UPDATE: The Facebook page for Kentucky Gun Co. has been reinstated. Check out the interview with owner Patrick Hayden here.

By Dan Zimmerman via The Truth About Guns

As you’ve probably heard by now, the whiz kids at Facebook have decided that their site will no longer facilitate sales of firearms between private parties. Like their decision or not (and we don’t), it’s their site, their rules. Whether or not that decision was influenced in any way by the Obama administration isan open question. So…no more individuals advertising their guns for sale next to pictures of their cats. There’s only one problem with that: Facebook has now started swinging the ban shillelagh at licensed FFL’s too. Earlier today we highlighted Santa Cruz Armory’s take-down. The latest victim: our friends at the Kentucky Gun Company . . .

If you’re not familiar with their history, KYGUNCO isn’t exactly a fly-by-night operation. They’re a licensed FFL that’s been around since 1946 and have a thriving online sales business. This isn’t a half-ass project run out of someone’s garage either — they have a 32,000 square foot retail facility and gun range in Bardstown, Kentucky.

As KYGUNCO told TTAG:

Facebook announced that they have started to remove gun traders groups, buy/sell groups, etc., in an effort to slow the trade of firearms between individuals. In this attempt they are also removing legitimate gun dealers. KYGUNCO’s Facebook page was deleted today without notice, even though we are a licensed dealer. Facebook has become vital in advertising our business throughout the U.S. Our Facebook page had over 32,000 likes.

And it’s virtually impossible to reach an actual human being at Facebook to plead your case.

How long before more legitimate FFLs and, oh, I don’t know, gun blogs fall under the hoplophobic wrath of Zuckerberg’s minions, too? Watch this space.