YouTube takes down videos from firearms retailer Brownells without warning and then changes its mind just 40 hours later following pressure from the pro-gun lobby
YouTube has begun removing videos related to the sale of guns and accessories
The firm had previously said it would allow gun demonstration clips on the site
Brownells Inc is an 80-year-old gun supplies company based in Iowa
Ban took down Brownells videos on gun maintenance, safety and marksmanship
The channel was restored early Monday morning after nearly 40 hours offline
By HARRY PETTIT
DAILYMAIL.COM
11 June 2018
YouTube took down videos from US firearms retailer Brownells without warning over the weekend as part of its ongoing crackdown on gun-related content.
But the video-sharing platform quickly changed its mind following pressure from the pro-gun lobby, restoring the channel’s content just 40 hours after it was removed.
YouTube began removing videos that promote the sale of firearms or accessories designed to turn them into automatic weapons earlier this year.
However, the company has repeatedly bowed to pressure from pro-gun activists, who have rallied around a number of high-profile firearms channels that have seen videos blocked.
Brownells, an 80-year-old gun supplies company based in Iowa, announced its channel – which boasts 68,000 subscribers – had gone down on Saturday morning at around 8:00am BST (3:00am ET).
The ban removed all Brownells videos, including those covering firearms maintenance, marksmanship, gun safety and hunting skills.
The firearms firm called for followers of its social media accounts to send complaints to Google, YouTube’s parent company, in a series of heated posts.
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