BIG TECH'S CENSORSHIP OF BYRNA'S ABILITY TO PROMOTE ITS LESS-LETHAL PRODUCTS SUPPORTS THE NOTION THAT ONLY LETHAL OPTIONS EXIST.

The fear of engaging in conversations about leveraging new technologies to mitigate gun violence is palpable in Silicon Valley. The increasing number of news stories over the past decade concerning social media platforms and tech corporations regulating discourse and determining acceptable speech has not gone unnoticed. In the past, sensitive topics in the public sphere were primarily regulated by the Government, and those guidelines eventually trickled down to society at large. While it remains, uncertain which approach is superior, we can all agree that the unnecessary loss of American lives due to the use of lethal firearms is an undeniable tragedy.

 At Byrna Technologies, we firmly stand behind this belief and have built our company upon it. As an organization that supports and exercises the 2nd Amendment, our mission is simple: to save lives by equipping American citizens and law enforcement professionals with effective use-of-force self-defense products before having to resort to lethal options—one bullet has the potential of destroying two lives.

Regrettably, based on our recent experiences where we were not allowed to present our products to the masses, the technocrats and elite of Silicon Valley are not genuinely interested in applying common sense policies that will have significant public safety ramifications. The technocrats need to understand Byrna’s ethos is to save lives, not take them. With this understanding, common sense dictates they would be excited to deliver Byrna’s message to their broad user base.

 If we approach this discussion from a data perspective, over 25 million Americans, representing over 30% of gun owners, have exercised their 2nd Amendment rights by use of a firearm for self-defense at some point in their lives. On average, there are over 500,000 instances each year where guns are utilized for self-defense. In 2022 alone, lethal firearms claimed the lives of over 20,000 people in the United States, with over 38,000 additional individuals sustaining injuries (excluding suicides). Firearms, however, used (legally or illegally) have resulted in healthcare costs exceeding $1 billion for victims, their families, and their communities.

 Our objective is to foster a common-sense conversation about less-lethal self-defense. However, Facebook and Google seem determined to keep this critical information from their users. If these platforms are genuinely interested in public safety, it makes sense to inform their users that non-lethal, practical options, such as Byrna products, exist. 

 Please join in our effort to motivate the technocrats to reconsider their position.