Smith & Wesson Expresses Gratitude to Elon Musk Following Facebook Account Issues

Smith & Wesson, one of America’s most renowned g*n manufacturers, recently expressed gratitude to Elon Musk and his platform, X, for supporting free speech after its Facebook account was suspended. 

The company criticized what it described as ongoing attacks against the First and Second Amendments, highlighting the importance of platforms like X in protecting these rights.

According to Andy Stone, a representative for Facebook’s parent company Meta, the suspension was a mistake and has since been resolved. However, Smith & Wesson used the incident to draw attention to the challenges faced by firearm-related content on social media.

In a post on X, the manufacturer emphasized Musk’s commitment to free speech and criticized Meta’s restrictive policies, particularly after Facebook flagged several of its posts for allegedly promoting the sale of f*rearms.

Founded in 1852 and now based in Maryville, Tennessee, Smith & Wesson is a major player in the f*rearms industry, reporting $535.8 million in sales for the 2024 fiscal year. Despite its long history and significant market presence, the company expressed frustration over the suspension of its Facebook account, which had been active for 15 years.

Smith & Wesson shared a screenshot of the suspension notice, indicating that posts from Nov. 22, Nov. 13, and July 18 violated Facebook’s commerce policies, which prohibit the promotion of buying, selling, or trading weapons.

While Meta allows exceptions for legitimate retailers, their content is still restricted to comply with community guidelines and avoid reaching minors.

Although its account was reinstated, Smith & Wesson encouraged its 1.6 million followers to explore alternative platforms that prioritize free speech and Second Amendment rights.

“In an era where free speech and the right to bear arms are under constant attack, we want to thank Elon Musk and X for supporting free speech and our constitutional rights guaranteed by the 1st and 2nd Amendments,” the company stated.

Musk responded directly to Smith & Wesson’s post, affirming X’s belief in the Constitution. He also highlighted a symbolic change on the platform: restoring the g*n emoji, which had been replaced with a water gun by Twitter in 2018.

The National Association for Gun Rights, a Second Amendment advocacy group with over 4.5 million activists, echoed Smith & Wesson’s sentiment.

The organization praised X for being a refuge for content related to f*rearms and constitutional rights in a digital landscape increasingly hostile to such topics. “Thank you for giving us a place to shelter in this storm of Constitution-hating companies,” the group stated.

In a separate post, the association declared X one of the last bastions for free speech and g*n rights on social media. 

“It is becoming clear that X is one of the last major bastions of 2A and firearms content on social media,” the group wrote, warning that censorship is tightening elsewhere and aiming to silence f*rearm-related voices entirely.

This incident highlights the growing tension between social media platforms’ content policies and advocates of constitutional freedoms, as companies like Smith & Wesson and their supporters continue to seek spaces that align with their values.