Verify Please: Google Censors All Gun, Ammo & Accessories Results

I received this by email. Please look into these claims and render your opinions on this please.

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Google Exercises Gun Control

75 Comments

http://freedomoutpost.com/wp-content...fb-220x220.jpgWith Google being the major presence on the internet and now seemingly having ties to the government and doing their bidding in providing information and even censoring web sites, it should come as no surprise that Google is now in the business of gun control. That’s right, Google Shopping is now controlling guns, ammunition and gun accessories from showing up in their search. They are censoring perfectly legal products.
A weapon’s parts and accessories vendor, Hamlund Tactical received a notice from Google outlining what they expected from their customer. The notice said:

Dear Merchant,
We’re writing to let you know about some upcoming changes to the product listings you submit to Google. As we recently announced, we are starting to transition our shopping experience to a commercial model that builds on Product Listing Ads. This new shopping experience is called Google Shopping. As part of this transition, we’ll begin to enforce a set of new policies for Google Shopping in the coming weeks. A new list of the allowed, restricted, and prohibited products on Google Shopping is available on our new policy page – Google Shopping policies - Google Merchant Center Help.
Based on a review of the products you’re currently submitting, it appears that some of the content in your Merchant Center account, HamLund Tactical, will be affected by these policy changes. In particular we found that your products may violate the following policies:
Weapons
When we make this change, Google will disapprove all of the products identified as being in violation of policies. We ask that you make any necessary changes to your feeds and/or site to comply, so that your products can continue to appear on Google Shopping.
To help you through this new set of policies and how to comply with them, we would like to give you some specific suggestions regarding the changes needed to keep your offers running on Google Shopping.


Weapons
As highlighted on our new policy page Google Shopping policies - Google Merchant Center Help, in order to comply with the Google Shopping policies you need to comply first with the AdWords policies AdWords Policy Center - Advertising Policies Help. We do not allow the promotion or sale of weapons and any related products such as ammunitions or accessory kits on Google Shopping. In order to comply with our new policies, please remove any weapon-related products from your data feed and then re-submit your feed in the Merchant Center. For more information on this policy please visit Weapons - Advertising Policies Help.
We’re constantly reviewing our policies, and updating them when necessary, to ensure we’re offering the best experience possible to our users. We’ve identified a set of policy principles to govern our policy efforts on Google Shopping in the U.S. These principles are:
1) Google Shopping should provide a positive experience to users. Showing users the right products at the right time can truly enhance a user’s experience. When people trust us to deliver them to a destination that’s relevant, original, and easy to navigate this creates a positive online experience to the benefit of both users and merchants.
2 ) Google Shopping should be safe for all users. User safety is everyone’s business, and we can’t do business with those who don’t agree. Scams, phishing, viruses, and other malicious activities on the Internet damage the value of the Internet for everyone. Trying to get around policies or “game the system” is unfair to our users, and we can’t allow that.
3) Google Shopping should comply with local laws and regulations. Many products and services are regulated by law, which can vary from country to country. All advertising, as well as the products and services being advertised, must clearly comply with all applicable laws and regulations. For the most part, our policies aren’t designed to describe every law in every country. All advertisers bear their own responsibility for understanding the laws applicable to their business. Our policies are often more restrictive than the law, because we need to be sure we can offer services that are legal and safe for all users.
4) Google Shopping should be compatible with Google’s brand decisions. Google Shopping must be compatible with company brand decisions. Our company has a strong culture and values, and we’ve chosen not to allow ads that promote products and services that are incompatible with these values. In addition, like all companies, Google sometimes makes decisions based on technical limitations, resource constraints, or requirements from our business partners. Our policies reflect these realities.
We’ve given much thought to our stance on this content, as well as the potential effect our policy decision could have on our Merchants, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Sincerely,
The Google Shopping Team
© 2012 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 You have received this mandatory email service announcement to update you about important changes to your Google Merchant Center account.

Now understand, I firmly believe Google has the right to do this. They are a private company. However, the only concern I have has been their ties to the federal government. Also, their ties to the NSA, as well as, their intrusive privacy terms does make one wonder if their is a greater agenda behind the censoring of guns and gun products.
For instance Allahpundit over at HotAir dealt with the dismissal of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing, and McMillan Group Internationsl by Bank of America after 12 years. From that story we learn the following:

• Bank of America was the recipient of well over 100 billion dollars in federal money
• They are one of just two vendors processing payments for Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign
• Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the site of the Democratic Nation Convention in September
• During the 2010 midterm elections Bank Of America opened 32 million credit line for the Democratic Party
• They donated $421,000 to President Obama’s 2008 campaign

Allahpundit concluded the post with a little insight, “If the Democratic leadership needed a favor from BOA, the bank might be in a position where it felt obliged to comply even at the risk of some sort of political backlash on the right.”
Google finds itself in a similar and very curious position as Bank of America was. Google has made huge contributions via their PACs, individuals, employees and owners and their families of $608,000, including their own Executive Chairman, Eric Shcmidt who donated $5,000 out of his own pocket to the Obama campaign. They also lead Obama donors for 2012 with $270,000.
Not only that but Google also secured a contract worth $35 million from the U. S. Department of the Interior, beating out Microsoft for email and collaboration software for over 90,000 employees.
So does all this seem curious to anyone else?



Google Exercises Gun Control

I didn't have any trouble getting a list of sites for ammo - both generic and specific searches. Did another search for a specific weapon and got another list of sites.

I will do some checking although I would not be surprised if true, the left continues to try and remove firearms from the public, Fast and Furious was part of that plot as is the new so called "Health care' scheme which in time people will be told "want health care, no firearms" simply that easy. The far left in order to exist needs poor under educated folks and no second amendment.

12:36pm 06/60/12 Found every thing from pistols, deer rifles, military rifles and ammo on Google. Did'nt buy any.

Webstores, NOT the search engines, are the ones that are cracking down on anything weapons related. Wording and pictures must be done carefully to avoid webstore policy conflicts. Facebook ads and Yahoo stores are the ones that I am specifically familiar with.

I just submitted a question to the ADWords customer service asking them what the "Legal Restrictions" - Laws are that they are referring to.

Response Back from Google- Such BS

Dear Kenneth,


Thanks for writing in.


Please know that due to policy restrictions, we would not be able to provide more specifics on the legal regulations. However, please be assured that this is a global policy and that Google AdWords doesn't allow promotion of weapons or devices designed to cause serious harm or injury in all countries.


However Kenneth, I'm forwarding a request to our Specialists to see if there is any more information they can provide on this. I'll get back as soon as I have an update for you.


Thanks for your patience in the meantime.


Sincerely,


Jigyasa
The Google AdWords Team

while I am a staunch defender of freedom of speech and the 2nd amendment, I think that globally Google may be trying to avoid lawsuits here.

The sad truth is that most nations on the earth have citizens that are not afforded the freedom to bear arms and that is why most of the other people on the earth live under authoritarian regimes and terribly violent places. Guns advertised on Google in these areas where only the government and criminals have guns would cause Google a legal nightmare and they would have to spend millions just defending on lawsuits each year.

Not saying their decision is right or in the best interest of America or humanity, just saying that I can understand where this problem arises.

W

No problem here getting into the guns or ammo websites...but im still having issues with ALIPAC W.....I cleaned my cache and cookies and when i google ALIPAC , i get "page not found"....
Really weird...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cavmom

No problem here getting into the guns or ammo websites...but im still having issues with ALIPAC W.....I cleaned my cache and cookies and when i google ALIPAC , i get "page not found"....
Really weird...

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I do too. The way I have to get on is to google alipac forums.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cavmom

No problem here getting into the guns or ammo websites...but im still having issues with ALIPAC W.....I cleaned my cache and cookies and when i google ALIPAC , i get "page not found"....
Really weird...

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Check your Temporary Internet settings, they should be set to 0 days in history so that EVERY time you come to a site it gets a NEW page, not some old defunt page that no longer may exist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cavmom

No problem here getting into the guns or ammo websites...but im still having issues with ALIPAC W.....I cleaned my cache and cookies and when i google ALIPAC , i get "page not found"....
Really weird...

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I'm still getting that on one of my computers also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dregerk

Check your Temporary Internet settings, they should be set to 0 days in history so that EVERY time you come to a site it gets a NEW page, not some old defunt page that no longer may exist.

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I do delete all temporary folders, cookies and history before shutting down my computer daily.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by forest

I do delete all temporary folders, cookies and history before shutting down my computer daily.

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Not that it in your browser, go to INternet Options,Browser History, Settings. At the bottom set that number to ZERO.

Latest response today from Google:

Dear Ken,


On May 31, 2012, we
announced a new initiative to improve our shopping experience over time, so that
shoppers can easily research purchases, compare different products, their
features and prices, and then connect directly with merchants to make their
purchase. With this change, merchants are now required to follow
the feed specification and policy requirements for Product Listing Ads on Google
Shopping here and here; of which there is a policy on Weapons which they need to
follow.

Ken, you'll find the requirements to advertise
with Google AdWords here. This also includes our legal policies.

Note: Once your ads are created, remember to update your billing information to allow your ads to run. You can learn how to
here.

Feel free to let me know if you have further questions.
Sincerely,


Jigyasa The Google AdWords
Team


My response Back:
I have reviewed the links you referred us to and cannot locate any
statement that refers to any “Legal Regulations” or codes that Google is trying
to follow. So again we would like to know exactly what “Legal Regulations” and
how we can review them that Google is referring to in the attempt to enforce
this restriction please. Our legal council would like to review this prior to
us creating Google Ads so as to comply with it and see if it is applicable to
other sites we are considering advertising our inventory.

Respectfully,,