UPDATE: My Textedly account was canceled again, without any notice whatsoever. Support doesn’t answer. I’ve called several times and a recording says “No one is available to take your call.” Though a rep of theirs said i should have no problem after he changed my keyword last week from GUNTRUST to PROTECT, as long as my welcome message did not use the word “gun” i suspect in light of my post on their facebook page, and perhaps this blog post, they are applying the CTIA policy even more strictly based on my use of “CCW” in the welcome message. [Offending message: “Visit www.7-4-1776.us to get valuable CCW training & a lot more absolutely FREE, just for attending our FREE estate planning seminar. It’s payday for patriots!] Well that’s just a guess, but regardless what’s happening it’s clear that text messaging, whatever its marketing merit generally, is NOT a viable option for conservative businesspeople. Whatever time or money you invest (like the thousand mailers i just prepared), it will all be wasted when they decide to remove your account without telling you why. I don’t even have access to any subscriber info. Account removed without any warning whatsoever. I’m done with Textedly or any similar company unless they reject CTIA membership and its draconian, anti-2A rules.
SMS text messaging is an effective supplement to email marketing and I would like to take advantage of it.
But I can’t fully, under rules adopted by CTIA, the wireless trade association based in Washington, DC, and formerly known as the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, originally, and later Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
Every wireless company, such as my provider, Textedly, wants to be an accredited member of CTIA to show they are properly handling private information (a good thing).
But that means abiding by CTIA rules (a bad thing).
CTIA rules categorically prohibit any reference to SHAFT, an acronym referring to Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco.
Wireless service providers such as SMS marketing companies apply this rule strictly so as not to put their CTIA membership at risk. No mention of the word GUN is allowed any where in text marketing!
As a result, my provider Textedly (and several competitors of theirs i checked with) refused to allow me use of the keyword GUNTRUST, for which i have a federal trademark relating to educational services. I don’t even sell guns! I don’t even use fireams in my handgun training, only airsofts!
This is HUGE, folks!
Guns are an essential element of the American concept of ordered liberty.
At best, this trade association is violating the spirit of both the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution.
Worse, i think this can be characterized as state action. The CTIA, located in Washington, DC, is enmeshed with government, placing a high importance on working with government emergency services and coordinating cell service across all North America, including countries with absolutely zero respect for our Second Amendment — viz., Canada and Mexico. CTIA member service providers instruct their employers to lie to customers, stating that “regulations” (implying governmental regulations) prohibit any mention of GUN, when in reality it is merely a leftist committee-insane trade org that came up with this anti-American rule!
Congress needs to come down HARD on CTIA.
And we need to select carriers that buck CTIA and respect 2A instead.
Textedly, i’m sorry to say, is not one of them. I’m looking for another but apparently guts is rare in this industry.
Pathetic. As Edmund Burke wrote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
I’m waiting, SMS providers (or Congress).
