Software Company Salesforce To Camping World: Stop Selling Rifles, or Stop Using Our Program

John Romero | May 31, 2019
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According to the Washington Post, the company Salesforce, an e-commerce software developer, gave major outdoors outlet Camping World an ultimatum regarding the store's gun sales, effectively telling the outdoor sporting goods store to stop selling certain guns, or stop using their software.

According to a Salesforce policy change instituted April 11 of this year, the cloud-tech company states that their product can't be used for a whole range of gun sales transactions.

“Worldwide, customers may not use a Service to transact online sales of any of the following firearms and/or related accessories to private citizens. Firearms: automatic firearms; semi-automatic firearms that have the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any of the following: thumbhole stock, folding or telescoping stock, grenade launcher or flare launcher, flash or sound suppressor, forward pistol grip, pistol grip (in the case of a rifle) or second pistol grip (in the case of a pistol), barrel shroud; semi-automatic firearms with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds;”

Since almost all firearms are capable of accepting an extended clip or a suppressor of some type, this policy would effectively bar any retailer who sells guns from using Salesforce’s services and software. The Washington Post reports Camping World currently spends about $1 million a year to use the company's cloud-connecting software to better reach customers, and a switch to a different company could cost the retailer a pretty penny.

Based in San Francisco, Salesforce's CEO Marc Benioff has been vocal in his opposition to the Second Amendment, having called for the banning of the AR-15 platform and supporting pro-gun control groups such as March For Our lives -- an organization to which he's already donated $1 million.

This change is not unique to Salesforce though. Retailers such as shopify.com, Wal-Mart, and Dicks Sporting Goods have moved to restrict or cease the sales of certain firearms.

And it doesn't stop at companies. Those familiar with the issue may recall the Obama administration’s infamous Operation Choke Point, a possibly illegal operation in which the FDIC was used to pressure banks to not do business with gun manufacturers and sellers and led to banks like Citibank, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase threatening to cease or outright blacklisting gun sellers from using their services. 
 

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