Please see below for an exchange of e-mails with WWP. The e-mails are listed from the latest to the oldest. I did this as I wanted WWP to have the last word concerning the issue. If you want to read from the first e-mail to the last, start at the bottom.
I realize that they are a large organization now, but a clear response from the beginning would have prevented all of this. It appears to me that they were wishy-washy on the subject until they were called to task by me and others. It seems that they have clarified their position. Let's see how long that lasts.
The exchange has only been modified to take out my name and e-mail. Make your own call on this based upon below.
Semper Fi.
Dear (chorizo),
We have honored your wishes and have successfully removed you from the monthly giving program.
We appreciate your concern regarding this matter. First, these questions arose as a result of a miscommunicated message when declining an opportunity for WWP to appear on Gun Talk Radio. This mistake has unfortunately led some people to question our support of the 2nd Amendment.
Please know WWP wholeheartedly supports the Constitution of the United States of America, which includes the Second Amendment. We recognize these are the freedoms our Alumni fought and sacrificed to protect!
WWP has a long history of facilitating therapeutic hunting and outdoor opportunities for Wounded Warriors as well as fundraising activities that involve firearms.
Very Respectfully,
Robin
ROBIN PANTOJA
giving outreach team
Wounded Warrior Project
4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
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woundedwarriorproject.org
March 22, 2013
Subject: Re: WWP General Information Email
Your lack of response is going to be construed as a negative response.
I will be canceling my Advance Guard donation and transferring it to Waykin Warrior Foundation, a pro constitution and pro Bill of Rights organization.
LtCol (chorizo). USMC (ret)
No response from WWP to the e-mail below, so I sent the above response
March 18, 2013
Dear (WWP)
You answer does not fully satisfy me. One more chance and please be specific and please explain the following:
Gun Owners Separate Friends from Foes - Frank Miniter - National Review Online
Gresham’s stance on this issue solidified after he invited someone from Wounded Warrior Project, a charity that helps veterans, to come on his radio show on Veteran’s Day. After sending the invite, Gresham received a statement from Leslie Coleman, the public-relations director for WWP, saying they were declining because Gun Talk is “related to firearms.” This shocked Gresham, because many gun companies and hunting groups have done a lot to financially support WWP.
After Gresham talked about this hypocrisy on his show, many gun owners spoke out on blogs and elsewhere. To subdue the controversy, WWP’s CEO, Steve Nardizzi, agreed to do an interview on Gun Talk. But Nardizzi only inflamed the tension during his appearance, distancing WWP from those who cherish the Second Amendment.
Gresham was torn. WWP does great work, but other organizations also help wounded warriors. He decided it was time to take a stand. He wrote, in an op-ed for the Shooting Wire:
There is a major push to demonize and marginalize gun owners, gun makers, and the shooting sports. It is in this light that I see the WWP policy of prohibiting gun and knife makers from using the WWP logo. What are they telling the world?
Take the longer view. Ebay blocked firearms from being listed. Paypal blocks the use of its service for buying guns. Google blocks guns, dealers, and makers from searches in its shopping service. We have reports of banks closing the accounts of gun makers simply on the basis that they won’t do business with the firearms industry. Each of these is a very public way of saying, “We don’t do business with ‘those people.’” Each is a way of saying that reasonable and responsible people should have nothing to do with the firearms business. We are being put into the same box as pornography. . . . No longer will we just shrug when faced with a distorted media report about guns. No longer will we just go about our business when a politician makes outrageous claims about gun owners. No longer will we continue to give money to, or do business with, any outfit that in any way labels us as “undesirables.” To shrug and just go on is to not just accept the demonization, but it actually agrees with it and supports it. No longer.
On Mar 18, 2013, at 4:21 PM, WWP Information <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Good Afternoon,
>
> Thank you for contacting Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP)! WWP programs serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. It is estimated over 49,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in recent military conflicts. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while on deployment, and as many as 400,000 additional service members live with the invisible wounds of war, including combat-related stress, major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
> With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, WWP is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs.
> Our mission at Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. We are a non-profit, nonpartisan organization and we do not take a stance on political, social or religious issues. Our goal is to foster the most successful and well-adjusted generation of veterans in this nation’s history and our activities remain within that scope.
> You can email the giving outreach team (GOT) at
[email protected]rriorproject.org for information.
> If you have any additional questions or want to support WWP through a one-time or monthly donation, please call 1.855.GIVE.WWP (448.3997).
> Thank you,
> Wounded Warrior Project
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: LtCol (chorizo) USMC, (ret)
> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:54 PM
> To: WWP Information
> Subject: WWP General Information Email
>
> I am an Advance Guard participant. Please clarify the WWP stand on Second Amendment issues and your policy on firearms.
> A non-answer will be considered a NEGATIVE so please respond clearly.
LtCol (chorizo) USMC, (ret)
