The 34th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend, but the event’s sponsor, the Washington State-based Second Amendment Foundation, found its Twitter account suspended without warning Wednesday evening.

I spoke with Alan Gottleib, the executive vice president and founder of the Second Amendment Foundation late Wednesday evening, and he told me that they have no idea why the account was suddenly suspended.

“The fact that it was done just before our record setting Gun Rights Policy Conference does not sit well with us. Coincidence? Hard to believe.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a gun rights organization de-platformed, even temporarily. It was just a few weeks ago that The Well Armed Woman had its Instagram page suddenly removed, with admins unable to access the page. At the time, Carrie Lightfoot, the founder of The Well Armed Woman complained:

“There was no warning and there has been no communication from Instagram at all. We don’t post ANYTHING even close to being inappropriate. My focus is totally on empowering and educating our followers. For them to take down a page focused on women taking responsibility for their own self-protection against violence is a new low.”

After news of the suspension was reported throughout the 2A community and folks began speaking out, The Well Armed Woman’s page was restored, with no apology or explanation provided. I’m hoping that something similar happens here, but it’s disturbing to see a major 2nd Amendment organization lose one of its platforms, not only on the eve of its major conference, but as the push for gun control is reaching a head as well.

Sadly, I won’t be in Phoenix this weekend. I was hoping to take part in a panel with some of my friends and colleagues in the 2A media world, but unfortunately my wife’s health threw us a curveball and I need to be with her instead. It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing weekend, based on the SAF’s press release.

The conference will feature panel discussions on state and national political issues including the 2020 elections outlook, legal battles and legislation, suicide prevention, the culture war against gun owners, and lots more. Gottlieb acknowledged that interest is being fueled by calls from Democratic presidential candidates for mandatory surrender of semi-automatic firearms, expanded background checks and so-called “red flag laws.”

Hopefully SAF has their Twitter account restored so we can follow along there, but I’d also check out their Facebook page this weekend for coverage as well. And I’ll be talking with Alan Gottleib next week on Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co. to get a complete wrap up of this year’s conference, so be sure to tune in for that. In the meantime, please help spread the word about the latest de-platforming of a 2nd Amendment organization, and let’s see if gun owners can help get SAF’s Twitter account restored.