Not a new problem. I asked NRA about that about 15 years ago via their Q&A service for members and they were absolutely clear that the mainstream media (MSM) did not accept their ads. I suggested that rather than advertise in MSM, they should attempt to place ads with a lot of the local little weekly papers and low-power radio and TV stations which abound, all of whom are always desperate for ad bucks, and the little newsies are usually independent of any Big Corporate Control.
I suggested that they appeal to members to feel out these local papers who might accept this kind of advertising and advise NRA of their willingness to accept NRA ads. Nothing ever came of that, but then again, my ideas always seem to be 20 years ahead of my time.
I recognized that dealing with many, many local advertising accounts would be a bit of a managerial problem, but I still think something along those lines would be workable... even for firearms manufacturers and gun accessory mfrs, etc. Especially if local "gunnies" are engaged as advertising agents --even for free, no commish.
I also realize that the "bang for the buck" return would be small, but I was looking at it as a progaganda mechanism rather than a profit mechanism.
Later (about two years ago) I noted with pleasure that one of our local "freebie" papers was carrying ads for concealed carry classes. This, to me, was a big breakthrough.
I still think the concealed carry (CC) movement, coupled with the internet, will ultimately save the Second Amendment, as long as the various municipal, state, and national dot-govs don't use the CC lists for confiscation or other infringements under color of phony law.
( ^ Hey. I sound paranoid there for a reason. They
are after me. Hell, "they've" been "after" me and my guns one way or another for the whole >60 years I've been shooting.)
Terry, 230RN