Groupon Pulls All Gun-Related Deals

As the old adage goes, “You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” It may be a cliché, but Groupon is experiencing the truism firsthand now that the daily-deal site has pulled all gun-related bargains from its pages.

“All scheduled and current gun-related deals featured on Groupon North America, including shooting ranges, conceal-and-carry and clay shooting, have been placed on hiatus while we review internal standards that shape the deal inventory we feature,” Groupon spokeswoman Julie Mossler said in an emailed statement to reporters. “The category is under review following recent consumer and merchant feedback.”

Groupon didn’t elaborate on its reasoning for the decision, although it’s a safe bet the move is related to the current gun-control debate ignited by December’s tragic shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. Following the deaths of 20 Newtown, Conn. children and six adults, many companies have attempted to distance themselves from firearms.

Groupon may have removed the deals in response to customer feedback, but it’s now facing a backlash from other customers who identify themselves as pro-Second Amendment. According to Daily Finance, Texas gun-shop owner Michael Cargill has called for a Groupon boycott after his concealed-handgun training course deal was cancelled. Customers have also taken to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction with the decision.

From now on, @groupon will nix any deal having to do with guns suntimes.com/business/17725… Time to #BoycottGroupon

— Joe the Patriotic (@joethepatriotic) January 22, 2013

Since @groupon bans gun related deals now, I say goodbye to a company I used to like & recommend all do the same. #tcot #tgdn #guns #2a

— Randy Dix (@whispers76) January 22, 2013

BOYCOTT @groupon!!! Luck for me, I’ve never used them in the first place. #2A #RightToBearArms #guns

— Brittany Clingen (@BeaCling) January 22, 2013