Democrats Freak Out About Facebook Ad For ‘Long-Range Hunting Ammunition’

Democrats in Congress won’t be satisfied until all advertisements for any gun-related accessories or protective equipment are removed from Facebook.

That was the underlying message of a letter sent to the social media company by 23 Democrats serving on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The legislators take particular issue with the fact that, according to Buzzfeed, Facebook users continued to receive ads for “long-range hunting ammunition” following the social media company’s ban on weapons accessories and protective equipment from January 6 to 22.  

“While it was encouraging that Facebook took action to ban certain types of troubling advertising on its platforms through January 22, more must be done since our nation continues to face a threat from violent domestic extremists,” Democrats writes. “Furthermore, additional clarity and transparency is needed around how these ads are selected for users and what influence they may have on users, particularly those who are known to be active in extremist groups that peddle disinformation and conspiracy theories.”

It’s unclear exactly why the legislators focus on ammunition since Facebook long ago banned any advertisements for weapons or ammunition. The social media giant still allows ads for gun-related “accessories,” but they banned those ads too between the riots and President Biden’s inauguration.

SEE ALSO: Congresspeople Arm Up in the Wake of Violence at the Capitol

The legislators pose a series of questions to Facebook connecting weapons accessories and ballistic vests to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

For example, they ask, “What steps does Facebook plan to take to ensure that advertisements for weapons or other tactical military equipment and accessories are not targeted in a manner that can jeopardize public safety?”

They also want to know how many employees are responsible for reviewing weapons-related advertisements and how Facebook reviews the audience for advertisements for “weapons or other tactical military equipment and accessories.”

They do not explain how hunting ammunition or gun holsters could be considered “tactical military equipment” nor do they explain how advertisements for such equipment lead to violence or extremism.

It didn’t take long for the corporate media and anti-gun politicians to begin blaming the riots on January 6 on Facebook ads for protective vests and weapons accessories. Citing Buzzfeed, the New York Times reported that “concerned employees and users of the social network” noticed an “uptick” in advertisements for gun holsters and body armor following the riots.

SEE ALSO: The Atlantic: ‘The gun-rights movement deserves a reckoning’ for Capitol Occupation

These ads were being shown to people who “engaged with” alleged misinformation about the presidential election and Capitol riots, according to the outlet.

This is very, very bad, according to attorneys general for Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

“We believe that Facebook’s micro-targeted advertising of such gear, including to audiences that have an affinity for extremist content and election misinformation, could promote and facilitate further politically motivated attacks,” the attorneys wrote in a letter to Facebook.

The allegations are high on emotion and short on proof, but that isn’t stopping anyone in Congress from taking Facebook to task for their alleged mismanagement of advertising and promotion of violence.

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