Bangalore: Following Google’s ban on gun sales at its new shopping platform, it receives contradictory responses.

Earlier this year Google transformed its ‘product search’ into ‘Google Shopping’, the former with free listings and the latter with paid ones.

Google ensured that their shopping site is free from the promotion of weapons or other fatal devices such as guns, its parts or hardware, ammunition, bombs, knives, throwing stars, and brass knuckles.

The announcement got noticed only when a blog, ‘Outdoor Hub’, pointed it out.

But the news was both welcomed and criticized soon after the news got spread. The gun rights activists have poured criticism on the same.

The National Rifle Association criticizes Google as it "has adopted a new and discriminatory policy with respect to the advertising of firearms, ammunition and related products."

The association also said, "this appears to be a calculated political statement by Google at a time when most other large online retailers and search services are increasing the level of information they provide and the number of gun-related products they offer for sale.”

NRA added that having so much other sites available to consumers to access the information about such protected products, Google's attempt to limit them can be found simply futile.

But the same move is appreciated elsewhere; as Daniel Vice, Senior Attorney at the Brady Centre to Prevent Gun Violence says that they welcome the decision taken by Google to restrict the sales of weapons.

Vice referred to a study conducted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns which showed that 62 percent of the online gun sellers were willing to sell weapons to those who could not pass a background check. "It's so easy online to find guns and buy them without a background check, so Google's policy is more than reasonable," he added further.