Anti-Gun Sentiment on the Internet: How It Affects Lawful Firearms Owners

Jim Benoit, Cajun Arms, West Chester, PA

Anti-Gun Sentiment on the Internet: How It Affects Lawful Firearms Owners

Social Media Challenges for Firearms Instructors

At Cajun Arms, we use social media and online marketing to connect with our students and promote lawful firearms training. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are critical tools for raising awareness about responsible gun ownership and CCW training.

However, we've noticed increasing pushback due to the fact that we sell firearms and teach their proper use. Facebook, for example, has implemented new policies restricting firearm-related content. Despite following their rules and limiting page access to users 18 and older, we’ve experienced sudden drops in followers, sometimes losing hundreds at a time. This seems to be a direct result of the platform’s anti-gun policies.

Google and Online Advertising Restrictions

Google Ads presented similar challenges. After trying a campaign using compliant terms like “firearm instruction” and “defensive handgun training,” we initially saw increased traffic. Within a week, our ads were disabled because the campaign allegedly violated Google’s policies.

As lawful gun owners and instructors, we find this alarming. It impacts our ability to share information about defensive carry training and responsible firearms ownership with the public.

The Broader Issue: Censorship and Lawful Gun Discussion

Censorship in online spaces is a growing concern for the firearm community. While private companies are within their rights to set policies, these restrictions often affect lawful gun owners disproportionately. As Frank Mitner highlighted in Forbes, platforms like Google and Facebook claim to protect freedom of expression, yet restrict content that advocates responsible firearms use, teaching, and Second Amendment rights.

For instructors and gun owners, these policies limit discussion, reduce visibility for educational content, and could eventually restrict access to lawful firearms training opportunities.

What Lawful Gun Owners Can Do

Even amid restrictions, it’s important to stay connected and support lawful firearms education:

• Follow and engage with firearm-friendly pages like Cajun Arms on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

• Leave reviews on Google to help increase visibility: Cajun Arms Google Review

• Share educational content about safe firearm use, CCW training, and defensive shooting.

By actively engaging online, lawful gun owners and instructors can help ensure that responsible discussion of firearms continues, despite increasing censorship.

Stay Informed, Stay Engaged

At Cajun Arms, we remain committed to teaching responsible firearm use, from CCW classes to advanced defensive handgun courses. Engaging with the community online allows us to share our knowledge, support fellow instructors, and advocate for lawful gun ownership.

Don’t let anti-gun policies silence your voice—connect with Cajun Arms today and stay informed about responsible firearm training.