The gun control debate in the US is admittedly a bit of a minefield. With the second amendment making ownership an absolute right and the NRA wielding a lot of power in the political and professional world, businesses have been hesitant to take a stand for fear of angering consumers and politicians alike. However, that appears to be changing. Gun sellers like Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and others have committed to dialing back their ammunition and assault weapon sales and San Francisco labeled the NRA a domestic terror organization. And now, the world’s biggest companies are taking a stand with a letter to the Senate.
The Gun Control Letter
The letter — sent to Senate leaders in the US — was signed by 145 CEOs and top executives from companies like Twitter, Airbnb, and Uber, among many others, and made some pretty specific demands, the most prominent of which was conveniently bolded, for easy reading: With 61% of Americans in favor of stricter gun laws in this country, and 73% of Americans admitting that “more needs to be done” to address gun violence, it’s safe to say enacting common sense gun control laws is something that most businesses should feel comfortable with getting behind. So why isn’t big tech on board? Let’s take it on a case-by-case basis.
Facebook’s Already Bad Press
To be fair, Facebook is already embroiled in its fair share of scandals and controversies. From FTC fines to concerns about it ruining modern democracy, the world’s most popular social media platform has been playing whack-a-mole with company-destroying problems for the last few years. And, according to anonymous sources with the New York Times, Facebook has too much attention as it is without signing the letter. Zuckerberg and his tumultuous creation have endured quite a bit in the last few years, which has led to hemorrhaging users and a seemingly endless barrage of bad press. However, while this gun control letter might cause a stir, it would provide an opportunity for Facebook to take a stand on something meaningful and show the world that the company and its founder aren’t merely concerned about the bottom line.
Google’s Work Ethic
It’s safe to say that Google has a lot of work to do on a daily basis. After all, the company oversees the most popular browser and search engine on the planet, so they’ve certainly got their work cut out for them. And if you think that’s a bad excuse for not getting on board with the rest of the business world when it comes to enacting common sense gun laws, Google’s recently announced internal policy begs to differ: In the same way athletes will occasionally try to shirk their responsibilities as role models, Google is passing the buck by claiming that their unbelievably influential company has no place in the political realm. However, much like those athletes, Google’s status as one of the world’s largest companies demands at least some level of engagement, even if it’s something as simple as signing a letter. But hey, SEO is pretty important too, right?
Apple’s Conflicting Opinions
Apple’s absence from the list is perhaps one of the most perplexing. Sure, they could also be at the whim of angry, gun-toting customers in their stores in the event they take a stand, but CEO Tim Cook has been adamant about his stance on gun control, namely that something needs to be done:
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 4, 2019 This paradox most clearly demonstrates big tech’s stance on gun control, and the political landscape as a whole: neutral at all costs. It’s not that these CEOs don’t believe in common sense gun laws; most of them do. However, when it comes to getting involved, these business leaders view the proliferation and continued existence of their companies as more important than the political landscape of their home country. The reality though is that the existence of these companies fundamentally affects and influences our political landscape, whether they want it to or not. Being the most popular social media platform or the most used search engine or the largest e-commerce retailer, and the biggest consumer tech producer inherently makes you part of the system. And doing nothing — a stance this letter firmly condemns — just isn’t enough anymore. Read more of the latest tech news on Tech.co
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