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Big Tech Hates The Second Amendment, So We Built Our Own Platform: TriggerHill

Darwin Nercesian - comments 31 comments

For years, content creators in the firearms community have faced relentless censorship from left-leaning Big Tech and social media giants. From demonetization to shadow banning and outright de-platforming, the suppression of pro-Second Amendment voices has been systematic and ruthless.

The release of the Twitter Files exposed evidence of what many of us already knew was taking place: government coercion meant to silence conservatives and anyone who questioned the sanitized narrative. Even Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg detailed Facebook’s collusion with federal authorities and the Biden administration to suppress unapproved discussion of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Hunter Biden laptop, and conservative advocacy, including support for the Second Amendment. 

No community is as familiar with these heavy-handed tactics as content creators in the firearms and Second Amendment space, where years of work, countless man-hours, and exceeding monetary investment are here one minute and poof, gone the next without warning or recourse. I have seen it firsthand and have heard the voices, including my own, calling for an alternative to traditional social media and video-hosting platforms, one designed to provide the firearms community with a trustworthy foundation to share content and engage without the looming specter of censorship and banishment. 

Someone finally responded, and the result was TriggerHill

A Second Amendment Social Media Revolution

TriggerHill isn’t just another social media platform. It’s a declaration of independence from Big Tech tyranny.

I first learned about TriggerHill in June of 2024 when I was contacted by the company’s founder, Mario Alcaraz, and invited to create an account during the beta testing phase. I noticed immediately that some of the biggest names in the firearms industry, both creators and brands, were already participating on the platform. It wasn’t long before I began posting my own Second Amendment news, firearms reviews, and industry updates daily. 

The platform quickly evolved, and after months of beta testing, TriggerHill is now open to the public. The user base has grown, and I have been impressed by the thriving engagement and development of the platform’s growing feature set. Moreover, I’m excited about what’s coming next. But before we get into that, let’s take a closer look at the origins of TriggerHill. 

A Platform Built For Firearm Enthusiasts, By Firearm Enthusiasts

Alcaraz isn’t some Silicon Valley tech bro chasing a quick dollar. He’s a lifelong firearm enthusiast who got sick of watching Big Tech bully the industry he loves.

“I’ve been into guns for as long as I can remember. But growing up in Central California, there wasn’t exactly a thriving gun culture around me. It was just something I was drawn to—maybe it was the history, the mechanics, or just the idea of self-reliance. While other kids were watching cartoons, I was flipping through gun magazines, fascinated by the craftsmanship. I didn’t have a family full of hunters or a local range to grow up on, but I always knew where I stood when it came to the Second Amendment. It wasn’t about politics for me—it was about principle. The right to protect yourself, to stand on your own two feet, to never be at the mercy of someone else’s goodwill. That belief never wavered. And when I finally had the chance to immerse myself in the firearms world, it felt like I had been there all along,” says Alcaraz.

Mario saw an oppertunity to attack the egregiously un-American censorship regime that scattered the firearms community across traditional platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Rumble, with creators walking on eggshells at risk of losing everything they had built without a moment’s notice. Rather than accept their rules, he wrote new ones, combining a social network, a video-sharing hub, a firearm marketplace, and a censorship-free home for the entire industry.

But the road wasn’t easy. 

Self-proclaimed gatekeepers of the internet, Apple, Google, and the host of usual suspects, tried to strangle TriggerHill before it could ever see the light of day. Attempts to participate in app stores were blocked in less than 24 hours without discussion or appeal, demonstrating swift confirmation of those companies’ contempt for the Constitution and the free exchange of information. 

Undeterred, Mario built a universal TriggerHill app that can be downloaded from any device, bypassing app stores completely. No longer at the mercy of Silicon Valley’s restrictive policies, individuals using iOS, Android, or another operating system can install and access TriggerHill for free without middlemen, censorship, or compromise.

Hosting poses its own challenges, as free speech alternatives Gab and Parler learned the hard way early on, finding out just how far the anti-American reach of Big Tech extends. This is why Mario partnered with American Cloud, a company whose motto reads “Freedom Begins Where Big Tech Ends,” and if anyone has proven that theme in the last decade, it has been Big Tech themselves.

“We strongly believe that a free and open internet is essential for innovation, economic growth, and free societies. We are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service, support, and security so that they can focus on their business without fear of cancellation.” — American Cloud 

That is a rock-solid foundation for TriggerHill, and I encourage anyone in the market for hosting and cloud computing solutions to support American Cloud as they support American values. 

A Complete 2A Ecosystem

TriggerHill is more than just a social media alternative. It’s a hub for the firearms community, featuring a content feed, short videos, groups, an event calendar, and a marketplace for firearms, parts, accessories, and gear. But what’s coming next is what really excites me. 

Long-form video and live-stream hosting will soon be integrated directly into the platform. Creators will finally have an independent space to upload videos free from demonetization, shadow bans, arbitrary content removal, and de-platforming. Upcoming live-streaming features will allow creators to engage with their audiences in real time, fielding questions, sharing insights, and even debating opposing viewpoints. The creator-friendly environment will also feature tools for connecting with brands looking to collaborate and support affiliate content. 

Here’s an exclusive Mario shared with me. TriggerHill is introducing “Shop My Safe,” a unique feature that allows users to showcase firearms and gear for sale through live-streaming videos. Try that on YouTube or any social media site, and watch how quickly the door hits your backside on the way out. This feature could be a fun way to engage with potential buyers, and I can’t wait for the first person to make their own QVC or infomercial-type presentation. The entertainment possibilities are endless. The feature is still in development, but you heard it here first.

But life isn’t all fun and games, right? Right?? Work has to get done at some point, and that’s what TriggerHill’s industry job board aims to facilitate. Currently, many industry jobs are posted on Linkedin, but like other social media sites, it is a left-leaning, anti-gun platform. This has discouraged many in the community from partaking in its services, thus reducing visibility to qualified, like-minded candidates who might otherwise be searching for their next position. 

Aside from keeping the platform free for the public, TriggerHill does not intend to spy on users and collect their data. Make no mistake. Social media sites that you perceive as free really aren’t. You and I are the actual product, so to speak, or at least our data is. That data is sorted through, organized, and sold to provide companies with the information they need for targeted marketing campaigns. In the case of TriggerHill, not only does the site frown on this practice, but they already know you’re there for firearm content, and so are the manufacturers and creators, fostering a natural transparency that can only be found in a network built for a specific community. 

What About Anti-Gun Trolls?

I asked Mario about his policy on trolls who will undoubtedly sign up for TriggerHill to spread anti-Second Amendment sentiment. 

“If someone joins just to push an anti-2A agenda, they’ll quickly realize they’re in the wrong place. Our members are here to support and celebrate the Second Amendment, not debate its existence. However, we will not ban someone simply for having an opinion – we are a First Amendment platform also,” Alcaraz says. 

As a defender of the entire Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution, I wholeheartedly support this position. However, I’ll confess to having popcorn ready for agitators who forget the rules here are the same for everyone, and they’ll get no special snowflake treatment.

The Team Behind TriggerHill

Mario didn’t build TriggerHill alone. Instead, assemble a team of pro-Second Amendment advocates and industry leaders who understand the landscape and the challenges faced by the community. 

  • Roman Peskov, a firearm enthusiast and experienced marketer, is a co-founder at TriggerHill and Partnerships Manager at StopBox USA. He knows the world of content creation, monetization, and brand collaborations inside and out, making him a valuable asset to help TriggerHill grow.
  • Kate Alcaraz, Mario’s wife, is not just a driving force behind the platform but a seasoned entrepreneur and sales guru. Her experience in business development and strategy has played a major role in the platform’s rapid expansion.
  • William Kirk, the well-known legal expert behind Washington Gun Law, has also joined the mission after spending years educating gun owners on their rights and helping them navigate the ever-changing legal landscape. His expertise in 2A law will be critical as TriggerHill continues to evolve.
  • Alex Zedra has also joined the movement. Known for her unapologetic love of firearms and gaming, Alex brings a fresh perspective and a massive online following to the platform.

It’s Time to Make the Move

Mario tells me he is not out to replace any social media platforms and certainly does not intend to take on YouTube. The goal is to provide a hub for free speech, the firearm community, and a place where Second Amendment content can thrive without censorship. If that’s something you’d like to see happen also, then get in the fight and be part of a movement that Big Tech thought they could stop from ever existing. Download the TriggerHill app today.

31 thoughts on “Big Tech Hates The Second Amendment, So We Built Our Own Platform: TriggerHill”

    • Sounds interesting. I’m a fan of William Kirk who actually supports ILLannoy gun rights from the left coast Washington Gun Law(another state under attack)! I’ll check this out.

      Reply
    • Just out of curiosity, if you’re a 2A enthusiast, why would you not want a platform where you can engage with other like minded folks who share your interests? Especiay a place where you don’t have to worry about censorship?

      Reply
        • I’ve been here for almost a dozen as well, and was a robust participant for the five years between 2019-2024. I rarely comment anymore because the new owners ruined the comments section by making Dan’s WordPress problem 10x worse. No guidelines, no warnings, no incentive to continue. Now, I only come here a fraction of the time, and *might* try to comment once a week at most.

          You just got my one-per-week, lol. That is, if the new owners will deem it worthy of posting. Half my attempts never see the light of day on this site.

          Reply
          • They actually did get rid of at least some of the weird trigger word/phrases that would send comments to moderation. It looks like they keep a database of approved emails and/or user names. When you use one for the first time, it will go to moderation. It doesn’t matter what the content of your comment is. Once that name/email has been vetted, it goes onto an approved list. Approved list names/emails will be able to post without moderation.

            That’s my understanding anyway. I haven’t tested it much because I can no longer edit and delete comments. I didn’t want to pollute the comment sections with a bunch of test comments.

            The problem with this setup is that people aren’t checking/approving the moderated comments as often/quickly as they used to. That might lead people to leave thinking that the site is broken.

            **Please bring the edit and delete functions back.**

          • @Dude,

            Nope . I just attempted to post on another article posted today (Apr 1) to see if it would go, and it did not. Held for moderation, despite my Username and Email being the same for years, and grandfathered in when the new owners bought from Dan.

            I don’t think the new owners even pay attention to our comments much.

          • Haz, there was an unusual issue with the site today. I posted a comment earlier as well. It disappeared, along with the other comments on that page. They’re all back now. But, it never said held for moderation, so who knows what’s going on. I do know that if I change my email, it gets held for moderation.

    • Fed entrapment site? ROFLMAO

      How the hell is it an entrapment site? Please, you really gotta explain this one to me. I dying to know.

      Reply
  1. OooOooooOoo… a use for one of my burner accounts.

    Pretty quick I’m going to have more of these than the US government has dollars in debt.

    Reply
  2. This is the guy’s latest platform venture for dollars…

    2024- Founder and CEO of Trigger Hill
    2021- Managing Partner of Clout Ventures (smart company startup)
    2018- Co-Founder of BeautyAdvisor (beauty industry platform)
    2014- Chief Marketing Officer Plastic Surgery Review (cosmetic surgery platform)

    Reply
    • This is the guy’s latest platform venture for dollars… “

      Oh no, another con man grifting on the conservatives, what a surprise.

      Reply
  3. Evading Big Tech tenticles requires a LOT more than just launching a new website.

    In order for 99% of the population to find your website or content on your website, they have to be able to find it in popular search engines. Bzzzzt. Popular search engines will not include the site in search results.

    Next, in order for 99% of the population to find your applications, they have to be able to find them in popular application “stores” or search engines. Bzzzzt. See above.

    Now for the really nasty stuff. Big Tech owns the content distribution networks that have website servers. Which Big Tech content distribution network is going to host TriggerHill? Then we have the DNS (Domain Name System) layer which is equivalent to old-school telephone books. (When you submit a website name, DNS servers tell your device that website’s numerical address.) Will Big Tech support TriggerHill DNS queries? I doubt it.

    Last but not least, will Apple, Android, and Microsoft Windows operating systems cooperate with TriggerHill applications and website? I doubt it.

    Reply
  4. My first attempt to post failed (there’s that Big Tech thing again) so I will try one last time.

    Escaping Big Tech tentacles requires a LOT more than just creating a new website and/or applications for a new website.

    In order for 99% of the population to find the new website and its content, Big Tech search engines will have to show the site/content in their search results. Bzzzzt. Not going to happen.

    In order for 99% of the population to find the new website’s applications, Big Tech application “stores” will have to carry them and Big Tech search engines will have to point people to the “stores”. Bzzzzt again.

    And now for the REALLY nasty bits:

    Every time you specify a website name in a device, your device asks DNS servers (behind the scenes) for the numerical Internet address of that site and then your device goes to that numerical address. Big Tech controls most/all DNS servers. Big Tech can simply configure their DNS servers to reject DNS queries for the new website and no one can reach the new website. Bzzzt again.

    Big Tech owns all of the Content Distribution Networks (e.g. large arrays of website servers in data centers). They certainly won’t host the new firearms-friendly website–even if the new website tries to deploy their own servers in data centers. And if the new website tries to operate their own server at their own “data center”, Big Tech carriers will simply limit data throughput to a trickle to that specific “data center”.

    Last, but not least, all of the Big Tech operating systems on your devices can simply refuse to support activity with the new website (via specific applications as well as web browsers).

    Contrary to popular opinion, the Internet is not an “open” platform.

    Reply
  5. Twice today I have posted comments which seem to have vanished. This is my last try.

    Creating a website / platform / application solves nothing. The problem is that Big Tech controls the MASSIVE Information Technology environment which encompasses a widely reachable/usable website, platform, and/or application.

    Here are some of those elements which Big Tech controls:
    Search Engines
    Application “stores”
    Content Distribution Networks (CDNs)
    Data Centers
    Domain Name System (DNS) servers
    Data capacity on long-haul networks
    Computer, tablet, and phone operating systems

    Big Tech can neuter any single one of those and render a website, platform, and/or application effectively unusable / unreachable.

    As I stated in my previous attempts to comment, the Internet is NOT an open environment contrary to popular opinion.

    Reply
    • .40 cal Booger,

      You can access via web browser …”

      Sure, until Big Tech stops supporting that website at/on any single one of the major aspects of the Internet sphere (search engines, Content Distribution Networks, data centers, DNS servers, carriers, or operating systems).

      For example what good is a website if your device’s operating system blocks it (which is as simple as your operating system labeling that website to be malware)? What good is a website if DNS servers refuse to report its Internet address? What good is a website if Content Distribution Networks or even data centers refuse to support it?

      How do you think Big Tech shut down Parler? Why would this new website be any different?

      Reply

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