Memphis Standard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressing concerns over alleged censorship of shooting sports content and athletes on the platform.

Reports indicate that Meta has shadow-banned and de-platformed several members of USA Shooting, including four-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock and Paralympian McKenna Geer. The West Point Rifle Team has also reportedly experienced similar issues. Senator Blackburn emphasized the need for accountability in what she describes as bias against the Second Amendment and freedom of expression.

"According to reports, Meta has censored leading athletes in shooting sports, including Olympian Vincent Hancock and Paralympian McKenna Geer. Mr. Hancock, a U.S. Army veteran, recently won his fourth Olympic gold medal in skeet shooting, having previously proved himself the world’s best marksman in 2008, 2012, and 2021," Blackburn wrote. "A dominant figure in the sport, Mr. Hancock is the first skeet shooter to earn an Olympic gold medal more than once, and he joined an elite group by becoming only the sixth Olympian to win a gold medal in the same event four times."

"In July of this year, Ms. McKenna Geer faced similar censorship from Meta," Blackburn continued. "Ms. Geer was born with a muscular disorder that can impact an individual’s ability to do even the simplest tasks... When she posted a photo holding the very rifle she used to qualify for the Games, Meta flagged it as a violation of its guidelines."

Blackburn's letter asserts that these instances are part of a broader pattern affecting other shooting athletes and organizations like the West Point Rifle Team. She argues that this discrimination appears specifically targeted at shooting sports.

"Meta’s discrimination is not limited to these two athletes... Any reasonable individual could draw only one conclusion: this attack on freedom of speech and sport is simply due to the use of a firearm," Blackburn stated.

For further details, readers can access the full text of Senator Blackburn's letter.