one:

And some of us are named as co-conspirators in this “hideous attempt to massacre” our soldiers:

Just now in Facebook, a friend & active duty Marine noticed something: not the Coalition to Stop Gun Rights Violence or their fellow Anti Right associates like The Brady Campaign, Violence Policy Center or the National Gun Victims Action Council even acknowledge either the Marine Corps Anniversary yesterday or Veteran’s Day today in their Facebook pages. However, all those “eeeevil” bloggers celebrated and paid respect as we do every year to the Devil Dogs and those who served our country in both our blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

The Marine friend said something very interesting after his initial post:

You’d think that if they want us to confiscate American’s guns, they’d be trying to show us appreciation in order to win hearts and minds. Guess common sense really isn’t a common virtue.

Never forget that the Anti Rights groups consider not only Gun Owners but the military in general as having two IQ points above certain species of simians.  They created a narrative and made the stupid mistake of buying into it.

And that is why we win.

My thanks and respect somehow do not seem enough.

MARINE CORPS ORDERS

No. 47 (Series 1921)

HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS

Washington, November 1, 1921

759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

(1) On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name “Marine”. In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

Read the rest here Happy Birthday U.S.M.C. | Gun Free Zone.