New Shopify Policy Bans Sale of Guns & Accessories Over the Internet

Shopify policy change to ban gun, accessory sales, refuses to answer retailer questions
Shopify policy change to ban gun, accessory sales, refuses to answer retailer questions

APOPKA, Fla.-(Ammoland.com)- A change in policy announced Monday night by Shopify, an e-commerce platform used by more than 600,000 merchants to conduct online sales, will essentially shut down the sale of guns, gun parts and accessories over the internet by retailers who use Shopify.

Spike’s Tactical, a Florida-based gun manufacturer, has built their entire website and online sales portal exclusively using the Shopify platform and conducts millions of dollars in sales through Shopify each year.

“This decision will have significant ramifications to our business and should concern every online retailer and Second Amendment supporter,” said Cole Leleux, general manager of Spike’s Tactical.

Some of the new amended rules in Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy now include banning the sale of semi-automatic firearms that have an ability to accept a detachable magazine and are capable of accepting more than 10 rounds. Additionally, unfinished lower receivers are also prohibited, according to the new rules. Most of Spike’s Tactical’ s products include AR-15 parts and full rifles, which would fall under those new restrictions.

One of the things that makes this more challenging for businesses like Spike’s Tactical, is that Shopify’s platform is entirely proprietary, meaning the information stored on their platform cannot be easily transferred to another online platform.

“We have invested more than $100,000 in the development of our Shopify store, which will disappear once these policies go into effect,” said Leleux.

As for when these new policies will go into effect, that remains a mystery. When representatives from Spike’s Tactical reached out to Shopify to try to learn more, Shopify refused to answer any questions and directed Spike’s Tactical team members to the Shopify legal department, which at the time of this news release, has yet to respond.

Ironically, when challenged by left-leaning critics about selling Breitbart products in 2017, Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke said, “We don’t like Breitbart, but products are speech and we are pro free speech. This means protecting the right of organizations to use our platform even if they are unpopular or if we disagree with their premise, as long as they are within the law.”

It now seems that Shopify has reversed course on their previous belief, as our products are not only legal, but also used by many law enforcement agencies, Leleux said.

Another gun company, which will also feel the pain of Shopify’s recent decision is Rare Breed Firearms. Rare Breed announced the launch of their new Spartan lower receiver last week and the product is also sold online exclusively through Shopify.

“We have spent the last three years developing the Rare Breed brand and more than $40,000 developing our Shopify site,” said Lawrence DeMonico, president of Rare Breed Firearms, an Austin, Texas based firearms company. “Depending on how this policy is rolled out, this is a move that could put companies like ours out of business, and we will undoubtedly be looking to pursue legal options.”

Any other gun manufacturers or retailers who are also experiencing issues related to this new policy are encouraged to contact Spike’s Tactical, as they are looking at legal options to potentially file a class action lawsuit.


About Spike’s TacticalSpike's Tactical logo

Spike’s Tactical was founded the day before 9/11 by Mike and Angela Register and is headquartered in Apopka, Florida. The family-owned business employs around 40 people and all products are made exclusively in the USA and assembled in Florida. Spike’s Tactical is regarded as one of the premier AR-15 manufacturers in the world. Their mission is to build the highest quality products and offer them at the best possible price to the consumer. Spike’s Tactical weapons are designed to military specifications for civilian, law enforcement and military use. All products manufactured by Spike’s Tactical feature a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

About Rare Breed Firearms

Rare Breed Firearms was established in 2016 to develop innovative, visually appealing and highly functional firearm designs. Rare Breed Firearms is based in Austin, Texas and is veteran-owned and operated. Through friendly competition, their goal is to drive innovation and bring new designs to the market.

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Alan

My thought on this matter could be summed up as follows. This Shopify mob as performed, what is sometimes described as An Unnatural Act On Itself. May they suffer forever as a result.

2ndSupporter

If you are not happy about this then give them a call and peacefully let them know its not OK to discriminate against Americans based on their Constitutional rights! (888) 746-7439)

Greg

I just added Shopify to to my punish website program, along with Dicks Sporting goods.
The “Punish website” program will not allow me to check out there.
You don’t always know when you are transferred to Shopify.

Cody

we’ve been saying this will happen for years. That’s why we never built on third party software that’s hosted elsewhere.

We build real websites for real companies no bull no bias.
centerfire.co

Old Wolf

Just a thought concerning the possibility of “civil war”, in the near future; The current crop of libtards, snowflakes, antifa wanna-be thugs, screaming never-Trumpers, and let’s not pass over those paragons of decency and fairness, the dnc…..all together, on their best day, with the media spurring them on, don’t have the stones to make the first move. Oh, there may me a few die-hards here or there, but as a group, they don’t want ANY of what they certainly know, would result. They are misguided, misled and victims of their own making. If the time ever came for them to… Read more »

3dcart

We at 3dcart.com are an alternative to Shopify that supports firearms and gun accessories, as well as other high-risk legal industries. Check us out at http://www.3dcart.com and if you’re switching from Shopify due to this new policy we’ll switch you for free to 3dcart.

Michael

Well just someone else that doesn’t want my business.

Anna

Just though I would mention: Gun Rodeo is a 100% gun friendly platform build for specifically the gun industry. And we offer the same e-commerce services as Shopify. Check us out:

http://www..gunrodeo.com/hosting

tyler kent

What is the corporate mailing address of Shopify? What are the names of its executives? We need to know who these people are and where they conduct business so we can let them know what we think of their hate campaign against firearms owners.

2ndSupporter

(888) 746-7439 Give them a call!

Cecil Haley

I agree with Brad Sunder there should be a list of companies that do use Shopify so we can spend our hard earned money somewhere else!!!

larryw

So the plan is to boycott companies who use Shopify?

Shopify will feel about 3% of the lost sale, and the innocent business will feel the other 97%.

I think that plan sucks.

Non Prophet

Another cut in the left’s never ending game to kill our Second Amendment Rights by hook or crook for a death by a thousand cuts. I’m thinking two generations at the most and lefties will have no problem……..

The America Haters look for very ingenious ways to attack slowly and subtly like a snake in the grass.

🙁

JDL

Time for the NSSF, NRA, GOA, and SAF to kick in to start a fund to help each if these affected businesses individually sue these providers.

Brad Snyder

someone needs to publish a list of all stores that use Shopify service…. so we can avoid them and spend our money elsewhere.

Tony Bristol

There are so many things wrong with this action and is on par with the limitations of Paypal, Stripe, Facebook and the list goes on. We have been converting firearms sites off of Shopify to Magento for the past 12 mos in anticipation of this day coming. If anyone is in a bind and needs some consult. I can make myself available to discuss your options. Feel free to reach out directly: tony at defensemk.com.

Ken

This entire left leaning world absolutely nauseates me! Earlier posters are spot on in their comments!

Larry

FFLs trying to figure out where to go from Shopify: AmmoReady.com is the answer you seek.

Justin Hospie

We support firearm and ammo sales on BigCommerce, based in Austin, Tx. Check us out if you need a new SaaS ecommerce solution!

BigCommerce.com

Rick

When I shop online, is there a way I can identify Spotify as the “store” for the product I am about to purchase. If yes, then at least I can hunt for the same product on a different platform and buy through them, instead. Asked a different way, how can we boycott Spotify?

Glenn

Yes, normally it will tell you who is hosting the online store in the fine print at the bottom of the page.

TonyB

Tough to boycott Shopify as it is an underlying software platform that unknowing businesses built there sites on top of though you can check what ecommerce platform your favorite sites use by going to builtwith.com and typing in the domain of the site you are checking (example.com).

Larry

So the thing to do is boycott any company using Shopify? Sure, Shopify feels about 3% (+/-) of the lost sale, but the innocent shop owner feels the other 97%.

Brilliant.

Rodney Jefferson

The Shop Owner isn’t “innocent” if they desire to do business with a Company like Shopify. There are many options for them. If they are Pro 2nd Amendment, which is Pro Constitution, they will drop Shopify and do business elsewhere. If they agree with Shopify’s stance I don’t want to do business with them anyway. My money, I’ll choose where I spend it.

John Dow

From their terms of service:

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time.

So it’s OK for them to refuse to server someone, but not a baker or florist? Hmmmmm.

m.

excellent point. maybe those of various “genders” should start by demanding service at muslim-owned bakeries, florists, etc.

AmeriCommerce

Won’t get booted from AmeriCommerce!

AmeriCommerce is a powerful ecommerce platform jam packed with built-in features for high volume merchants, while not penalizing merchants for not using their gateway/payments. Plus it’s a southeast Texas based company that doesn’t like to tell merchants what to do.

J

We’ve been using AmeriCommerce for years. Great service!

White Rose

A business that serves the public is prohibited in the exercise of prejudice while serving the public. Our Constitutional is under remarkable stress and whether we will remain a system of governance of law and not men remains under challenge by the corportocracy. Whether our individual sovereignty and federalism remain compatible is in the hands of our ‘elected’ agents.

Remember the white rose

m.

prejudice = what any d-sucker thinks it is, like hate crime bs

SuperG

They are being just as retarded as eBay. eBay will not let you sell semi-automatic rifle parts, like hand guards, grips, etc. All because of the liberal knee-jerk fear. Pathetic.

Chuck

Guys, this problem is not new, and not restricted to the firearms industry. Manufacturers need to control their marketing and distribution channels, not be controlled by them. Walk away from Spotify, Amazon, Facebook, whatever and establish your own marketing / distribution system. There are many models to study and learn from, and, unlike legal fees, the costs actually contribute to operations. Think about it.

James Toland

Thank you! What is stopping us from creating an e-commerce distriubution channel from firearm and firearm related merchandise? Nothing.

james

They are interfering with lawful commerce by enacting these foolish bans.

Angry Conservative

The Liberal Left is doing everything they can to divide America. When a Cake Baker refused to sell a wedding cake to a homosexual couple they were sued, harassed, and put out of business. But the Left wants to do the EXACT thing and expect applause for it. When a Conservative sits down at a restaurant to eat, they are asked to leave by the Liberal owner. The Liberals protest and act like children when they don’t like something. They only want freedom for those that believe their way; that want their agenda. The Left will cause a Civil War… Read more »

Wild Bill

@AC, Whichever side revolts first will lose. The federal government has unlimited logistics. The state governments have nearly unlimited logistics. The FBI has proudly stated that they have infiltrated every militia group in the US. Even the county sheriff’s office has more secure coms.
With a “conservative” administration this is no time for a conservative revolt. The trick would be to get the libtards, welfare generations, and hard core unemployables to revolt! And then we can “help” restore order.

Mark

Marxists don’t revolt until the other side has been disarmed. They will keep picking away. We have to develop our own infrastructure, use the courts that are Constitutionally based and if things get bad enough, secession.

Wild Bill

@mac, Trump is the revolution. For example, corrupt, old rino, never Trumper Tim Pawlenty was squashed in the Mn GOP (Grand Old Pickpocket party) primary by a political unknown on Trump’s endorsement.
If we can send “not corrupted yet” reinforcements to Congress, we would have a better chance of cleaning up government and judicial fraud than any time in American history since George Washington.

Jim Hovater

My grandad was a WWII combat veteran. He warned me of ‘the next civil war’.

Dennis

I am not very computer savvy so could someone please tell me what exactly Shopify does?

Steve Wollard

They are a platform that does the financial transaction part of a sale. In the real world, they would essentially be the cash register.

Ben

Respectfully, they aren’t actually the financial processor. That’s Stripe. Stripe is even more left. Shopify is fundamentally store software. Some people would call it a shopping cart; but it’s really the whole store website platform.

Dennis

Thank you for your response. Now I know why Spotify thinks it’s so important.

m.

perhaps they should consider that..a lot of things can happen to dog s**t

Dennis

Thank you for your response. Now I have a idea why they think that they are so important.

Roscoe

Sounds like a civil rights violation…..

Dr. Strangelove

My first thought was, “What’s a Spotify?” Can’t be that popular.

Douglas Kuykendall

I’m with you.Have never heard tell of it till now.Tell them to shove it up their ass an go with something else.

Dennis

Thank you for your response. Now I know why Spotify thinks it’s so important.

J

You would have a hard time knowing if the site you where shopping on uses them. They are essentially a software package used to build and host ecommerce websites.

AmeriCommerce is the software we use for our website. They are based in Texas and won’t shut you down for selling guns or ammo.

Ben

It’s a store software package. Odds are, you’ve experienced it, but never recognized it’s presence. Shopify provides software for lots of firearms industry and training industry sites.

Feed the Call-up

Dr. Strangelove, Spotify is a popular music streaming site, Shopify isn’t. I never heard of Shopify before this article.

The Marksman

Add themarksman.net to the list of companies that are subject to financial loss due to this policy change. If everybody would ban anything they don’t like, I don’t think our world would function very well. This is a calculated business move by Shopify to appeal to “their clientele” at the expense of others. We will do our part to hold them accountable.