A shooting range in Flagstaff, Arizona, has found an unlikely ally in its battle to advertise at the city’s airport. The Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, has issued a letter to the city of Flagstaff questioning its rejection of advertising from Timberline Firearms and Training, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The shooting range’s owner, Rob Wilson, claims to have had a 10-second ad running on TV monitors at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport since 2019. However, the city recently declined to allow the ad, citing violations of its advertising policy involving depictions of violence or anti-social behavior.
The ad submitted by Wilson features the business’ logo, four individuals holding guns, and a clip of an instructor and a student at the indoor firing range. The student is shown firing an assault-style weapon at a paper target. Attorneys for the Goldwater Institute argue that the city’s rejection infringes upon Wilson’s freedom of speech rights and accused Flagstaff of using its power to promote an “anti-gun agenda.”
Joe Setyon, a spokesperson for the Goldwater Institute, has stated that the group will consider filing a lawsuit if the matter is not resolved. The Flagstaff City Council has been engaged in discussions to revise its advertising policy, and an updated version will be addressed at a forthcoming city council meeting on November 14.
The dispute between the shooting range and the city of Flagstaff highlights the ongoing debate surrounding gun rights and free speech. The Goldwater Institute’s involvement adds a conservative perspective to the issue, positioning the rejection of the shooting range’s ad as an infringement on personal liberties. Critics argue that the city’s decision is a necessary measure to prevent the glorification of violence and the promotion of anti-social behavior.
This case also underscores the broader political divide in the United States, with Republicans and conservative groups often advocating for gun rights and individual freedoms, while Democrats and liberal organizations tend to support stricter gun control measures. The clash between these opposing ideologies is likely to continue as the debate over gun laws and free speech intensifies across the country.
As the Flagstaff City Council prepares to address the advertising policy, the outcome of this dispute could have implications not only for the shooting range and the city but also for the broader conversation on gun control and free speech rights in America. The involvement of the Goldwater Institute brings additional attention to the issue and raises questions on the limits of government authority in regulating speech and promoting public safety.
It remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached between the shooting range and the city, or if this dispute will escalate into a legal battle. Nonetheless, the controversy serves as a reminder of the deep divisions within American society and the ongoing struggle to find common ground on contentious issues such as gun rights and freedom of expression.
