*sigh... Google goes anti.

[John/az2]

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26819

WEAPONS OF CHOICE
No gun ads allowed at Google
But online search company accepts porn commercials

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 14, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern


By Jon Dougherty
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com


One of the Internet's leading search engines is refusing to sell advertising to firearms dealers or companies that sell gun parts or knives, though it will sell ads to pornographic sites.

According to the owners of Bowman's Brigade, a Montana-based online gun parts and adventure gear retailer, the online search engine company Google, based in Silicon Valley, Calif., refused to accept prepaid advertising on three separate occasions earlier this month.

"For gun owners, the problem is [the Google search engine] is widely used to find products, articles or information gun owners are interested in," said a statement published by the retailer.

However, at the same time, "Google is actively engaged in making sure you don't see advertisers that just might have that particular product or information you wanted – if you're a gun-related business that is," the retailer said. "They do this by denying ad space to gun-related businesses – no matter what your ad may actually say."

Contacted for comment by WorldNetDaily, the owner of the business requested anonymity. But he said he believes Google's policy is akin to economic racism.

Google refused to sell the retailer ads hawking night-vision goggles, dehydrated storable foods and parts for pistols. All three ads were placed March 7; by the next day, the retailer said the search engine's ad staff had rejected all of them.

Google sells what it calls "AdWords" – keywords that an advertiser purchases, so when a Web surfer searches for subjects related to those specific words, the advertiser's ad pops up on the right side of the Google search page.

A retailer "could be selling ice cream on [its] website – but if [that site] also has any gun- or knife-related products, your AdWords and AdWords Select ads for 'ICE CREAM' will be refused by Google. That in a nutshell is exactly what happened to us," the retail owner said.

David Krane, a spokesman for Google, said the website's ad policy "clearly states" that the company refuses ads from firearms dealers, as well as ads for liquor, tobacco and a few other products.

When questioned specifically about pornography sites, though, Krane said, "We actually do accept those ads."

WND found that Google also accepts ads from online gambling sites.

"We have a fairly large group of folks representing our advertising staff and executive management team that come up with these policies," he said, acknowledging the company's refusal to sell to Bowman's specifically – even if Bowman's limited its ads strictly to its freeze-dried food.

"The problem we have is not with the dehydrated food, but when you link back to the food, the same site also sells knives" and other weapons-related gear.

When asked to qualify Google's policy of accepting porn ads but refusing those for guns and "vices," Krane fell back on the First Amendment.

"[The company] believes strongly in freedom of expression. Therefore, we offer broad access to all ranges of content across the Web without censoring our results," he said.

Indeed, in a sample search using the keywords "gun," "gun control" and "gun rights," the Google search engine returned thousands of "hits" – but no "AdWords" advertisements.

"At the same time, we do reserve the right to exercise editorial discretion when it comes to advertising accepted on our site, which is very clearly noted in the terms and conditions of our advertising policy," Krane said.

According to the online "terms and conditions" Google posts for prospective advertisers, however, there is no language that specifically addresses the items the company bans. And Krane did not return a follow-up phone call seeking the link to the company's complete ad policy.

What is posted online regarding banned items is vague; it simply states that advertisers must "agree not to use the Google Web Site or Partner Sites … to advertise substances, services, products or materials that are illegal or violate Google's Ad Policy, as it may be revised from time to time."

There is no link to the full "Ad Policy," however.

In a separate Google advertising section – for premium sponsorships – Google says: "All advertisements are subject to Google's approval. Google reserves the right to reject any advertisement, Insertion Order, or URL link, at any time, for any reason whatsoever (including, but not limited to, belief by Google that any placement thereof may subject Google to criminal or civil liability)." An Adobe .pdf file on the same webpage contains the very same language.

Other Web search engines are equally hazy.

Yahoo, the most-visited search engine, doesn't publish online an advertising "terms and conditions" statement.

Lycos, the second-most popular search engine, says it "reserves the right, without liability, to reject, omit or exclude any advertisement or to reject or terminate any links, buttons, boxes or banners for any reason at any time, with or without notice to the advertiser/agency, and whether or not such advertisement, link, button, box or banner was previously acknowledged, accepted, or published."

Ray Whedon, acting on behalf of Bowman's Brigade, has initiated a petition drive to get Google to change its "no guns allowed" ad policy.

"Many of us believe this is discrimination upon individuals, businesses and organizations, an assault on the First and Second Ammendment rights of all Americans, a deliberate singling out of a specific target group of individuals, businesses and organizations which are the forerunning champions of the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution," the petition states.

"Furthermore, we believe that such actions by these politically correct policies being forced upon every American by businesses, companies, corporations, organizations and all levels of the state and federal government are leading to the continued destruction of the Constitution of the United States, the downfall and moral degeneration of our society and culture, and are an utter disregard for the millions of individuals who fought for our freedom we all enjoy and cherish," it says.

Krane maintains that Google's decision was not based on politics.

"We remain completely removed from any opinions and political preferences one way or the other when we determine our advertising policies," he said.

Bowman's owner disagrees.

"That's doublespeak," he said. "[The Google decision] is a direct, focused effort that is deliberately excluding gun-related businesses. If it wasn't about politics, the food ads would have run."

Meanwhile, noted tax preparation service H & R Block has ended its corporate relationship with the National Rifle Association.

According to a statement issued Tuesday by Gun Industry Watch, a noted gun-control group, H & R Block's decision to withdraw from the agreement "came as a result of widespread protests spearheaded by the Alliance for Justice's Gun Industry Watch, and supported by the Million Mom March united with the Brady Campaign and the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence."

The tax preparation service had entered into an agreement with a marketing company called Memberdrive to market its products and services to NRA members, said the alliance.

However, the agreement also provided for royalties paid by H&R Block, through Memberdrive, to the NRA. According to an H&R Block advertisement that ran in the March issue of America's First Freedom, the NRA's magazine, H&R Block "will make a contribution to the NRA for every Member who becomes a new customer," the group said.

The NRA and H&R Block could not be reached immediately for comment.

"Let this send a loud message to other corporate partners of the NRA. If you support the NRA, we will work to make sure that your employees, customers and all of your stakeholders know that you support an extremist gun lobby that is out of step with mainstream America," said Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron.

Critics of the anti-gun lobby point out that support for guns is growing, especially since the Sept. 11 attacks. They point to 44 states that now have concealed-carry laws, with half of those considering easing current gun restrictions in current legislative sessions.

[czjoe]

I have no problem with a private company choosing who it wants to be associated with, or what ads it is willing to run. Private property is the foundation of freedom; not this egalitarian collectivism that claims I can do anything I want on your property. The latter perspective is for socialists, archists, and any group that uses coercion to get their way.

[David Park]

The problem is not so much Google choosing not to accept gun ads, but that they are being very disingenuous about their true intent. For example, the spokesman says Bowman's food ads were refused because "the same site also sells knives" but if you run a Google search for "knives" two sponsored links appear. Seaches like "chef" and "cooking" also provide links to sites that sell knives and food. Google won't admit that the real issue is guns. Their policy is doublespeak, and they deserve to be called on it.

There's nothing wrong with gun owners using coercion (in the form of public pressure and boycotts) to attempt to get their way. It's much better than the socialist (government force) and anarchist (terrorist violence) methods.

[Calamity Jane]

To the Google Entities it May Concern:

It has come to our attention that you have an "advertising policy" by which you refuse to run ads for any site that sells firearms, knives, or accessories/parts thereof. You state, according to this policy, that guns and knives are among the "assorted weapons" you deem "unacceptable".

Your policy is indicative of bias, bigotry, and appalling ignorance. Who are you to deem entire classes of legal products "unacceptable"? Who are you to issue a blanket condemnation of businesses that deal in one or more products related to firearms or knives?

Your failure to recognize the rights of all Americans to engage in legal trade in the products of their choice demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of history, of our Constitution, and of ethical business practices. Clearly, you are engaging in an elitist mentality, setting yourself up as an "authority" over the millions of Americans who use the above-mentioned products in a perfectly legal, moral, and ethical manner. Your elitist authoritarianism puts the ideology of those few who have been engaged in the attempted destruction of our rights to protect our homes and families above the time-honored rights recognized in our Constitution that guarantee to every American life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You would decide, based on ignorance, prejudice, and a wholly unrealistic view of life, how others should exercise their guaranteed rights. And yet you are freely engaged in the business of your choice, which seems to be lucrative to those involved, whether executive, employee, or stockholder. I remind you that it is those same aforementioned rights which you so blatantly refuse to recognize for others that is the basis for your success.

Until our discovery of your discriminatory practices, Google was our favorite search engine. No longer. Unless you change your practices to allow the advertising of legal trade in firearms, knives, and parts/accessories thereof as you would any other trade item, the Google Homepage will not be seen on our desktops. The facts of your discriminatory business practices are being widely disseminated throughout the Internet, and soon, there will be lists of the businesses who are allowed to advertise on your site. Those businesses will be contacted and informed of your practices, and they will be told that as long as they advertise on your site, there will likewise be no patronization of their products and/or services.

Do not bother replying to this letter with some trite little auto-response detailing a series of lame excuses for your discriminatory and hypocritical practices. We will accept only a complete reversal of your policy, nothing less.

You are hereby BOYCOTTED, effective IMMEDIATELY.

Sincerely,

Calamity Jane and Hubby

=-=-=-=-=-=

The more letters detailing similar sentiments Google receives, the sooner they'll get the message, eh? Let's ensure that they feel our power where it hurts: in their pocketbooks.

[Calamity Jane]

Also...

here's another link about Google's policies:

http://www.bowmansbrigade.com/google1.htm

[MicroBalrog]

Google has the right not to advertise guns?
Good. Gun owners have the right no to visit google. Cut their market by 80,000,000.

[GUNED.COM]

It is becoming very difficult and depressing to keep up with all the anti-gun, anti-freedom, and anti-American companies, governments, and services.

Here we have the latest hidden agenda of the Google Search Engine. We have used Google for many years, and have invested a lot of our time and expense to help promote them.

We are appalled at their behavior.

We are building our own search engine, and will be removing all of our Google components we have put in place.

We have been in talks with Bowmans Brigade... and it looks as though there is a good recourse for legal action. Read Googles response to our e-mail: http://guned.com/index2.html ...Same ol' bullcrap, just like Dell.

Mike
GUNED.COM

[Don Gwinn]

Goodonya, Mike. Welcome aboard, by the way.

[Calamity Jane]

Great job, Mike! (And great site!) Keep us informed, and welcome to TFL!

[Thairlar]

My guess is some lawyer type told them that if they accept ads from someplace that sells knives or guns and a knife or gun that is sold by them is used in a crime, that they might get sued. As long as personal responsibility takes a back seat to blame and frivilous lawsuits, stuff like this will happen.

[striderteen]

Okay...I'm going back to AltaVista. And sending Google a letter.

[Nanaimo Barr]

related...

I contacted Ibill ( www.ibill.com , a company that handles billing and shopping carts for business web sites)about a shopping cart and CC billing system for a client who sells reloading supplies, after discussing it with the sales rep we got close to a deal and he checked with his supervisor.

came back with "because the govt might change the regs on reloading parts and make them illegal we won't handle billing for companies that sell them"

this company DOES however do billing for Adult sites on the net. even though Ashcroft has said he is going to go after them.

the guy who ownes Americans for Gun Safty (I think thats the name, the one Americans can't join) made his pile on the Net..

[GUNED.COM]

Here is some of the context copied right from their front page:

We also believe that with rights come responsibilities. We seek stronger new gun laws and tougher enforcement of current laws. Our goal is to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and kids, and to promote responsible gun ownership.

Anytime you see keywords like 'Stronger Gun Laws' or 'Criminals'
or 'Kids' - you can bet 100% it is a commi website!

Americans For Gun Safety is a wolf in sheeps clothing. It is decieving some good gun people into believing they are something they are not.

Nanaimo Barr, if you can get solid e-mail or proof of ibill.com, we will post their anti gun agenda.

Mike
GUNED.COM

[Dagny]

Gun owners have the right no to visit google. Cut their market by 80,000,000

Hah! Those much-vaunted 80 million gun owners are the same ones who voted for Clinton, Gore and other anti-gun, anti-Constitution politicians. If just half of these trapshooters, paper punchers, and once-a-year-road-hunters got off their lazy butts and voted to preserve their freedom from domestic enemies THERE WOULD NOT BE ANYANTI- RKBA LAWS!

[Kirk Keller]

and have found that their policies are at the very least arbitrary. One of their "premier partners", otherwise known as healthy benefactors is REI. REI sells the same knives most cutlery stores do. They also have a number of advertisers that are sporting goods stores who carry guns and knives. I think that this is a prime example of a policy enacted to make themselves appear politically correct, but unenforceable at the outset due to the diversity of businesses that carry knives and other weapons.

A quick search or two will easily demonstrate the hipocracy of their policies and the statements that they have made regarding this issue. Gee, I wonder when they'll dump REI?

[dischord]

KMKeller,

The we need to complain to Google about finding those knife and gun seller! Oh the horror!

Let's get Sports Authority and REI on our side.

[Kirk Keller]

Done. I had the google toolbar installed on my web browser. When I went to uninstall it, they asked me why.... I answered with my opinion of their policies and cited the examples I'd uncovered.

Also, I believe Victorinox and Swiss Army are advertisers...

I have also discerned that Rifle Magazine Riflemagazine.net is an advertiser, as is sportsmansguide.com, and the guns auction section of Ebay
Ebay gun section. More extensive research will most likely reveal many more such advertisers.

Oh, and so is Wal-Mart!