HOLD UP: Why is Google suppressing shopping results for these guns?

Well, this is interesting …

Yo, Google is stopping any shopping results for AR-15s. pic.twitter.com/gQ8J2jQVuZ

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) February 26, 2018

It’s true.

https://twitter.com/harperreginald1/status/968229399568011264

But wait! There’s more:

https://twitter.com/mattbramanti/status/968230747004964864

Riiiiiight…. pic.twitter.com/zcu4T3hDw3

— Daniel McDowell ✘ (@McdowellDan) February 26, 2018

I tried "gun" "shotgun" and "glock", all blocked.

"Bullet" returned some blenders.

— AgainstTrumpDude (@TheAmishDude) February 26, 2018

However:

Google is censoring things like Glock, Colt, and AR-15, but not Smith & Wesson or AK 47.

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) February 26, 2018

Is this a new thing?

https://twitter.com/harperreginald1/status/968230315230679040

Well, people are definitely noticing now.

https://twitter.com/ajfyi/status/968230897894985729

So there’s that.

try "AK-15"

— Tim Peterson (@tim3048) February 26, 2018

Ha! Wonder if Joyce Carol Oates has given that one a whirl.

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/968233586657808384

Did they hire David Hogg as Information Minister?

— MonkeyBearCop (@MonkeyBearCop) February 26, 2018

But seriously, what is Google trying to accomplish with this, other than pissing users off?

Sweet! Thanks, @Google. Sure it's a small step, but a meaningful one. https://t.co/WJFFPRWCsN

— Adam Nathaniel Peck (@adamnpeck) February 26, 2018

"Yeah! It'll really turn the tide!" said no one. https://t.co/tzdKNHoYMX

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) February 26, 2018