Dell Refutes Allegation of Support for HCI

http://www.newsbytes.com/ ^ | 2/28/2002 | Brian McWilliams

[TheDon]

A spat between Dell Computer [NASDAQ:DELL] and some gun owners continued to rage today, despite a formal mea culpa from the computer maker's chairman.

In a message to supporters, Jack Weigand, owner of Pennsylvania-based Weigand Combat Handguns Inc., claimed today that Dell Computer is "connected" to Handgun Control Inc., a lobbying group that changed its name to The Brady Campaign last June.

Representatives of Dell Computer and the Brady Campaign refuted the statement.

Weigand touched off a firestorm Tuesday when he posted a notice at his site and in several gun forums, describing how Dell initially canceled his order for an Inspiron notebook computer earlier this month after his company's name triggered an automated order screening system put in place by Dell following the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

In a statement released Wednesday, Chairman Michael Dell confirmed that the computer maker does "carefully review customer orders for prohibited destinations and activities" and red-flagged Weigand's order because of the word "combat" in his company name.

But, according to Dell, the computer company made a mistake in its handling of the cancellation of Weigand's purchase.

Although Dell has offered to ship him the computer at no charge, Weigand said he refused.

"I know every gun owner in America will appreciate my not accepting the computer I was offered," said Weigand in the message, noting that Dell is listed as a merchant at a Web site entitled the Handgun Control, Inc. Online Shopping Mall.

"This is a handgun control support site. Please come to your own conclusions," said Weigand.

According to a banner at the HCI online shopping mall, clicking links in a directory of dozens of online retailers and making purchases there raises money for the gun control organization.

Dell spokesperson Cathie Hargett said the computer company was not aware of the HCI online mall, but she confirmed that the company participates in a number of online affiliate programs "on both sides of issues."

According to Hargett, Dell "has not taken a position on the issue of gun control. Not in our sponsorships, not in our giving, and not in our public policy."

A spokesperson for The Brady Campaign told Newsbytes today that the organization did not authorize the creation of the HCI online mall, nor has the lobbying group ever received any funds from the site.

According to Amy Stilwell, communications director, the Brady Campaign has also never received donations directly from Dell Computer or Michael Dell.

The site hosting the HCI mall, Progressivefunds.com, "hosts online virtual shopping malls on behalf of affiliating organizations" according to its terms and conditions page. The site is registered to David Cole of Hallsville, Texas, according to domain records. Cole was not immediately available for comment.

[Don Joe]

I have to again say they were a bunch of "hair-trigger hotheads" whose shoot-first behavior gives ammo to the anti-gun crowd.

What a load of inflamatory, sanctimonious agitprop. By your brand of logic, Rosa Parks should have shut up and rode in the back of the bus, because "they let her on, and they let her ride to her destination, so she should stop making noise and giving them negroes a bad name."

[Registered]

[Whilom]

Some Second Amendment nuts are, well, nuts. Weigand appears to be from a tree. The rest of us working to keep our Second Amendment rights need not get into a tussle or a tizzy defending the fringe. We keep on track -- the Second Amendment means what it says.

[Don Joe]

"one of untold THOUSANDS of affiliate sites that are signed up and approved with NO screening process"

Wow. If that's correct, then perhaps Dell should be screening those affiliates instead of honest, law-abiding American customers.

After all, if what you say is true, there is nothing to prevent NAMBLA, Hamas, Alqaida, Islamic Jihad, Hezbolla, or any number of other terrorist or child-molester outfits from generating financing via Dell's affiliate program.

Since Dell's affiliate program terms which someone posted here the other day say that they have the right to deny affiliate status to outfits they deem offensive or inappropriate, I sit here in amazement at the revelation you posted above.

[Don Joe]

"Some Second Amendment nuts are, well, nuts. Weigand appears to be from a tree. The rest of us working to keep our Second Amendment rights need not get into a tussle or a tizzy defending the fringe. We keep on track -- the Second Amendment means what it says."

Yup, you're right. The back of the bus is good enough. You get where you're going just as fast as you would if you were sitting in the front of the bus. Second-class citizens are still citizens, after all. Stop making waves, you'll only make it worse for the rest of us. We need to know our place, and stay in it.

[MississippiMan]

Wow. If that's correct, then perhaps Dell should be screening those affiliates instead of honest, law-abiding American customers.

And perhaps you and others should stop bashing the only conservative major computer manufacturer in the country over a mistake that they've admitted and done everything within reason to correct. Or perhaps you'd rather just keep beating your chest to see if you can reduce the number of such companies to zero instead of one. When Dell apologized and offered a free notebook to Weigand and he refused, he became a grandstander. When something like this affiliate business has been explained a dozen times and you still don't get it, there's no hope.

Have a great day, Don.

Over and out.

MM

[fivetoes]

Has anyone ever seen them together in the same place at the same time?

Come to think of it, why no. 8-)