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Dell and Our Right to Arms
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"Dude, you're NOT getting a Dell..." |
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The American Pistolsmiths Guild
"1999 Pistolsmith of the Year"
Jack Weigand |
This week has seen a great deal of discussion on the Internet and via
e-mail regarding the Dell Computer Corporation. It all started when the
president of the American Pistolsmiths Guild, Inc.,
Jack Weigand of
Weigand Combat Handguns, Inc., attempted to order a Dell notebook
computer. But Dell had implemented a screening process (in the wake of
the terrorist attacks of September 11) that included holding up orders
to companies with certain words in their name. This screening process
was designed to better ensure compliance with federal export laws. One
of those words is "combat," and Mr. Weigand's order was cancelled in the
screening process, pending a follow-up by company staff. But in the
case of Mr. Weigand, no such follow-up occurred, and when the concerned
customer called Dell, he was told his order was cancelled. Mr Weigand
naturally became concerned that Dell was opposed to the firearms
industry.
When NRA became aware of this situation, we contacted Dell, and the
company has been very responsive to our concerns. It also quickly
contacted Mr. Weigand to offer an apology and an explanation as to why
his order had been cancelled. Dell representatives have shown a genuine
concern over the implication that it takes a position in the debate over
firearms, and it has gone to great lengths to assure NRA, and Mr.
Weigand, that the company is not interested in taking sides in this
political discussion.
Additional concerns have been raised over Dell's affiliation with a
little-known online fundraising program called EduOrg.com - set up to help
raise money for colleges, interest groups, and other non-profit
organizations. The group has established separate websites to assist
"educational institutions...politically conservative organizations,
and...politically liberal organizations."
The concern over Dell stems
from the fact that it is included as part of EduOrg.com's online virtual
shopping mall, and one of the non-profit groups that could profit
through EduOrg.com is the gun-ban lobby formerly known as "Handgun
Control, Inc." (While HCI has officially changed its name, EduOrg.com,
through its "politically liberal organizations" site, still lists the
group under its old name.)
When contacted about this, Dell officials
stated they were looking into this partnership, but it should also be
pointed out that Dell did not choose to be listed on HCI's section, as
it is simply automatically listed on the site of any organization that
gets involved with this online fundraising system. In fact, one can
also find Dell listed on all of the sites under the conservative
heading. Such "affinity" programs have become commonplace in the era of
the Internet, and generally do not reflect any given political bent on
the part of participating vendors when they do not specifically benefit
a single group or cause.
NRA will continue to explore these issues, but it would appear that
Dell as a corporation does not support an anti-gun agenda, as some have
been reporting. Rest assured that we will continue to report on any
developments on this front.
Related Stories...
Lowe's removes anti-gun messages (Jul. 2001)
Kmart's Blue Light Turns To Red For Handgun Owners (Jun. 2001)
Anti-gunners Pressuring Wal-Mart to Reconsider Gun & Ammo Sales (Oct. 2000)
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