Firearm ads in mainstream media?

K

Koda94

New member
Main question: why is there no firearm advertising in mainstream media?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2gCFOtaZPo

As cheesy as it is what I want to know is why I've never seen this Glock commercial on mainstream television? If they made the commercial then where is it played? When did firearm advertising get banned?


forgive me if its an obvious question but I've never given it thought until now.
 
While it may be difficult for a firearms company to advertise in some areas, I'm sure that if they wanted to, they could find somebody to take their money if they wanted to spend it. There is a ton is print advertising out there...just pick up a gun magazine. TV is incredibly expensive if you want to make a lasting impression.

With that said, I'm not sure why a firearms company would need to spend millions of dollars to advertise right now. You advertise like that only when you need more business and most companies even remotely associated with the firearms industry are so busy they can barely keep up with demand.
 
Most mainstream media refuse to pick it up. Its hard to find a newspaper any more that will allow firearms ads.

These commercials were made mostly for internet and alternative media consumption. Why are they made? not so much to promote sales as to promote public awareness and image. Seen all the BP commercials on Sunday morning TV? Same thing. Its to counter the negative image that has been placed on them.
 
To get the most bang for the buck, want to put advertising dollars where your buying demographic is. That's why feminine hygiene products are not promoted to hunting and car enthusiasts. Guns are niche market that can only be bought by adults with a clean background. No sense in running a nation wide prime time ad that markets to kids, felons, and illegals.
 
There was a push to have firearms advertising treated the same as cigarette advertising back in the mid-1990's. I'm not sure if that had much of an effect, but I'm sure a few folks listened.
 
I'm with Rembrant on this one. Mass advertising, especially tv, is expensive. If I were a gun advertiser, I'd target gun mags and internet media.

It might be useful if the manufactures, NRA, and maybe the ammo manufactures put together some industry public service type of announcements if possible. I'm thinking something along the lines of those in the diary and beef industry.
 
I guess I can see why the industry doesnt need to advertise in mainstream media, in reality there is probably not a lack of advertising to the target audience... gun magazines etc.
 
I think it depends on where you live. I hear radio ads for several local gun stores in my area routinely. I am also starting to see ads on TV (local stations) for gun stores, and gun shows.
 
Here (Washington, DC media market) you can find radio adverts on conservative talk stations. Some on WMAL are specifically geared to firearms for self defense.

Remington used to run ads during NASCAR broadcasts on a Fredericksburg, Virginia station that serves the Northern Virginia area (aka, "Maryland"). These ads even included the sound of rifle fire. But they only ran during NASCAR races, and I haven't heard one in some years.

As for the rest of the media, especially television, nada.

Bob James
 
Interesting topic, I don't watch TV so I can't comment. But who DOESN'T get newspaper inserts (containing tons of guns adds) from big5, Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse, etc. I at least one a week delivered to my driveway, neatly tucked into my poorly written, weak on the issues, liberal leaning (in editorial disgression), lame local newspaper!
 
But who DOESN'T get newspaper inserts (containing tons of guns adds) from big5, Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse, etc. I at least one a week delivered to my driveway, neatly tucked into my poorly written, weak on the issues, liberal leaning (in editorial disgression), lame local newspaper!
Click to expand...


Funny how hypocritical, high and mighty newspapers that have a policy against gun ads have no problem collecting delivery revenue by distributing gun store ads as independant inserts in their anti-gun newspapers.
 
ok, my memory is being jarred I've seen ads in newspaper in independent inserts. These are from stores that sell other things though, not exclusive to firearms.

I was thinking more of prime time television. Also, firearms aside for a moment we talk about advocating RKBA in voting but I never see ads for that... what are the regulations on political ads?
 
I know I've seen gun ads on the outdoors type/hunting channels. If my memory serves me right (it may not) I think Top Shot had a few ads a few years back. I stopped watching it when it introduced the drama and tantrum queens into it. I see enough of that crap on televised sports.
 
The same reason you don't see ads for abortion clinics, medical marijuana dispensaries, and gay nightclubs. It's just too politicized and no mainstream network wants to be seen as getting on either side of the issue.

Be honest here, if some channel whose regular programming otherwise never interested you, suddenly ran some gun ads. Would you suddenly start watching that channel? Highly unlikely. We don't watch TV for the ads. But if some network that you regularly watch started running anti-gun ads, would you boycott them? Many here likely would.

So running gun ads might earn some brownie points for the network with gun owners, it's not gonna get them to watch that network any more than they already do or don't. But it will drive away a bunch of anti-gunners. And networks survive on viewership numbers.

Running gun ads will just create more problems for the network than it's worth. So they just avoid the whole thing.

I do remember driving in my car here in NYC and hearing a Remington ad on the radio. I was SHOKED :eek: how did that ever get through way up here.
 
When I travel thru Springfield, MA., the is a huge billboard for Smith & Wesson near the corporate headquarters. It's almost startling to see such a huge gun ad in a populated area.
 
Looks like they are just being smart with the ad money and only spending it on targeted consumers. Why advertise to those who won't ever buy?

BTW, we have large ads in the newspapers here for brothels, and CO has lots of ads in its papers for marijuana!
 
Considering how even certain financial institutions have ceased doing business with anything "gun related", I think there is also a bias in TV against ads from gun makers or sellers, at the national level, at least.

The only place I ever see gun ads on TV is on sporting channels or shows. Target audience, no doubt.

I do know that in the past, various TV & other "mainstream" media have refused ads from the NRA. They have given free coverage to the other side, calling it "news" but refused to run PAID ads for the NRA.

Its still, technically a free country, and they can do what they wish with their business. And they do. Apparently not everyone's money is good enough to go against their agenda...
 
Like others have said, Henry Repeating Arms advertises on several cable networks, so it is possible for gun companies to advertise on TV.

Everybody knows gun companies exist, so the bigger ones probably don't see a need for advertising. Plus, I've seen what looked like advertising in the form of product placement on television shows where the good guys mention the exact make and model of their guns. Video games also expose people to real guns by name. I wonder if advertisements are there but subtle.

Sporting goods and gun stores advertise on the local TV channels in my area, and often mention particular brands of guns they are selling. A local gun range and security company run ads for handgun carry permit classes on the local radio stations, even music stations.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top