THE CHURCH MILITANT
Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
BOYCOTT SHOPIFY: NEW SHOPIFY POLICY BANS SALE OF GUNS & ACCESSORIES OVER THE INTERNET
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Shopify policy change to ban gun, accessory sales, refuses to answer retailer questions
APOPKA, Fla. –-(Ammoland.com)- A change in policy announced Monday night by Shopify, an e-commerce platform used by more than 600,000 merchants to conduct online sales, will essentially shut down the sale of guns, gun parts and accessories over the internet by retailers who use Shopify.
Spike’s Tactical, a Florida-based gun manufacturer, has built their entire website and online sales portal exclusively using the Shopify platform and conducts millions of dollars in sales through Shopify each year.
“This decision will have significant ramifications to our business and should concern every online retailer and Second Amendment supporter,” said Cole Leleux, general manager of Spike’s Tactical.
Some of the new amended rules in Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy now include banning the sale of semi-automatic firearms that have an ability to accept a detachable magazine and are capable of accepting more than 10 rounds. Additionally, unfinished lower receivers are also prohibited, according to the new rules. Most of Spike’s Tactical’ s products include AR-15 parts and full rifles, which would fall under those new restrictions.
One of the things that makes this more challenging for businesses like Spike’s Tactical, is that Shopify’s platform is entirely proprietary, meaning the information stored on their platform cannot be easily transferred to another online platform.
“We have invested more than $100,000 in the development of our Shopify store, which will disappear once these policies go into effect,” said Leleux.
As for when these new policies will go into effect, that remains a mystery. When representatives from Spike’s Tactical reached out to Shopify to try to learn more, Shopify refused to answer any questions and directed Spike’s Tactical team members to the Shopify legal department, which at the time of this news release, has yet to respond.
Ironically, when challenged by left-leaning critics about selling Breitbart products in 2017, Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke said, “We don’t like Breitbart, but products are speech and we are pro free speech. This means protecting the right of organizations to use our platform even if they are unpopular or if we disagree with their premise, as long as they are within the law.”
It now seems that Shopify has reversed course on their previous belief, as our products are not only legal, but also used by many law enforcement agencies, Leleux said.
Another gun company, which will also feel the pain of Shopify’s recent decision is Rare Breed Firearms. Rare Breed announced the launch of their new Spartan lower receiver last week and the product is also sold online exclusively through Shopify.
“We have spent the last three years developing the Rare Breed brand and more than $40,000 developing our Shopify site,” said Lawrence DeMonico, president of Rare Breed Firearms, an Austin, Texas based firearms company. “Depending on how this policy is rolled out, this is a move that could put companies like ours out of business, and we will undoubtedly be looking to pursue legal options.”
Any other gun manufacturers or retailers who are also experiencing issues related to this new policy are encouraged to contact Spike’s Tactical, as they are looking at legal options to potentially file a class action lawsuit.
About Spike’s Tactical
Spike’s Tactical was founded the day before 9/11 by Mike and Angela Register and is headquartered in Apopka, Florida. The family-owned business employs around 40 people and all products are made exclusively in the USA and assembled in Florida. Spike’s Tactical is regarded as one of the premier AR-15 manufacturers in the world. Their mission is to build the highest quality products and offer them at the best possible price to the consumer. Spike’s Tactical weapons are designed to military specifications for civilian, law enforcement and military use. All products manufactured by Spike’s Tactical feature a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.
About Rare Breed Firearms
Rare Breed Firearms was established in 2016 to develop innovative, visually appealing and highly functional firearm designs. Rare Breed Firearms is based in Austin, Texas and is veteran-owned and operated. Through friendly competition, their goal is to drive innovation and bring new designs to the market.
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Minden, NV – -(AmmoLand.com)- Reputable firearms manufacturer and industry innovator, Franklin Armory, received word late Monday evening that their e-commerce provider, Shopify, will soon interrupt their lawful commerce of firearms and components due to a sudden change in Shopify’s “Acceptable Use Policy (AUP.)”
The new AUP was presented without warning and included a new definition of “Restricted Items” to include flash suppressors, threaded barrels, pistol grips, and even magazines larger than 10 rounds. All of these items are legal to use in a majority of states across the country, yet Shopify is interfering with Franklin Armory’s lawful interstate commerce.
Because of their lawful commerce in firearms, Franklin Armory has previously been discriminated against by financial services companies such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citigroup, First Data, Intuit, and Pay Pal. Social media companies such as Facebook, Google, Youtube, and Twitter have also operated under discriminatory policies to throttle down the reach of firearms manufacturers.
Counsel for Franklin Armory, Jason Davis, stated, “The firearms industry is under an unprecedented attack from the leading facilitators of interstate commerce that deny legitimate firearm businesses access to important structural supports of modern business.”
Jay Jacobson, President of Franklin Armory, went on to say, “History is replete with examples of discriminatory practices employed against various societal segments. In almost every case, our nation has legislated equal protection for those segments to prevent unfair practices and discrimination. If Congress does not act soon to provide equal protection to all businesses, it is not too much of a leap to see how only approved businesses or people will be able to buy or sell in future financial markets.”
If you would like more information about this topic or to support, please see our website at www.franklinarmory.com .
Editors Note: Readers can contact Shopify directly to voice your concerns at 888) 746-7439.
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- The National Shooting Sports Foundation is aware and monitoring the recent policy changes by Shopify. This policy update is misinformed and doesn’t contribute to increasing public safety.
Instead, it limits customer choice and alienates law-abiding gun owners.
“Today’s gun owners can trust NSSF-member retailers, who offer online services, to provide them with the respect, dignity, and service they have come to expect. When gun owners support these NSSF-member retailers, they contribute to a variety of industry-driven and effective public safety solutions.
Those initiatives include NSSF’s FixNICS®, the Own It? Respect It. Secure It.® initiative, which is built on the firearm industry’s long-standing commitment to safety and was developed to promote and encourage firearm safety and secure storage. It also serves to enhance and amplify the messages of ongoing firearm safety and education campaigns such as Project ChildSafe®.
Other NSSF initiatives in cooperation with federal law enforcement include the Don’t Lie for the Other Guy® anti-straw purchasing retailer education and public awareness program and Operation Secure Store℠ that provides firearms retailers with information to help them better secure their facilities from theft.
The firearms industry welcomes participation in the conversation across the nation to make our communities and our schools safer. We will continue to lead and participate in finding and enhancing practical solutions that protect lives and preserve our citizens’ liberties” ~ Stephen L. Sanetti, President and CEO for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
