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This Local Gun Ad Was Banned By Comcast — And We Found It’s a New Widespread Policy

Feb. 19, 2013 11:40am Erica Ritz

NBC Comcast Drops Advertisements From Companies Promoting Guns, Firearms, Fireworks | Michigan Companies Respond

In this Thursday, July 26, 2012 file photo, an AR-15 style rifle is displayed at the Firing-Line indoor range and gun shop in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Comcast, which recently acquired NBC Universal, has quietly decided to remove advertisements promoting firearms from its cable network, and gun retailers aren’t happy about it.

A Michigan company that handles the advertising for Michigan-based Williams Gun Sight and Outfitters contacted TheBlaze regarding the change, stunned that it couldn’t re-air a commercial they played last fall due to the new policy.

John Kupiec, president of the advertising agency Canadian American Corp., told us over the phone Monday that when they recently tried to buy ad time, a Comcast representative informed them that as of February 8 of this year, the network would no longer accept advertising from companies promoting firearms or fireworks on any network, during any time period.

“They’ve been a longtime advertiser [but] they said it doesn’t matter who they are,” Kupiec related, “if they sell firearms they will not be allowed to advertise firearms on their airwaves.”

He noted that the change doesn’t just impact local companies, but business like Cabela’s, Walmart, and others.

“My company has been in the advertising business for well over 30 years, [and] we’ve never remotely run into a situation where a product or service was banned from being on the airwaves that’s legal,” he added.

Here’s the commercial that Comcast declined to air:

TheBlaze attempted to get in touch with several Comcast representatives to ask why the decision was made now, what they hope to accomplish, and whether they plan to change their scheduled programming that features guns, but only one responded.

Chris Ellis, the director of communications at Comcast Spotlight, confirmed the new policy but declined to provide any supplementary information.

“Consistent with long standing NBC policies, Comcast Spotlight has decided it will not accept new advertising for firearms or weapons moving forward,” he said in an email. “This policy aligns us with the guidelines in place at many media organizations.”

Tom Wright, the president of Williams Gun Sight Co., told TheBlaze that he thinks the change is “ridiculous.”

They’re “fine promoting strip clubs and condoms,” Wright said, but appear to have a problem airing advertisements for a legal product.

ABC 12 also interviewed Wright for the evening news. Here’s what he had to say:

ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

Both Wright and Kupiec further noted that at almost any given time, you can flip to regular programming that features guns in a legal capacity (the Outdoor Channel, the Sportsman Channel, NBC Sports), or in a violent scene of a television show or movie.

Is Comcast planning on making changes to their scheduled programming, too, they wondered?

Before speaking with TheBlaze on Monday, Wright urged people on Facebook to speak out with their dollars:

(Photo: Facebook/Williams Gun Sight & Outfitters)

Wright added for TheBlaze: “I don’t know whether NBC or Comcast have an agenda related to all the political activity going on, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

The president of Williams Gun Sight and Outfitters concluded with a statement on how the change will affect his company.

“It certainly has the ability to negatively impact our business. We’ve been in business for over 85 years; we provide a service to not only the hunting and shooting community, but we’re part of a longstanding tradition here in America. I think it’s a sad state of affairs where a cable network such as Comcast would come out with such a policy.”

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Comments (288)

freenj
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:25pm
Since reading this disturbing policy that Comcast has come up with, I’ll be severing ties with them. Cable tv is done, I’ll get Direct TV, and the phone I’ll use Vonage at $9.95 per month. Unfortunately, I am stuck with Comcast internet. I need the speed and DSL just doesn’t cut it.

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P4cooler
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:19pm
Don’t do business with Comcast. This company has joined ranks with the treasonous Democrats who are in the process of overthrowing the United States of America.

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Rickfromillinois
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:15pm
The heck with Comcast. I wouldn’t let them come near my house.

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toomuchgovt
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:14pm
I do believe in the free market and I believe the people will wake up and stop buying and watching any all products and programs that are contributing to the destruction our country. Share the ad on facebook with all your friends – no money free advertising for Williams gun store.

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dajones
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:57pm
I was hoping to sign up with Comcast when they expanded out to my area soon.. now I will not be doing that. NBC was never my favorite channel for anything.. I already avoid it. but Comcast? I’m too disappointed in you to ever use your service again.

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jessieH
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:57pm
Thanks, Comcast, for showing your true colors. Good luck in the unemployment line when the American Citizens see the socialist agenda you have. I’ll destroy my tv before I let your crap into my life.

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BehindTheMouth
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:47pm
Nazi Obama!!!!

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- roscoe569
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:54pm
  I thought he was communist Obama……make up your minds!
  
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Bohump
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:47pm
Grab your knee’s Comcast,…. Kissy… Kissy !

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garbagecanlogic
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:43pm
I sure am glad “fair and impartial” applies to NBC (Nothin But Communists).

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.

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- roscoe569
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:55pm
  I thought they were Nazis ….make up your minds!
  
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Sharon Rose
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:31pm
one word describes the MSM—-communists!

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AlaskaismyEden
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:16pm
Make your wishes known and boycott them. Not another dollar spent with Comcast/GE, the owners. Don’t watch NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Syfy or affiliates. Boycott their advertisers. Don’t buy their products. It’s the only power we have left in this Twilight Zone that the country has become.

On the other hand, they’re denying the right to advertise a legal product. Can anyone say class action discrimination lawsuit? One can only hope…

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ValidFib
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:10pm
This isn’t because of Sandy Hook. These policies were thought out long ago, waiting for an opportunity. There after the 2nd Amendment right now, next comes the 1st Amendment and with the recent news of China’s hacking successes, don’t hold your breath if BO doesn’t come out with more internet regulations to safeguard our internet use. It’s for own good (sarc).

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Jadedfate
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:03pm
Comcast has always been pretty liberal…glad I no longer work for them.

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Zundfolge
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:57pm
Reason number 5423865 that I’m glad I “cut the cord”, dumped Commiecast and bought a few Roku boxes.

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Landon410
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:55pm
walmart sells guns, so does dicks sporting goods, bass pro, cabelas and several other large retailers

can they not advertise? no walmart commercials now?

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skyguy51
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:53pm
Just add Comcast to the list of Regime media lackeys.

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Uchronious
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:47pm
Never Cared for Comcast anyway. Now even less.

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Seymour
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:41pm
So long COMCAST, it’s been long overdue and I’d recommend others to dispatch this service as well. No money, no Buck Rogers.

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InfiniteSolutions
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:36pm
I was evaluating going back to Comcast. I now have my answer. They will never get my business again. This demonstrates to me how ignorant and out-of-touch this company is. So much for understnading freedom and the constitution. Of course they have the right and are free to deny advertisements for guns but they should also deny all gun related violent movies, sexual programs and violence, hypocrates. See, they are really, really, really ignorant. How stupid can a company be. I exercise my right, I will never purchase Comcast. Too bad, one more nail in the cable TV down-turn.

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coyote1hell
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:27pm
NothingButCrap..NBC..has a tiny viewership..and it’s shows stink….that’s all

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ion
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:18pm
Tell them you are gay or qu_er and the Gov will make them do business with you

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Uechi
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:09pm
Easy to fix the problem, drop their service and find another cable company or get satellite. It has’nt happen with BrightHouse but if it does I will be gone in a heartbeat.

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Thundergod
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:08pm
I need to get rid of Comcast. Much like whats on TV,my only other options are all crap.

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Zenonic The Great
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:06pm
Comcast was already horrible before the merger. Glad I got rid of them.

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BladerunnerKC
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:05pm
Time Warner as well

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