Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In a move straight out of the censorship playbook, anti-gun groups are now trying to sue gun and ammo makers for simply talking about guns online. That’s not an exaggeration.
In Lowy v. Daniel Defense, activists are suing major industry players like Daniel Defense, Magpul, and Vista Outdoor—not for breaking laws, but for sharing pro-2A posts on social media.
Their claim? Patriotic images and military-themed marketing “caused” a shooting.
Joseph Greenlee, Director of Litigation Counsel for NRA-ILA, isn’t buying it. Speaking with America’s 1st Freedom Editor-in-Chief Frank Miniter, Greenlee breaks down how this isn’t just a case about firearms—it’s a full-blown attack on First Amendment rights.
“This is really a free speech case,” Greenlee said. “All these manufacturers are doing is posting pictures of Americans enjoying their Second Amendment rights.”
Think moms and daughters in hunting blinds, flags draped next to rifles, or groups training in tactical gear. According to the plaintiffs, those images are enough to “inspire violence.”
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The problem? There’s no proof the shooter even saw these posts.
Still, the plaintiffs want the courts to ignore the facts—and the law. Congress already passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) back in 2005 to stop this kind of abusive litigation.
PLCAA blocks lawsuits against gun companies for the criminal misuse of their products by third parties. But there’s a loophole—known as the “predicate exception”—that anti-gunners are desperately trying to exploit. If they can claim a gun maker broke a law in their marketing, they think they can drag them into court anyway.
But here’s the kicker: the social media posts cited in the lawsuit aren’t ads. They don’t promote violence. They don’t even link to products. Yet, anti-gunners want to use them to bankrupt lawful businesses.
This isn’t just hypothetical. In California, lawmakers already passed legislation banning any gun-related advertising that might be “attractive to minors.”
SEE ALSO: New Shadow 2 Carry — NRA 2025
That could mean outlawing bright colors, youth shooting camp promotions, or even just posts showing young people enjoying safe, supervised shooting sports.
So what happens if this lawsuit succeeds?
- Say goodbye to seeing new product announcements online.
- Forget about social media posts promoting training courses or competitions.
- And watch gun makers get sued into oblivion for exercising basic First Amendment rights.
The good news: the case is on appeal, and the manufacturers already won at the district court level. The Supreme Court is also considering a similar challenge in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico, which could help shut down these kinds of legal assaults.
Until then, Greenlee says the NRA-ILA will keep fighting—not just in this case, but in any courtroom where the First and Second Amendments are under attack.
Because make no mistake: if anti-gunners can silence gun makers, they can silence the right to own them too.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
So what they’re saying is if I see a rainbow Pride flag I’ll want to become gay, or if I see pictures of food I’ll want to become fat? Democrat logic defies all common sense on every level.
Democrat and logic are polar opposites and incompatible with each other. A logic democrat, if it existed would implode the universe, it’s that improbable.
There is such thing as logic with a democrat.it doesn’t exist.
The looney left is losing their shit. They just want total control of us. The supreme court needs to shut them down permanently. There should be open season on Demonrats.
Shit is all the loony left ever had and will have.
When the gun makers win, the court should make the plaintiffs reimburse 150% of cost. This should never see the light of day
There are no better arguments to supporting groups that fight for our 2A rights, like the venerable NRA, than this. I was pissed off with the NRA for years and refused to contribute because of the corruption of WLP and his cast of characters, but they are gone now, so I moved up to the Golden Eagles. There are many good pro-2A groups that do outstanding work, fighting for your rights.
If you’re pro-2A, don’t sit on your hands and do nothing. Pick one and help them out. EVERY pro-2A person in this great country of ours should join the NRA, whether you agree with everything they do, or not. They are the quintessential pro-gun support group. Can you imagine the pro-gun lobbying power we would have if every gun owner was a member?
That being the case, Hollywood has MUCH to answer for, eh?
ANYONE who makes such claims should be looked upon with a deep and abiding suspicion, as that is the road to Orwell’s dystopian world.
The problem isn’t if they win, the problem is that if they keep doing this, with bloomberg’s billions (and ours since he had so much of our money funnelled), they can bankrupt the industry without winning a single case. The 2005 law was supposed to prevent even them going to court with frivolous lawsuits at all, because the cost of winning can be too high. Unfortunately, activist judges allow cases that they should immediately dismiss.
They advertise everything on tv.From products for men sexual satisfaction to women. Sanitary needs.
SO IN MYHUMBLE OPION, THESE TWO ARE DEMOCRATS THAT WANT TO MAKE TROUBLE.
And I am feed up with these thing tiring up our corrupt judges.Because these fools lost an election.