Google's anti hunting!

[Sagecreek]

We sell hunting equipment and have been notified by Google that they have canceled our ad's with them because we don't meet their guidelines, check this out!
Hello,

Thank you for advertising with Google AdWords. After reviewing your account, we've found that one or more of your ads or keywords does not meet our guidelines. You can see your disapproved ad(s), the reason for disapproval, and editorial suggestions, from the Disapproved Ads page within your account.

So we responded with,

Please revisit our website and you can see that we are not doing anything illegal. We don't sell ammunition and we don't have a Federal Firearm License as we don't sell firearms. We do sell muzzleloaders which are legal to sell without a FFL. Owning a gun is perfectly within our rights as Americans. We do not promote violence.

What we do promote fair chase hunting, getting kids involved with the outdoors and with the great tradition of hunting, and the gathering of family and friends for camping trips.

Again, please take another look and if you have questions or concerns, please call us at 208-683-2653 so that we can discuss them.

Sincerely,

Christina Whitehurst


They came back with,

Hello Christina,

Thank you for your email. After reviewing your ad in Campaign #1, Ad Group 'Badlands' I see that it was properly disapproved. As noted in our advertising terms and conditions, Google reserves the right to exercise editorial discretion when it comes to the advertising we accept on our site. At this time we do not allow ads for websites that sell guns or related products.

In order to continue advertising with us, please remove all muzzleloaders from your website and we will be happy to review your ad.

Google believes strongly in freedom of expression and therefore offers broad access to content across the web without censoring results. Please note that the decisions we make concerning advertising in no way affect the search results we deliver. We will continue to show search results for guns and related products.

If you have additional questions, please visit our Help Center at https://adwords.google.com/support, where you'll find answers to many frequently asked questions.

We look forward to providing you with the most effective advertising available.

Sincerely,

The Google AdWords Team

Please let me know what you think,
Scott

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[BarnesX.308]

Sounds like they just don't want to get involved in selling any kind of guns. They're probably not antis - just ignorant and paranoid.

[Sagecreek]

The ad column that they canceled was an ad for our Badlands hunting packs. They canceled because we have muzzleloaders on our website. The ad had nothing to do with Muzzleloaders!

Scott

[longrifle1000]

The ad column that they canceled was an ad for our Badlands hunting packs. They canceled because we have muzzleloaders on our website. The ad had nothing to do with Muzzleloaders!

The ad may not of had anything to do with muzzleloaders. But, this was their reply to you.

At this time we do not allow ads for websites that sell guns or related products.

They come right out and say that they don't allow ads for websites that sell guns or related product. Muzzleloaders are guns, and that is Google's policy. Sounds to me like they are anti gun, not anti hunting. And it sounds like their isn't anything you can do about it but move on. Good luck.

[kevin1]

It's your business , and yes I do understand what an elephant like Google can mean to your advertising , but you sound as though they've offended your personal ethics . Is losing access to Google worth it to your business , or can you survive without them? I have to favor the latter personally since you're still eating , so perhaps you should pursue a different avenue to promote your site . Be sure to let them know why you're leaving . You don't have to let anyone dictate to you to run your business , follow your heart .

[HuntingTalk.Com]

This has happened to a lot of othersas welland I think they have the same policy with knives too.They do seem to allow ads that point to pages containing ads for guns though. So there's one way to get around it, although it may not be as efficient. Create a page full of ads pointing to your site, and then advertise that page on google.I think they should at least give a reason why they do not allow it rather than just saying they don't.But this has been their policy for a long time.

[Sswpriz]

With the way lawyers think nowadays, maybe they don't want anything to do with guns in case something were to happen with a gun that had something to do with Google ? Liability Aspect ?

[mr-pirk]

Sage Creek I would say Google is neutral hunting and very clumbsily trying to be gun neutral. I have to assume they have collage educated folks on the committies making these descisions. It just goes to show you better education doesn't always equal better thinking.

Sage Creek I will send a letter to the folks at Google telling them they are wrong, I don't know if it will be of any help though. I will cite this thread.

Thanks
Mr-Pirk

[BarnesX.308]

With the way lawyers think nowadays

Bingo. Don't read into it too much. They're just covering their legal azz.