Wounded Warrior Project Email Exchange
by Gun Talk on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 11:56am ·

After Sunday's show, we've gotten many emails about Tom's remarks after WWP declined an interview request on Gun Talk Radio because it's a firearms-related show. We've also seen the forums that are suggesting many things that are not true. So, I'm going to lay it all out right here.

We thought it would be great to book the WWP on the Veteran's Day show to promote the organization, so I contacted them. I was flabbergasted when their PR contact, Leslie, sent me an email saying they could not participate because our show dealt with firearms. Knowing that WWP has had a booth at trade shows and various gun shows across the US, takes wounded warriors on hunts and range days, raffles guns and accessories as fundraisers, etc., their policy didn't make much sense. I forwarded the email on to Tom to get his take.

-Sarah

 

The following is the complete email exchange:

====================

Hello, Leslie:

Sarah forwarded me your email after I asked her to invite the Wounded Warriors Project to join me on "Tom Gresham's Gun Talk" radio show.

 

I'm stunned at your email saying that the WWP doesn't participate in an interview or activity related to firearms.  Inasmuch as there are 90 million gun owners and most of them support wounded veterans, I think they would be shocked to hear that they are, by way of their hobbies, somehow not worthy of helping with the Wounded Warriors Project.

 

 Does your policy apply also to police agencies and the military, since they are "related to firearms?"

 

I'm hoping that we have misunderstood your email.  Can you confirm that it is, in fact, an official policy of the Wounded Warriors Project to not do interviews with or participate in any activity related to firearms?

 

Thank you.

Tom Gresham

 

============

 

Good afternoon --

 

While we appreciate your interest in Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) you are correct that we decline the media opportunity.

 

Please note the following notice that appears on our website which also applies to WWP public awareness policy and inquiries from media outlets:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/additional-opportunities.aspx

 

WWP does not co-brand, create cause marketing campaigns or receive a percentage or a portion of proceeds from companies in which the product or message is sexual, political or religious in nature, or from alcohol or firearms companies.

 

 Thank you for your inquiry.

 

 LESLIE A. COLEMAN

 public relations director

 

O: 904.405.1433

 M: 904.654.8138

 F: 904.296.7347

 

 Wounded Warrior Project

 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300

 Jacksonville, Florida 32256

 

====================

Thanks for confirming that, Leslie.  It was a simple opportunity to promote the WWP on a national program in an effort to send donations your way.

 I'll pass along the info that you don't want or need the help of America's gun owners. 

 

 Best regards,

 Tom Gresham

 

=====================

 

Good morning --

This policy is not a judgment on those who own and use firearms – clearly every member of our armed forces has been trained in the use of firearms and then called on to use them in the course of their service to this country.

 

Our position regarding firearms and alcohol is in response to the struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.

 

 Thank you.

 LESLIE A. COLEMAN

 public relations director

 

=============================

 

Hello, Leslie:

 

Thank you for that explanation.

 

I do think -- and I'm being as kind as possible -- that it's the nuttiest thing I've heard in years. Suicides are not linked to firearms. Japan has a much higher rate of suicide than does the U.S., and they have essentially no firearms. Suicide is a serious issue irrespective of the methodology used. 

 

This explanation doesn't pass even the most simple "does this make sense" test.

 

Your policy does, in fact, brand firearms and the companies which make them as undesirables, and by association, you are saying that those who own and use firearms for recreation, hunting, self protection, and other safe and legal uses are to be avoided.

 

It's certainly your option to ostracize the firearms industry, the 90 million gun owners in America, and the media which support firearms safety training. 

 

At this point, I feel an obligation to make sure the millions who listen to my radio show and watch my two national television series know about your policy.

 

I cannot fully express how much I feel you are doing a disservice to our wounded veterans, and how disappointed I am to discover this bias at the Wounded Warriors Project.

 

Sincerely,

Tom Gresham

I had so hoped this topic would be avoided here.  Ho-hum.


-T.

I had so hoped this topic would be avoided here.  Ho-hum.


-T.

This Policy of theirs is going to cost them Millions.

This presumes that, if I have $200 to donate, I can only donate it to WWP if I want to help wounded vets. It is quite possible to take my $200 and use it some other way that directly benefits wounded warriors, but most certainly does NOT benefit WWP.

Now, the proper rejoinder from WWP is that they don't care, so long as the wounded warriors are getting the money, whether it goes through WWP or someone else is immaterial. Bet they won't say that.

In reality, this sounds like some knee jerk, boilerplate, SOP policy of a hired PR firm. If WWP has any sense, they will fire the PR firm, say that it was all their idea and not WWP's, and they had no idea their hired hands were doing such idiotic things, and press forward.

Mike

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

(I heart third shift, not)
Mike

I think there's way to much single-mindedness on this.  My expectation is that WWP has no position on the 2A, and that the girl who was responding to those emails was just trying to get out of Tom Gersham's way.  He was pushing for a reason they declined.  Instead of just taking No for an answer he made a federal case out of it.

This whole thing is dumb.  Some lackey manning an email box was trying to get Gersham off her back, who is pushy on these issues, and all of the sudden WWP is in the center of a political firestorm, a place everybody knows they absolutely don't want to and try very hard not to be. 

It never ceases to amaze me how the gun community is always ready to swallow whole any group that so much as looks at them sideways, even by accident, or more commonly, through distantly perceived implications and semantic surgery.

Full retard my ass.  Everyone involved is going full retard.


-T.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of the funds received actually went to wounded warriors.

WWP continuously strives to keep administrative and fundraising costs associated with the operation of WWP as low as possible. Based on our fiscal year 2011 audited financial statements ending September 30, 2011, 82.8 percent of total expenditures went to provide services and programs for Wounded Warriors and their families.