Two days ago, YouTube announced its new policy that forbids firearms from entering their platform. Among other things, it bans manufacturing, installing, and sales of firearms or any related accessories.
That’s right, no more DIY gun videos.
It’s also forbidden to sell or link to anything selling firearms or accessories.
There’s some controversy about whether this includes video games, movies, and trailers depicting violence with weapons, or just simply weapons at all.
This obviously infringes upon our second amendment rights (A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed). It’s also an unfortunate violation of our first amendment right. It eliminates our ability to freely speak on the world’s most popular video platform.
Students across the country have the same rights as every gun-toting person in America: the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. They have the right to peaceably assemble and speak out for their beliefs. However, using that right to attempt to eliminate our second amendment rights is arguably not a great use of the first amendment.
Regardless, there are many other sites that still permit the presence of firearms. See a few below:
Full30.com
This website calls itself “The YouTube for guns.” It has a firearms video section, as well as a blog and forum section.
Reddit is an online platform that allows users to post in forums, create forums, embed pictures and videos, and more. Currently, there are a few gun-related forums living on the site, but they’re often unpopular opinions about firearms. Regardless, it doesn’t prohibit the discussions (first amendment rights) of these items… yet.
FourSquare
If you’re not familiar, FourSquare is an app that allows users to locally source their needs. Simply enter what you’re looking for and where you are in the world, and it will populate the closest establishments that meet your needs. While it’s mostly used for restaurants, movies, and other generic entertainment needs, many gun stores use this platform with success.
Gun News Sites
These sites were founded on our second amendment rights and don’t infringe on your ability to post pictures or videos about firearms.
Guns and Ammo (began as a magazine back in 1958. You can still subscribe to get it in print, if you’d like)
RedState (a little easier to navigate than the others)
Gun Sales Sites
Vero
All the rage these days, Vero is a new social platform that people are raving about. While its terms of use (like many sites) don’t explicitly ban promoting firearms, they’re just vague enough that anything “sensitive” could result in your posts being taken down. But it’s better than other sites’ policies.
Facebook & Instagram
The last, the worst of all the game: Facebook and Instagram support guns… kind of. These share policies since Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion back in 2012. They allow images of firearms to be posted on their sites. However, both explicitly prohibit any advertising for the sale or promotion of firearms.
Under Facebook’s advertising policies (Section 4. Prohibited Content, subsection 7. Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives) ads may not promote the sale of weapons, ammunition, or explosives. While there isn’t any clear definition of what defines a “weapon,” we’re pretty sure heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Facebook should reconsider advertising for fatty foods and anything stress-related, which is everything.
Just a few days ago, we tried to run an ad. Was it promoting sales of weapons? Not exactly. Our ad featured the image of a hoodie, and within the body copy said “18 range lanes (up to .30 cal). Shop for all your 2A needs. Shop and range in Sandy, UT.” That’s it.
It was probably declined because “this policy also applies to content on your page. If your page has images related to weapons or their accessories, but your ad doesn’t, your ad will be disapproved.”
Plus, Instagram blurs anything it considers to be “sensitive”… which is pretty much up to the discretion of the platform. You’ve probably seen such a post which usually appears blurred out like this.
Yes, Facebook & Instagram (kind of) allow posted images and videos of “weapons” (including firearms), but if your ad has any inkling of even kind of violating their prohibited content, say bye-bye to one of the most effective advertising platforms in the world.
Do you know any other gun-friendly platforms? Please let us know in the comments, on our social platforms, or by emailing armoryinfo@armoryshootingrange.com
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