Comcast pulls gun shop ads from cable network - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(02/18/13) - A gun shop owner said firearm manufacturers, distributors and retailers are being targeted unfairly after Comcast announces it's dropping all gun shop ads from its nationwide cable network.

The cable company recently acquired NBC Universal and this is a long standing policy there.

When a local ad agency recently placed an order for Williams Gun Sight in Davison Township, it was denied. Owner Tom Wright said he'll take his business elsewhere.

"I thought it was ridiculous, we are a legitimate business, we have been here for 80 years," he said.

Business has never been better at Williams Gun Sight Company in Davison Township. It was earlier this year when Wright decided to re-run a 30 second spot on cable television, only to find out he couldn't. "There's no reason why we can't promote what we believe in and something that's guaranteed under the Second Amendment," he said.

Andrea Olson is a media buyer for Canadian American, the local ad agency who originally placed the order. Olson said the agency's owner was outraged. "He thinks this is a direct infringement on our constitutional rights and links it to gun control, and he's a member of the NRA and passionate about the issue," she said.

Canadian American also pulled other Comcast spots for clients who share Tom Wright's point of view. Meanwhile, he said this won't keep Williams from advertising in other media outlets.

"We've been in this community for many years and we have enjoyed promoting our products in this community and will continue to that with Comcast or without them," he said.

Comcast Spotlight released a statement saying, "Consistent with long standing NBC policies, Comcast Spotlight has decided it will not accept new advertising for firearms or weapons moving forward. This policy aligns us with the guidelines in place at many media organizations."