Pinkwashing Turns on Itself with Breast Cancer Awareness Gun

Submitted by Anne Landman on

Smith & Wesson Breast Cancer Awareness PistolOctober was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the group Breast Cancer Action seized on the opportunity to promote its Think Before you Pink campaign to raise awareness of how companies are increasingly exploiting breast cancer as a marketing device to sell products -- some of which are actually harmful to women's health. Pink ribbon campaigns are offering up some bizarre, albeit benign products like a breast cancer awareness toaster and a breast cancer awareness floating Beer Pong table. But the most bizarre item yet to have a pink ribbon slapped on it must be Smith & Wesson's Pink Breast Cancer Awareness 9 mm Pistol, promoted by a woman named Julie Goloski, Smith and Wesson's Consumer Program Manager and a sharpshooter herself. Goloski is promoting S&W's breast cancer awareness pistol on her Facebook page, saying "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness M&P’s are shipping to dealers. I am thrilled to have my name associated with such a worthy cause and one of my favorite firearms." According to a 2008 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, firearms are the second most common cause of violent deaths of women, accounting for 29.2% of all violent deaths among females in the U.S. in 2008.

Main Source: 
GunBroker.com, November 3, 2009
Topics: 
Corporate Campaigns
Ethics
Health

Comments

A.Adams replied on

We can eliminate a leading cause of death among women by outlawing the manufacture of a certain "device"? Alert the press! Think how many lives we would save by getting rid of automobiles, and, while we're at it, how about airplanes? If those dang pesky airplanes had been outlawed on September 11, would could have avoided the loss of 3,000 lives. There are all manner of "devices" one could use to cause the demise of another (include bare hands and fists).

I commend Smith & Wesson and Julie Golob Golowski. They are doing a wonderful thing by donating a portion of proceeds to raise awareness of breast cancer.

MikeD replied on

I wonder how many womens lives are SAVED each year due to the aid of a firearm. No mention of that in the post. Also, that report is misleading in several areas. The actual data is from 2005 not 2008. Only 16 states participate in the program that the data is pulled from. Data from FBI statistics reports 16,740 total murders or 2005, the survey for violent death claims an estimated 50,000 deaths, as they include suicide in those figures, which happens to make up 57% of that number. Also included in the numbers are legal intervention deaths. i.e police shooting, justified self defense shootings, etc.

Ford, Mercedes and BMW all contribute to BCA and I can GUARANTEE that more woman are killed by improper use of their products than from firearms.

Julie is doing her part in the effort and should be commended, not chastised for the criminal low life thugs that use a firearm to commit violence against ANYBODY.

Darryl wayne replied on

here's another manufacturer of death that needs to be called out www.fordvehicles.com/warriorsinpink/commitment/

and how many porkers has this product sent to an early grave?
http://www.pulsestl.com/Krunch_Kandy_Breast_Cancer_Oreo_p/kkbbbc.htm

Cancer Research... replied on

This American company and its employees promote breast cancer patient and survivor advocacy -- not just for breast cancer on a personal level, but survivorship in general. Empowering women on any level is to be applauded. The idea that an inanimate object is somehow responsible for the deaths of women is ludicrous. This company empowers women, and their friends, colleagues, and supporters, to take action on many levels, to promote survivorship. Both Julie and Smith&Wesson are to be applauded. This atrocious accusation is unacceptable. I will buy one of these myself to support the cause and to voice my opposition to the comments made by PRWatch.

Anonymous replied on

The whole point is to raise awareness about breast cancer. Julie and S&W are helping to do that. To say that an inanimate object is the cause of anything is ridiculous. Spoons don't "make" people fat. A car can't do anything without a person behind the wheel. A gun is a tool just like a hammer or a bat.

GrumpyUnk replied on

Give Anne credit here.
She's willing to sacrifice the health and welfare of every woman in America so she can be true to her morally superior vision. Way to go, kid.

I see Karma paying her a visit in the future.

Anonymous replied on

Ann L is simply incapable of rational thought. Her obvious emotional bias is something she will never ever consider changing, and she is one of that crowd who wants to dictate to others. Unfortunately, people like Ann lack the cognitive skills and unbiased logic required to truly discuss such issues with intelligence. Hers is a classic example of the phrase "cut off your nose to spite your face".

Here is a message for Ann. My wifes life was saved by a handgun - period. So, your "anecdotal" examples may mean nothing to you. To me, they mean the continued presence of my partner of 3 decades.

WileE replied on

Gun Control: The belief that a woman who is raped and murdered by her attacker is morally superior to a woman explaining to a police officer why she shot her attacker.

WileE replied on

http://www.a-human-right.com/

Owning a firearm is part of the basic human right to self defense. It is no more good or evil than a hammer. (And they make nice tool sets with pink handles, too.)

Doc Shannon replied on

So, firearms, according to your article, are the SECOND most common cause of violent deaths of American women. Want to share with us what is the FIRST? I am betting it is automobiles. I am also betting that automobiles cause at least 20 times as many violent deaths of women each year as firearms or any other device. So, if Chrysler promotes Breast Cancer Awareness or gives a donation to something like the Susan Komen Fund, you would be ranting about automobiles? I will bet you would not. My view is that neither guns nor automobiles cause any deaths of anyone each year. It is the MISUSE of these tools that causes bad things to happen. You are anti-gun. Need to check your hem, BECAUSE YOUR PREJUDICE IS SHOWING!! Also, you might want to check the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.

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