Google Bans Firearm, Ammo, and Related Sales

It is right there on the link. You have to hit the drop down tab:

Services

Services are not allowed on Google Shopping.
Examples of listings disallowed:

Event tickets
Subscriptions, such as magazine subscriptions or any kind of service subscription.
Online courses

Other prohibited categories

The following products are not allowed on Google Shopping:

Vehicles
Guns, ammunition and knives
Tobacco and cigarettes
Traffic devices (Learn more)
Products related to casino and gambling
Products or digital goods that require additional software installation in order to be purchased.
Products bundled with service plans. (Note: The only products that are allowed to be submitted with a service plan are mobile devices.)

Apparently they are anti-sin, anti 1st & 2nd A, as well. I don't care I never used them anyway. Now I know why.

lol- I just ran firearms through it and got hits for hundreds of guns.
 
I used the search feedback tool to tell them I was unsatisfied with the search. That I knew I was unwelcome and would be taking my business elsewhere. I wrote a snarky note then deleted it and tried to be civil. Doubt it will change a thing but I did switch the default search on my browser to yahoo. FWIW.

Thanks for the heads up and I hope the NRA can organize a response. Maybe a search engine just for guns and gun prices?
 
Similarly, I did two things -- I sent feedback to Google expressing my concern that I can no longer find "marksmanship equipment" on their site. I also told them that I won't be coming back to their Shopping search until they reverse the decision.

Then, I went to shopping.bing.com and did a search for "remington target tactical". When I saw satisfactory results, I gave them feedback thanking them for keeping the Internet free.

So I guess I feel better for doing my part...
 
Google Anti Gun from Way Back

Google has never allowed AdWords advertising for firearms, and they killed my account because I did a legal advertisement but also sold firearms on the same site. Google hates guns.
 
jepthai, I'm glad that you mentioned sending bing some feedback. I hadn't thought about that, but I have now done the same thing.
 
They must be doing it by keyword because you can still search for some brands.

For instance EAA is blocked out, but Tanfiglio isn't (yet)

Google just lost my business.
 
Finding Firearms and related accessories on the Web to get tougher

Many people use the Internet to shop for firearms, firearms accessories ammo, magazines and knives.

Most people will type a keyword into there favorite search engine tool and it will usually come up with names of on-line sources where you can buy the specific item you searched for.

Probably better than 70% of all searches are through Google.

Google has recently changed their editorial policy again and is about to begin a new commercial policy. As they have explained to merchants, their new policy is designed to promote a "family friendly on line viewing experience."

As part of the new policy, they will no longer accept ads for any weapons. Specifically banned are firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition and knives.

The policy is supposed to be universal. That remains to be seen. I think you will probably still see ads for cabalas, Gander mountain, Dick sporting goods and some of the other big box stores.

The policy will not effect organic searches. If you know the name of a specific gun shop that has a website, it will still be there. They just won't be able to advertise weapons by name using Google Ad-words or Google Shopping (merchant center).

Ad-words are the small ads that appear in color at the top of a search page and smaller sidebar ads to the right. These are all paid ads.

Firearms dealers will try to find ways around the policy.

Cabalas is sort of a no brainer. They usually don't advertise any weapons. If you click on any of their ads you know you will be taken to their website and you already know they sell guns and ammo.

It is the small businesses with great deals that will be harder to find.

Merchants may need to develop some kind of code or you might need to read between the lines. Look for words in ads like Outdoor Apparel. Or Hunting jacket. That is if the keyword hunting is not also banned. From these keywords, you can reason that they may also sell guns, ammo, accessories and knives.

Don't search for specific firearms or "weapons" with blinders on.

If you only search using a keyword like Gun, you will likely only find spray paint guns. Search knives and you will get steak knives or knife sharpeners or tool knives for a lathe.

If you search using keywords like Outdoor recreation you might have a better chance of finding hunting gear.

Hunting gear may not include the exact product you are searching for but the website name likely will be gun shop and a source that sells Pistols, AK's AR's, Ammo, knives and everything else for hunting and shooting.

The new policy will begin starting on July 1, 2012. It will be phased so you may not see all the changes immediately.
 
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Google Shopping (Merchant Center)

Many people use the Internet to shop for firearms, firearms accessories ammo, magazines and knives.

Most people will type a keyword into there favorite search engine tool and it will usually come up with names of on-line sources where you can buy the specific item you searched for.

Probably better than 70% of all searches are through Google.

Google has recently changed their editorial policy again and is about to begin a new commercial policy. As they have explained to merchants, their new policy is designed to promote a "family friendly on line viewing experience."

As part of the new policy, they will no longer accept ads for any weapons. Specifically banned are firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition and knives.

The policy is supposed to be universal. That remains to be seen. I think you will probably still see ads for cabalas, Gander mountain, Dick sporting goods and some of the other big box stores.

The policy will not effect organic searches. If you know the name of a specific gun shop that has a website, it will still be there. They just won't be able to advertise weapons by name using Google Ad-words or Google Shopping (merchant center).

Ad-words are the small ads that appear in color at the top of a search page and smaller sidebar ads to the right. These are all paid ads.

Firearms dealers will try to find ways around the policy.

Cabalas is sort of a no brainer. They usually don't advertise any weapons. If you click on any of their ads you know you will be taken to their website and you already know they sell guns and ammo.

It is the small businesses with great deals that will be harder to find.

Merchants may need to develop some kind of code or you might need to read between the lines. Look for words in ads like Outdoor Apparel. Or Hunting jacket. That is if the keyword hunting is not also banned. From these keywords, you can reason that they may also sell guns, ammo, accessories and knives.

Don't search for specific firearms or "weapons" with blinders on.

If you only search using a keyword like Gun, you will likely only find spray paint guns. Search knives and you will get steak knives or knife sharpeners or tool knives for a lathe.

If you search using keywords like Outdoor recreation you might have a better chance of finding hunting gear.

Hunting gear may not include the exact product you are searching for but the website name likely will be gun shop and a source that sells Pistols, AK's AR's, Ammo, knives and everything else for hunting and shooting.

The new policy will begin starting on July 1, 2012. It will be phased so you may not see all the changes immediately.


There are other comparison shopping sites that will allow ads for most firearms accessories and knives. Only a few allow ammo to be advertised.

I recently switched to Tappocity.com They just started operating June 18th.

The site needs some work but is legitimate. They do allow firearms listings and any other legal weapons.
 
What are your search settings on? Mine are on Safe Search Off, and I just got search results for 6.5x55 ammo, 223 brass, Mosin M44 and a Rock River lar-8. It's working for me.
Edit:
The new policy will begin starting on July 1, 2012. It will be phased so you may not see all the changes immediately.
Didn't see that.
 
Guess someone clued them. Now Firearm says:
Your search - firearm - did not match any shopping results.

Suggestions:

Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
Try different keywords.
Try more general keywords.

I noticed that Yahoo, Bing, AOL, Ask, etc all seem to be doing the same thing. I am going to have to rethink my search engine options.

I am not even going to complain either. I say let the market decide. I have found that as soon as a company decides that they are too big fail, they do. If allowed to.

ETA- Dogpile seems to functioning normally. I guess I will just use them since all the others appear to broken. Dogpile is a metasearch engine. I don't know which of the foreign companies it is that keeps their engine working properly but good on them. To bad the American ones all seem to have failed.

http://www.dogpile.com/search/
 
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So, anyone have any idea how we could organize a formal protest? What about the NRA or SAF putting something together? Anyone have any contacts?

This is why I do not use Google at any level. They have been anti-firearms, and parts therefor, for years now. Stay away from these freedom stealing SOBs.

Perhaps we need to have a gun parts day where we flood Google's servers with searches for firearms related parts and accessories. Data overload can be a cathartic experience.
 
Funny how some folks seem to want to make it hard on firearm owners. And danged if people aren't out buying guns and ammunition and firearms accessories like... like... well, like they're going out of style!

Now, in a bold new move, Google throws its hat in the ring - surprise surprise.

Meanwhile, Ma and Pa, sister, brother, and cousin Ray are all out shopping for more guns.

Makes me think of that old tune, Frère Jacques. It's a French song, oddly enough.
 
There's a definite 'irony' so to speak in that we have come so far in terms of furthering our second amendment rights and yet there are so many opponents to our cause that seemingly increase on a daily basis. That's why it's important to have a 'boycott-vendor list' so that gun owners do not patronize those establishments. In Google's case the answer is simple, don't use an Android phone (or at least renew your Android contract) and use a different search engine. In concert and by doing so Google looses the business of many, many hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of gun-owners. We all know business' understand only the bottom line.
 
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