Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of AmericanGunTrader.com™ ("AGT", "we", "our", or "us"), owned and operated by AmericanGunTrader.com, with a Registered Agent at 7901 4th St N STE 300, Saint Petersburg, FL 33702.

IMPORTANT: AGT IS A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MARKETPLACE ONLY. We do not buy, sell, transfer, or handle firearms. We do not process payments for firearms. We do not facilitate firearm transactions. All payments to AGT are exclusively for advertising services, software subscriptions, and platform features. All firearm transactions occur solely between individual users.

By using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use AGT.

Table of Contents

1. Legal Structure and Nature of Services
2. Company, United States–Only Access, and Law Enforcement Requests
3. Liability Disclaimer and Indemnification
4. No Sending Money — Two Permitted Ways to Complete a Transaction
5. Built-In FFL Transfer Tools — Mandatory for Interstate Deals
6. Acceptable Use
7. Subscriptions & Paid Services
8. Auction Participation & Bidding
9. Complete Pricing & Fees
10. Content Moderation & Review Process
11. Community Groups & Free Speech Policy
12. Security Systems & User Protection
13. FFL Verification for Vendors
14. Uptime, Security, and Platform Integrity
15. Affiliates
16. Donations and Ethics
17. Age Restrictions for Firearm Transactions
18. Media Upload & Prohibited Content Policy
19. DMCA Takedown Policy
20. Trademark and Brand Protection
21. Termination
22. Changes to Terms

1. Legal Structure and Nature of Services

AGT is a classified advertising marketplace and software platform ONLY. We provide a digital space for users to post advertisements, browse listings, and communicate with each other. We are NOT involved in any aspect of firearm transactions.

1.1 What We Are

• Advertising Platform: We provide software for posting classified advertisements for firearms and accessories
• Communication Service: We facilitate messaging between buyers and sellers
• Search & Discovery: We provide tools to search and browse user-generated listings

1.2 What We Are NOT

• NOT a Firearms Dealer: We do not buy, sell, or trade firearms
• NOT a Payment Processor for Firearms: We do not accept, hold, or transfer money for firearm purchases
• NOT a Broker: We do not negotiate, arrange, or facilitate firearm transactions
• NOT a Shipper: We do not handle, ship, or transfer firearms
• NOT a Party to Transactions: All transactions occur exclusively between individual users

1.3 What We Charge For (Advertising and Editorial Services ONLY)

All payments to AGT are exclusively for advertising, software, and editorial services, including:

• Vendor Subscriptions: FFL-verified account status and ability to post "New" condition items ($24.99/month or $239/year)
• Post Boost: Featured placement of advertisements in search results ($4.99/day, $14.99/7 days, or $22.99/14 days)
• Newsletter Features: Inclusion of advertisements in weekly newsletter ($24.99/week)
• Guest Article Submissions: One-time editorial review fee for outside writers ($129.00 per article, non-refundable, publication at sole editorial discretion)
• Partner Ads: Sponsored placement on the listings page and in the weekly newsletter ($149/30 days)

WE DO NOT ACCEPT OR PROCESS ANY PAYMENTS FOR FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, OR ACCESSORIES. All such payments occur directly between buyers and sellers, outside of our platform.

1.4 Payment Processing Classification

AGT provides advertising services and software only. All transactions processed through our platform are for advertising placements and software subscriptions, paid in cryptocurrency — never for firearms, ammunition, or accessories.

Service	MCC Code	Category
Post Boost (Featured Placement)	7311	Advertising Services
Newsletter Advertising	7311	Advertising Services
Vendor Subscriptions	7372	Prepackaged Software

Promotional placements are classified under MCC 7311 (Advertising Services); vendor subscriptions are classified under MCC 7372 (Prepackaged Software), reflecting that a subscription grants access to AGT's software features rather than a specific advertisement. AGT does not use merchant category codes associated with firearms retail (5941), sporting goods (5941), or general merchandise (5999). Our MCC classification reflects the true nature of our business: providing advertising space and software services.

1.5 User Responsibility

• By using AGT, you acknowledge that all buying, selling, and transferring of firearms occurs solely between users
• You are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws
• You are solely responsible for verifying the legality and legitimacy of any transaction
• AGT provides advertising space only and assumes no role in actual transactions

2. Company, United States–Only Access, and Law Enforcement Requests

2.1 Company Structure

AmericanGunTrader.com is owned and operated by AmericanGunTrader.com, organized under the laws of the United States.

AGT does not disclose the identity, location, or configuration of its hosting providers, data centers, or infrastructure, and nothing in these Terms should be read as a representation about where any system or data is physically located. This information is treated as confidential operational security information, and AGT reserves the right to change providers, facilities, and locations at any time without notice.

2.2 Law Enforcement Requests

AGT responds only to legal process that is valid, legally binding, and properly served on AmericanGunTrader.com through lawful channels. AGT does not recognize or act on informal requests, voluntary demands, or process that has not been validated by a court or authority with proper jurisdiction over AmericanGunTrader.com.

2.3 Legal Review and Disclosure Policy

• Legal Review: Every law enforcement request is reviewed by legal counsel to ensure its legitimacy and scope
• Minimum Disclosure: Where AGT is legally required to comply, it will disclose only the minimum information necessary to satisfy that obligation
• Objection to Overbreadth: AGT will object to, narrow, or move to quash requests that are overbroad, defective, or improperly served
• User Notification: AGT will notify the affected user of any disclosure unless prohibited by law

2.4 United States–Only Access (No VPNs, Proxies, or Anonymizers)

American Gun Trader is intended solely for users physically located within the United States. Firearms, ammunition, and firearms-related technical data are subject to strict federal export controls — including the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Gun Control Act of 1968. To operate within these laws, AGT restricts access to users inside the United States and does not offer its services internationally.

• U.S. Location Required: You represent and warrant that you are accessing and using AGT from within the United States. Use of AGT from any location outside the United States is prohibited.
• No Location Masking: You agree not to access AGT through a VPN, proxy server, Tor, hosting/datacenter connection, or any other service or technique that conceals, disguises, or misrepresents your true geographic location or originating IP address. This prohibition applies even if the masking service exits within the United States.
• Enforcement: After you sign in or register, AGT may determine your country and connection type from your IP address (using a local geolocation database and proxy/VPN/anonymizer detection) and may deny access — typically returning an "Unavailable For Legal Reasons" (HTTP 451) response — to any authenticated request that appears to originate outside the United States or through a VPN, proxy, or anonymizing network. This enforcement targets logged-in users; it does not apply to search-engine crawlers or unauthenticated public pages. Administrators and expressly authorized personnel may be exempted.
• No Circumvention: Attempting to evade, disable, or circumvent these geographic or anti-anonymization controls — including by switching VPN exit nodes, rotating IP addresses, or otherwise obscuring your location — is a material violation of these Terms and grounds for immediate suspension or termination under Section 18.
• U.S. Persons Traveling Abroad: If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident temporarily outside the United States and need assistance, contact AGT support. Access remains subject to applicable export-control and firearms laws and is granted at AGT's sole discretion.
• No Warranty of Availability Abroad: AGT makes no representation that the platform is appropriate or available for use outside the United States. Those who access AGT from other locations do so on their own initiative and are solely responsible for compliance with their local laws.

3. Liability Disclaimer and Indemnification

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. BY USING AGT, YOU AGREE TO HOLD US COMPLETELY HARMLESS FROM ALL LIABILITY.

3.1 Complete Disclaimer of Liability

American Gun Trader, AmericanGunTrader.com, and all affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, and service providers (collectively "AGT Parties") are NOT LIABLE and shall be held completely harmless from any and all claims, damages, losses, injuries, or legal consequences arising from or related to:

• Firearm Transactions: The purchase, sale, trade, transfer, or exchange of any firearms, ammunition, or accessories listed on or arranged through the platform
• Transfer of Firearms: The physical transfer, shipment, delivery, or possession of firearms between any parties
• Legality of Sales: The legality or illegality of any transaction, including violations of federal, state, local, or international firearms laws
• Use of Firearms: The possession, storage, handling, modification, discharge, or use of any firearm or ammunition by any person
• Injury or Death: Any personal injury, bodily harm, death, or property damage caused by or related to any firearm, ammunition, or accessory listed on, purchased through, or otherwise connected to the platform
• Legal Consequences: Any criminal charges, civil lawsuits, regulatory actions, fines, penalties, or legal liabilities arising from firearm transactions or possession
• Compliance Failures: Failure to comply with background check requirements, FFL transfer requirements, age restrictions, prohibited person restrictions, or any other legal obligations
• User Interactions: Any disputes, fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct between users
• Listing Accuracy: The accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of any listing, description, photograph, or user-provided information
• Platform Access: Unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, or security incidents

3.2 No Verification or Warranty

• No Background Checks: AGT does not conduct background checks on users or verify eligibility to purchase firearms
• No Listing Verification: AGT does not verify the accuracy, legality, or authenticity of listings
• No Legal Compliance Verification: AGT does not verify compliance with federal, state, or local firearms laws
• No Safety Inspection: AGT does not inspect, test, or verify the safety or functionality of any firearm or product
• Paid Promotion Is Not Verification: Post Boosts, Premium placement, and newsletter features (Sections 5.3–5.4) are advertising upgrades only. Purchasing them does not verify, authenticate, or vouch for the seller, the listing, or the underlying transaction
• No Warranty: AGT provides the platform "AS IS" with NO WARRANTIES of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement

3.3 User Responsibility for Legal Compliance

You are SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for:

• Ensuring you are legally permitted to buy, sell, possess, or transfer firearms under all applicable laws
• Conducting all transactions through properly licensed Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealers where required by law
• Complying with all background check requirements, waiting periods, and transfer documentation
• Verifying the identity, age, and legal eligibility of all parties to a transaction
• Understanding and following all federal, state, local, and tribal firearms laws and regulations
• Maintaining proper documentation of all transactions for legal and record-keeping purposes

3.4 Indemnification (Hold Harmless Agreement)

By using AGT, you agree to INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS all AGT Parties from and against:

• All Claims: Any and all claims, lawsuits, demands, actions, or proceedings brought by any party
• All Damages: Any and all damages, losses, liabilities, settlements, judgments, fines, or penalties
• All Costs: Any and all costs and expenses, including but not limited to attorney's fees, expert witness fees, court costs, and investigation expenses
• All Liability: Any liability of any nature whatsoever, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability, negligence, or any other legal theory

Arising from or related to:

• Your use of the AGT platform or services
• Your listings, posts, or advertisements
• Any transaction you conduct or attempt to conduct through the platform
• The purchase, sale, transfer, possession, or use of any firearm, ammunition, or accessory
• Any injury, death, or property damage caused by any firearm
• Your violation of any law, regulation, or third-party right
• Your violation of these Terms of Service

3.5 Assumption of Risk

You acknowledge and expressly agree that:

• You are using the AGT platform entirely AT YOUR OWN RISK
• Firearms are inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death
• You assume all risks associated with buying, selling, possessing, or using firearms
• AGT makes no representations about the safety, legality, or suitability of any firearm or transaction
• You waive any and all claims against AGT Parties for any harm or loss of any kind

3.6 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• AGT Parties shall have NO LIABILITY for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages
• AGT Parties' total aggregate liability for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid to AGT in the 12 months preceding the claim (limited to advertising service fees only)
• Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability for personal injury or death. In such jurisdictions, this limitation applies to the fullest extent permitted by law.

3A. No Sending Money — Two Permitted Ways to Complete a Transaction

READ THIS SECTION IN FULL. IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT RULE ON THIS PLATFORM AND THE ONE MOST OFTEN IGNORED BY SCAM VICTIMS.

3A.1 Do Not Pay in Advance

YOU AGREE THAT YOU WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SEND MONEY OR ANYTHING OF VALUE TO ANOTHER USER OF THIS PLATFORM BEFORE YOU HAVE THE ITEM, OR BEFORE THE ITEM IS IN THE HANDS OF A LICENSED FFL DEALER YOU HAVE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED.

Do not use any of these before you have the item, or before the agreed FFL has it:

• Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal (including "Friends & Family"), Apple Pay, Google Pay, or any other peer-to-peer payment app
• Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT/USDC, or any other cryptocurrency or digital asset
• Wire transfers, ACH transfers, bank-to-bank transfers, or direct deposits
• Western Union, MoneyGram, or any other money-transmission service
• Gift cards, prepaid debit cards, store credit, or reload packs of any kind
• Money orders, cashier's checks, personal checks, or certified funds sent by mail
• Deposits, "holds," "good-faith" partial payments, shipping prepayments, "insurance" fees, "escrow" fees, or any other advance payment of any size

There is no amount small enough to be safe. A scammer asking for a $50 "deposit to hold it" is running the same scam as one asking for $2,000. AGT will not recover it, cannot recover it, and is not responsible for it.

3A.2 The Only Two Permitted Ways to Complete a Transaction

By using AGT, you agree that any transaction you arrange through this platform will be completed in one of exactly two ways:

1. Option 1 — In person, in your own state. You and the other party meet face to face within your state of residence and exchange payment and the item at the same time, in compliance with all applicable state and local law governing private transfers. Money and goods change hands simultaneously. Nothing is sent ahead.
2. Option 2 — Through a licensed FFL dealer, for any out-of-state transaction. Any firearm crossing state lines must be shipped to a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder in the receiving party's state and transferred to the buyer through that dealer, with all required background checks and documentation completed. On AGT, which FFL will receive the transfer must be selected and agreed using the built-in FFL tools in chat (see Section 3B) — not by exchanging dealer details in plain text or attachments. As a buyer, you pay the seller for the gun, and the FFL a transfer fee, only after that dealer confirms the firearm arrived. Tap Pay in the thread. Pay shares contact. AGT does not process that payment.

Paying early is prohibited. If someone asks for a deposit, mailed cash, crypto up front, or a third-party escrow before the FFL has the gun, that is the scam. Stop, do not pay, and report the user to AGT support.

3A.3 Repeated Warnings and Your Acknowledgment

You acknowledge that AGT warns you about this repeatedly and prominently — in these Terms, at registration, in the messaging interface, in our safety and knowledge-base articles, and in notices attached to listings. You acknowledge that you have read and understood these warnings and that you cannot claim you were not told.

You further acknowledge and agree that:

• AGT does not vet, verify, endorse, or vouch for any user, and a user's ratings, reviews, badges, tenure, or apparent legitimacy on the platform are not a guarantee of honesty
• AGT does not offer, operate, endorse, or recommend any escrow, holding, or payment-protection service, and any service claiming otherwise is fraudulent
• AGT staff will never ask you to send money to another user, to an "escrow account," or to any wallet or account, for any reason
• Photographs, documents, tracking numbers, FFL licenses, and identification supplied by a counterparty are trivially faked and prove nothing
• Sending money in violation of this Section is a violation of these Terms by you, and may result in suspension or termination of your account under Section 18

3A.4 AGT Is Not Liable for Loss of Funds — No Exceptions

AGT DOES NOT FACILITATE, PROCESS, HOLD, ESCROW, INSURE, GUARANTEE, MEDIATE, OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN USERS. We provide classified advertising space and a messaging tool. Nothing more.

You expressly agree that the AGT Parties (as defined in Section 3.1) bear NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER for, and you fully and permanently waive and release any and all claims against them arising from or relating to:

• Scams and fraud of every kind — including non-delivery, misrepresented or counterfeit goods, stolen goods, fake FFL dealers, fake shipping labels or tracking numbers, impersonation, account takeover, phishing, "overpayment" and refund scams, and advance-fee schemes
• Any loss of funds resulting from money you sent to another user or third party, regardless of method, amount, or the reason you were given for sending it
• Irreversible payments — cryptocurrency, wire transfers, gift cards, cash, and peer-to-peer app transfers generally cannot be reversed, recalled, charged back, or traced by AGT, and AGT has no ability to recover them
• Mishandling of funds or goods by any user, FFL dealer, shipper, carrier, payment service, or other third party
• Failed, abandoned, or disputed transactions, including disputes over condition, price, refunds, or returns

AGT will not reimburse, refund, indemnify, mediate, arbitrate, or make you whole for any loss described above, in whole or in part, under any circumstances. AGT holds no funds belonging to users, maintains no protection or guarantee program, and offers no buyer or seller protection of any kind. Any recourse you may have is against the counterparty or law enforcement — never against AGT.

If you have been defrauded, we encourage you to report the user to AGT so we can remove them from the platform, and to file a report with your local law enforcement and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Removing a user from AGT is the full extent of the action AGT is able to take.

3A.5 Express Agreement

BY CREATING AN ACCOUNT, POSTING A LISTING, PLACING A BID, SENDING A MESSAGE, OR OTHERWISE USING AGT, YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE TO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

• You will not pay before you have the item, or before the agreed FFL confirms it arrived. You pay the seller for the gun and the FFL a transfer fee.
• You will complete transactions only in person within your own state, or only through a licensed FFL dealer when the transaction crosses state lines.
• You have been warned, repeatedly and clearly, and you assume 100% of the risk of any transaction you choose to enter into.
• AGT is not liable for any scam, fraud, theft, or loss of funds, and you waive all claims against AGT arising from any of them.
• If you send money in violation of this Section, that decision — and every consequence of it — is yours alone.

3B. Built-In FFL Transfer — Mandatory for Interstate Deals

FOR ANY OUT-OF-STATE FIREARM TRANSACTION ARRANGED THROUGH AGT, YOU MUST USE THE PLATFORM'S BUILT-IN FFL TRANSFER FLOW IN THE MESSAGING INTERFACE. AGT provides integrated tools to search the official ATF directory, share a dealer card, propose a receiving FFL, and record mutual agreement between buyer and seller. This flow ties FFL selection to verifiable directory data and preserves agreement on-platform — not to unverifiable chat messages or attachments.

3B.0 Terms (read this first)

• Built-in FFL transfer — interstate dealer coordination through the in-chat FFL picker (search, share-card, propose, agree). This is the required path on AGT.
• Directory FFL / listed FFL — any licensed dealer from the official ATF directory that both parties select through the built-in FFL transfer flow. Any directory dealer is allowed. You do not need the dealer to hold an AGT vendor account.
• AGT Verified — an optional trust badge for dealers with an active AGT vendor subscription who completed FFL verification. Verified dealers may be recommended first in the picker and may join a 3-way transfer chat after agreement. AGT Verified is not required for a legitimate interstate transfer through the built-in flow.
• Unlisted FFL — any dealer identity shared outside the built-in FFL transfer flow (typed license numbers, pasted shop names, license photos in chat, off-platform dealer details). Strictly prohibited.

3B.1 What You Must Use

In eligible interstate listing conversations, selecting and agreeing on a receiving FFL must be done only through AGT's built-in FFL transfer flow — the search, share-card, propose, and agree controls provided in chat. That is the sole permitted method on this platform for coordinating which licensed dealer will receive an interstate transfer. Any ATF directory dealer chosen through this flow is permitted.

3B.2 Strictly Prohibited — Unlisted FFLs and Bypassing Built-In FFL Transfer

Going around the built-in FFL transfer flow is strictly prohibited. You may not substitute free-text messages, images, or off-platform communication for the in-chat FFL picker and agreement buttons. Prohibited conduct includes, without limitation:

• Typing, pasting, or dictating FFL license numbers, dealer business names, street addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses in chat instead of using the FFL picker (unlisted FFL)
• Sending photographs, scans, or PDFs of FFL licenses, SOT paperwork, business cards, or dealer credentials in chat as a substitute for the built-in share-card / propose / agree flow
• Directing a counterparty to ship to an FFL identified only through information supplied in chat, by email, by text, or on any site outside AGT (unlisted FFL)
• Claiming to be, or impersonating, a licensed FFL dealer or gun shop when coordinating through chat instead of the built-in flow, or when the identity cannot be verified through the ATF directory picker
• Asking a counterparty to "agree" on an FFL verbally or in plain text rather than through the platform's propose/share/agree controls
• Any attempt to complete interstate FFL coordination outside the built-in FFL transfer flow, including moving the conversation off AGT to finalize FFL selection

Why this rule exists: Fake FFL scams — including stolen dealer identities, doctored license documents, and counterfeit shipping confirmations — rely on bypassing verifiable, on-platform FFL selection. Unlisted FFL claims and user-supplied license photos cannot be authenticated by AGT and are trivially forged.

3B.3 AGT Is Not Liable When Users Bypass Built-In FFL Transfer

IF YOU OR A COUNTERPARTY BYPASSES THE BUILT-IN FFL TRANSFER FLOW AND YOU SUFFER ANY LOSS, AGT BEARS NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER. This includes, without limitation:

• Fake, fraudulent, or misrepresented FFL dealers
• Stolen or impersonated dealer identities (including real shop names paired with fake contact details)
• Doctored FFL licenses, identification, or business documents sent in chat
• Firearms shipped to the wrong dealer, never received, or never transferred
• Any scam, fraud, theft, or loss of funds connected to FFL information shared outside the built-in flow

You expressly acknowledge that unlisted FFL details supplied in chat messages or attachments are not verified by AGT, that only the built-in FFL transfer flow ties selection to the ATF directory and on-platform agreement records, and that you assume 100% of the risk if you rely on any FFL information obtained outside that flow. This disclaimer is in addition to Sections 3, 3A, and 3.1 — not a substitute for them.

3B.4 Enforcement

AGT may detect, redact, withhold, or remove messages that attempt to share unlisted FFLs or bypass built-in FFL transfer, and may restrict messaging, suspend, or terminate accounts that violate this Section. Bypassing built-in FFL transfer is a material breach of these Terms and grounds for immediate action under Section 18.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to:

• Not post anything illegal, obscene, threatening, or misleading.
• Not use the site to conduct prohibited transactions.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal firearm laws.
• Report any suspicious or illegal activity to AGT staff.
• Never pay in advance. Same state: meet in person. Different states: the firearm transfers through an FFL you both agree on. You pay the seller for the gun and the FFL a transfer fee only after that dealer has it. See Section 3A.
• Use built-in FFL transfer for interstate deals. You must propose, share, and agree on a receiving FFL using the in-chat FFL picker — not by typing dealer details, sending license photos, or coordinating unlisted FFLs off-platform. See Section 3B.
• Not solicit advance payment, including deposits, gift cards, or a third-party escrow. Doing so is grounds for immediate termination and referral to law enforcement.
• Register with a legitimate email address. AGT blocks the use of disposable, temporary, anonymous, or fraudulent email providers at registration in order to reduce the likelihood of scams and other illicit activity. You agree not to use, generate, or attempt to register with any such address (or to use aliasing, plus-addressing abuse, or relay services to circumvent this protection). See Section 9.2 for the full policy.
• Access AGT only from within the United States, without masking your location. You agree not to use AGT from outside the United States and not to access it through a VPN, proxy, Tor, datacenter connection, or any other anonymizing service that hides your true location or IP address — even one exiting inside the U.S. See Section 2.4 for the full policy.

Violations may result in immediate suspension or deletion of your account.

5. Subscriptions & Paid Services

ALL PAYMENTS TO AGT ARE FOR ADVERTISING AND SOFTWARE SERVICES ONLY. We do not accept, process, or handle any payments for firearms, ammunition, or accessories. The fees listed below are exclusively for advertising features, software subscriptions, and platform access. All firearm transactions and payments occur directly between users, outside of our platform.

5.1 Free Tier (No Payment Required)

The following features are available to all users at no cost:

• Account creation and registration
• Unlimited post listings (no listing limits)
• Browse and search all listings
• Secure messaging between users
• Community group participation
• Post likes, comments, and user ratings
• Location-based search and filtering
• Auction participation (bidding)
• Email notifications
• Mobile app access (Android)
• 10-day free post boost for new users (one-time)

5.2 Vendor Subscriptions (Advertising Service for FFL Dealers)

Monthly Subscription: $24.99/month (Advertising Service)

• FFL-verified vendor account status (advertising privilege)
• Ability to post advertisements for items in "New" condition
• Premium vendor badge on advertisements
• Enhanced credibility for buyers viewing your advertisements
• Excel bulk upload and FFL inventory management tools
• Share a single listing to up to 50 community groups (vs. 10 for non-vendors)
• Cancel anytime (no refunds for unused portion)
• What You're Paying For: Enhanced advertising features, NOT firearm sales

Yearly Subscription: $239/year (saves $61 vs. 12 months of monthly)

• All monthly subscription benefits
• 12-month duration of advertising privileges
• Cancel anytime (no refunds for unused portion)

Requirements: FFL license number, legal business name, verification documents, admin approval

5.3 Post Boost Feature (Advertisement Promotion)

Pricing: $4.99 for 1 day, $14.99 for 7 days, or $22.99 for 14 days — Advertising Service

• Featured placement of your advertisement at top of search results
• Priority positioning in browse pages
• Increased visibility for your advertisements
• Duration: 1, 7, or 14 days per purchase
• Can be extended: Additional boosts extend existing period
• New users receive 10 days free boost credit (one-time offer)
• What You're Paying For: Advertisement placement and visibility, NOT firearm sales
• Not a Verification Service: A boosted or "Premium" listing has not been vetted, authenticated, or verified by AGT in any way. Boost purchases confirm nothing about the seller's identity, legitimacy, or the listing's accuracy or legality — see Section 3.2 (No Verification or Warranty)

5.4 Newsletter Feature (Advertisement Distribution)

Pricing: $24.99 per week — Advertising Service

• Your advertisement featured in weekly newsletter sent to all subscribers
• One week of newsletter advertising per purchase
• Multiple purchases stack (e.g., 3 purchases = 3 weeks of newsletter advertising)
• No cooldown between purchases
• Affiliate bonus: Earn one free newsletter advertising slot per successful referral
• What You're Paying For: Newsletter advertisement distribution, NOT firearm sales

5.5 Guest Article Submissions (Editorial Review Service)

Pricing: $129.00 per article — Editorial Review Service (one-time, non-refundable)

Outside writers may submit a single article for editorial consideration in exchange for a one-time fee. The fee covers our editorial team's review time and the production work required to evaluate, format, and (where appropriate) publish the article. The fee is paid up front and is not contingent on the article being accepted or published.

• Editorial Discretion: AGT publishes guest articles at its sole and absolute editorial discretion. We may accept, reject, request revisions, edit for length / clarity / accuracy / style, choose not to publish, or remove an already-published article at any time and for any reason — including but not limited to topical fit, factual accuracy, legal exposure, brand alignment, image quality, or duplicate / low-quality content.
• Non-Refundable: The submission fee is paid for the editorial review itself, not for a guarantee of publication. The fee is non-refundable in all cases — including rejection, removal, partial publication, post-publication edits, or the author's subsequent change of heart. By submitting and paying, you acknowledge that you are paying for the review service, not for an outcome.
• Topic Scope: Submissions must relate to firearms, ammunition, optics, the firearms industry, or other topics directly relevant to the AGT audience. Off-topic submissions are rejected without refund.
• Originality and Rights: You represent and warrant that the submitted article is your original work, that you own or have the right to grant the licenses below, and that the article does not infringe any third party's copyright, trademark, right of publicity, or other rights. AGT takes no responsibility for content authored by guest contributors and you indemnify AGT against any claim arising from your submission, consistent with Section 3.4.
• License Granted to AGT: By submitting, you grant AGT a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, edit, format, excerpt, repurpose, distribute, syndicate, archive, and remove the article, in whole or in part, on any AGT property and on third-party platforms (including search engines and social channels) used to promote AGT content. This license survives any rejection or removal of the article.
• Outbound Links: Guest articles may include outbound links that the author chooses. AGT does not warrant or endorse linked content and may, at its sole discretion, alter, remove, or apply rel attributes to any link.
• No Employment Relationship: Guest contributors are not employees, agents, or contractors of AGT. Submission of an article does not create any partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship.
• What You're Paying For: Editorial review and (when accepted) production / publishing work, NOT a guaranteed outcome and NOT a firearm transaction.

5.6 Payment & Billing Terms (For Advertising Services Only)

• Payments for advertising and software services are completed through our payment partner's secure checkout. Accepted methods are crypto or card. AGT itself does not collect or store your card or wallet details — the secure checkout does.
• Vendor subscription periods are prepaid one-shots. Nothing auto-charges — renew by paying again at secure checkout before the paid-through date. Letting a period lapse drops you to the free tier; your account and listings are not deleted.
• One-time payments for advertising services: post boosts, newsletter features, platform-credit top-ups
• Invoices generated for all AGT advertising service transactions (format: AGT-000001)
• PDF invoices available in user dashboard
• We do NOT process payments for firearms, ammunition, or accessories
• Crypto Settlement: Crypto payments settle on the public blockchain network you choose at checkout. Your wallet address and transaction hash are recorded on that blockchain's public ledger by design — this is inherent to cryptocurrency and outside AGT's control. See our Privacy Policy §5.1 for the data we store and §4.6 for payment-finality details.

5.7 No-Refund Policy (Absolute and Without Exception)

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. ALL PAYMENTS MADE TO AGT ARE NON-REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

By submitting any payment to American Gun Trader — including but not limited to vendor subscriptions (monthly or yearly), post boosts, newsletter features, guest article submission fees, API usage charges, and any other advertising, software, or editorial service offered through the platform — you expressly acknowledge, understand, and agree that:

• No Refunds: AGT does not issue refunds, partial refunds, prorated refunds, or credits for any reason whatsoever. This includes — but is not limited to — accidental payments, duplicate payments, sending the wrong amount or wrong coin, change of mind, dissatisfaction with results, unused portions of subscriptions, failure to use a purchased service, removal of the underlying listing, account suspension or termination, post rejection in moderation, editorial rejection of guest articles, server downtime, feature changes, pricing changes, perceived lack of value, or any other reason.
• Digital Services Are Deemed Rendered on Payment: All AGT paid offerings are non-tangible, instantly delivered digital, advertising, or editorial services. Once your payment confirms, the service is deemed rendered and the benefit is non-recoverable. Crypto payments in particular are final and irreversible once confirmed on the blockchain.
• Subscriptions: Vendor advertising subscriptions may be cancelled at any time from your account settings to prevent the next renewal. Cancellation stops future billing but does not refund the current billing period. You retain your vendor advertising status, FFL badge, and "New" condition listing privilege through the end of the period you have already paid for.
• Guest Articles: Guest article submission fees are non-refundable regardless of whether the article is accepted, rejected, revised, partially published, depublished, or removed at any time. The fee compensates editorial review time, not a publication outcome (see §5.5).
• Post Boosts and Newsletter Features: These are delivered immediately upon payment. Once placement begins, the service is deemed fully rendered even if the underlying listing is later removed, sold, or self-deleted by you.
• No Chargebacks or Disputes: All sales are final and all payments are non-refundable, as set out above. Initiating a chargeback, payment dispute, or reversal through your card issuer, bank, or any third party, or attempting to reverse or fraudulently dispute a crypto payment, in place of AGT's dispute-resolution process below is a material breach of these Terms and grounds for immediate account termination and a ban of the associated payment identifiers, IP address, and any related accounts.
• Dispute Resolution Comes First: If you believe a payment was incorrect, sent in error, or the result of a platform error, contact AGT support as your first and exclusive remedy. The public blockchain provides a definitive, tamper-proof record of every transaction (wallet, amount, coin, timestamp, hash), which both you and AGT can independently verify when resolving any concern.
• Severability: Where local consumer law mandates a statutory cooling-off, withdrawal, or refund right that cannot be waived, this policy applies to the maximum extent permitted. The remainder of this section continues in full force.
• Scope: This policy applies only to payments made to AGT for advertising, software, and editorial services. AGT does not process firearm transactions; all firearm payments occur directly between users, outside our platform, and are governed by the agreement between those users.

By submitting a payment, you affirmatively acknowledge that the payment is final and non-refundable and waive any right to seek a refund, reversal, or claw-back for any reason. This waiver is a material term of these Terms of Service and a condition of your use of the AGT paid features.

5.8 Pricing Changes

• AGT reserves the right to adjust pricing with 30 days advance notice
• Existing subscriptions continue at original price until renewal
• Feature sets may be adjusted with advance notice

6. Auction Participation & Bidding (No Contractual Basis)

IMPORTANT: BIDS ON AGT ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING.

When you place a bid on an auction listing on American Gun Trader, you are making a non-binding offer in good faith. By placing a bid, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• No Legally Binding Agreement: Placing a bid does NOT create a legally binding contract, obligation, or agreement of any kind between you and the seller, or between you and AGT
• Good Faith Offer Only: Your bid is an expression of interest and intent to purchase at the stated amount, made in good faith, but carries no legal obligation to complete the transaction
• No AGT Involvement: AGT does not participate in, oversee, facilitate, mediate, or enforce any aspect of auction transactions. We provide the software platform for listings and bidding only
• No Contractual Basis: There is no contractual relationship created through the bidding process. AGT is not a party to any agreement between buyers and sellers
• User-to-User Transactions: All negotiations, agreements, and transactions resulting from auctions occur solely between individual users, outside of AGT's platform
• No Enforcement by AGT: AGT will not enforce bid commitments, pursue non-paying bidders, or take action against users who withdraw from potential transactions
• Seller Discretion: Sellers are under no obligation to accept the highest bid or any bid. Sellers may reject bids, cancel auctions, or choose not to complete a sale for any reason
• No Guarantees: AGT makes no guarantees regarding the completion of any auction transaction, the availability of items, or the conduct of other users

Community Expectations: While bids are not legally binding, we encourage all users to bid responsibly and honor their stated intentions when possible. Repeated patterns of bidding without intent to purchase may affect your standing in the community, though AGT does not monitor or enforce this.

Legal Disclaimer: By using the auction features on AGT, you expressly acknowledge that you have no legal recourse against AGT for any auction-related disputes, failed transactions, or issues arising from the bidding process. All such matters are solely between individual users.

7. Complete Pricing & Fees

ALL PAYMENTS TO AGT ARE FOR ADVERTISING SERVICES ONLY. We do not accept, process, or handle any payments for firearms, ammunition, or accessories. All payments listed below are exclusively for software subscriptions, advertising features, and platform access.

For complete transparency, here is a comprehensive breakdown of all fees and charges on the platform:

7.1 No Hidden Fees

• No listing fees for standard users (free advertising)
• No final value fees on user-to-user transactions (we don't process those payments)
• No buyer fees (transactions occur between users outside our platform)
• No withdrawal fees (for affiliates)
• No account maintenance fees
• No firearm transaction fees (we don't process firearm payments)

7.2 Vendor Subscriptions (Advertising Service)

• Monthly: $24.99/month (FFL-verified account status and advertising privileges, cancel anytime, non-refundable)
• Yearly: $239/year (saves $61 vs. 12 months of monthly, cancel anytime, non-refundable)
• What You're Paying For: Software subscription for enhanced advertising features, NOT for firearm sales

7.3 Promotional Advertising Features

• Post Boost: $4.99 for 1 day, $14.99 for 7 days, or $22.99 for 14 days (featured placement of your advertisements)
• Newsletter Feature: $24.99/week (advertisement featured in weekly newsletter to subscribers)
• Partner Ad: $149/30 days (sponsored placement on the listings page and in the weekly member newsletter)
• New User Bonus: 10 days free boost (one-time)
• What You're Paying For: Advertisement placement and visibility, NOT for firearm sales

7.4 Guest Article Submissions (Editorial Review Service)

• Guest Article Submission: $129.00 per article (one-time, non-refundable editorial review fee)
• Publication is at AGT's sole editorial discretion; the fee covers review and is paid whether or not the article is accepted
• See Section 5.5 for full guest-article terms (editorial discretion, license grant, originality warranty, no-refund policy)
• What You're Paying For: Editorial review and production work, NOT a guaranteed publication outcome

7.5 Affiliate Program (Advertising Revenue Sharing)

• Commission Rate: 15% lifetime recurring on every paid purchase your referral ever makes — post boosts, newsletter features, guest articles, partner ads, and FFL vendor subscriptions (monthly and yearly) — for as long as they remain a referred user. There is no expiration and no per-product exclusion.
• How You're Paid: Commission is credited automatically as platform credit to your account balance the moment your referral's payment is confirmed. Platform credit can be applied to your own purchases on AGT.
• Calculation: 15% of the amount your referral actually pays in cryptocurrency on each transaction, rounded to the nearest cent. Amounts a referral covers using their own platform credit do not generate further commission.
• Tracking: Real-time earnings dashboard.
• What You're Earning From: Commissions on AGT advertising and software services only — never on firearm sales (those occur directly between users, off-platform).

8. Content Moderation & Review Process

AGT employs comprehensive content moderation to ensure platform safety, legal compliance, and quality standards.

8.1 Post Moderation Queue

Every listing on American Gun Trader is manually reviewed by our team before it goes live. Off-platform contact information is forbidden to prevent scams and protect buyers.

• All new listings enter moderation queue automatically before appearing publicly
• Admin reviews posts for prohibited items, misleading content, and compliance
• Approval process typically completed within 24 hours
• Rejected posts receive email notification with reason
• Content changes trigger re-moderation

8.2 Automated Content Filtering

AGT automatically detects and redacts prohibited contact information to prevent off-platform scams:

• External Links: URLs and website addresses are automatically detected and removed
• Email Addresses: Email addresses in various formats are automatically detected and removed
• Phone Numbers: Phone numbers in various formats are automatically detected and removed
• Payment Methods: Cryptocurrency wallet addresses and other payment identifiers are removed
• Social Media: Social media handles and usernames are automatically detected and removed
• Messaging Apps: Instant messaging identifiers are automatically detected and removed
• Platform Links: Links to americanguntrader.com are allowed for legitimate platform use

8.3 Why Contact Information is Redacted

Off-platform communication is prohibited to protect users:

• Prevents scam attempts and payment fraud
• Ensures transactions use secure platform features
• Maintains transaction records for dispute resolution
• Protects buyer and seller identities until transaction confirmed
• Enables AGT to investigate fraud and abuse

8.4 Manual Moderation

Admins review flagged content and user reports:

• Moderation dashboard for pending posts
• Bulk approve/reject/delete operations
• Statistics and metrics tracking
• Test user management tools

8.5 Prohibited Content

The following content is prohibited and will be removed:

• Illegal firearms or items not compliant with federal/state law
• Firearms without proper serial numbers (unless antique)
• Ammunition without proper licensing
• Fraudulent or misleading listings
• Spam or duplicate posts
• Content depicting illegal activity
• Off-platform contact information

8A. Community Groups & Free Speech Policy

AGT is committed to upholding the principles of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our community group discussions operate under a minimal moderation, maximum freedom approach.

8A.1 First Amendment Commitment

AGT believes in the constitutional right to free speech. Unlike many social media platforms that employ aggressive content moderation, censorship algorithms, or political bias in enforcement, AGT community group discussions are intentionally unmoderated to preserve open discourse.

• No Political Censorship: Users may freely discuss political topics, candidates, legislation, and policy without fear of content removal or account action based on political viewpoint
• No Speech Policing: AGT does not enforce "hate speech" policies, "misinformation" labels, or other subjective content restrictions on community discussions
• Open Discourse: Users are free to express opinions, engage in debates, and discuss controversial topics related to firearms, the Second Amendment, politics, and any other lawful subject matter
• User Autonomy: Individual users may block or mute other users they do not wish to interact with, preserving personal choice without platform-level censorship

8A.2 Limited Content Restrictions

AGT enforces only three (3) content restrictions in community group discussions. These restrictions are narrowly defined, objectively enforceable, and exist solely to comply with legal requirements and protect vulnerable populations:

Prohibited Content in Community Groups:

1. Nudity and Sexually Explicit Content: Photographs, videos, or other media depicting nudity, sexual acts, or sexually explicit material are prohibited. This includes pornographic content, explicit sexual imagery, and content that would be classified as obscene under applicable law.
2. Graphic Violence and Gore: Photographs, videos, or other media depicting extreme graphic violence, mutilation, torture, or gore are prohibited. This does not include lawful depictions of hunting, self-defense scenarios, or educational firearm content.
3. Images Containing Minors: For the protection of children, photographs or videos containing identifiable minors (persons under 18 years of age) are prohibited in community group discussions. This restriction applies regardless of whether the minor is depicted with firearms or in any other context.

8A.3 Enforcement and Transparency

• Objective Standards: The three prohibited content categories above are enforced based on objective, verifiable criteria—not subjective interpretation or political consideration
• No Viewpoint Discrimination: Content moderation actions are never taken based on the political, religious, or ideological viewpoint expressed
• User Reports: Users may report content that violates the three restrictions above. Reports based on disagreement with opinions or viewpoints will not result in content removal
• Appeal Process: Users whose content is removed may appeal the decision by submitting a support request

8A.4 Distinction from Listing Moderation

This free speech policy applies specifically to community group discussions. Product listings and advertisements remain subject to the full moderation process described in Section 8 above, including review for prohibited items, legal compliance, and fraud prevention.

8A.5 User Responsibility

While AGT provides an open forum for discussion, users remain solely responsible for the content they post. AGT's decision not to moderate political speech or opinions does not constitute endorsement of any user's views. Users are encouraged to engage respectfully, but AGT will not intervene in disputes over opinions, heated debates, or offensive (but legal) speech.

9. Security Systems & User Protection

AGT implements comprehensive, multi-layered security protection operating continuously to safeguard users and platform integrity.

9.1 Automated Threat Detection

• IP Reputation System: Malicious IP addresses automatically blocked with progressive enforcement
• Web Application Firewall: Protection against automated attacks, security scanners, and common vulnerabilities
• Geographic & Anonymizer Restrictions: Consistent with Section 2.4, AGT may evaluate the country and connection type of authenticated users from their IP address and deny access to requests that appear to originate outside the United States or through a VPN, proxy, or anonymizing network, returning an "Unavailable For Legal Reasons" (HTTP 451) response. This applies to logged-in users only and does not affect search-engine crawlers or unauthenticated public pages.
• Input Validation: All user input validated and sanitized to prevent injection attacks and malicious code
• Rate Limiting: Request throttling prevents abuse and ensures fair platform access

9.2 Account Protection

• Login Security: Progressive security measures for failed login attempts including CAPTCHA challenges and temporary restrictions
• Session Management: Secure session handling with automatic timeout, security bindings, and concurrent session limits
• Bot Detection: Multiple layers of protection to distinguish legitimate users from automated bots
• Credential Protection: Industry-standard measures to prevent unauthorized account access
• Disposable & Temporary Email Blocking: AGT actively blocks registrations originating from disposable, temporary, anonymous, or otherwise fraudulent email providers. This protection is in place to reduce the likelihood of scams, fraud, identity concealment, and other illicit activity on the platform. Users must register with a legitimate, persistent email address that they own and control. AGT maintains and continuously updates internal blocklists of known disposable, throwaway, and forwarding email providers, and reserves the right to reject registrations, suspend accounts, or invalidate sessions associated with such addresses — with or without notice and at AGT's sole discretion. Attempts to circumvent this protection (including alias generation, plus-addressing abuse, or use of relay services intended to mask identity) are themselves a violation of these Terms and may result in account termination under Section 18.

9.3 Content & Upload Security

• File Upload Protection: All uploads validated, scanned for security threats, and restricted to approved file types
• Content Filtering: Automated detection and removal of prohibited content and contact information
• Upload Limits: Rate limiting prevents abuse of file upload features
• File Size Restrictions: Maximum file sizes enforced for platform performance and security

9.4 Security Monitoring

• Event Logging: Comprehensive logging of security-related events for investigation and compliance
• Threat Analysis: Continuous monitoring and classification of suspicious activity
• Admin Tools: Security monitoring capabilities for threat assessment and response
• Incident Response: Automated and manual response procedures for security events

9.5 Data Protection

• Encryption: All connections encrypted with industry-standard HTTPS
• Security Headers: Industry-standard security headers protect against common attacks
• Password Security: Secure password hashing and storage
• Session Protection: Encrypted and secured session management
• CSRF Protection: Protection against cross-site request forgery attacks
• Database Security: Secure database queries and access controls
• Cloud Storage: Encrypted cloud storage with access controls

9.6 Email Security & Anti-Phishing

• No Password-Expiry Emails: American Gun Trader will never send you an email stating that your password is expiring or must be renewed
• No Account-Threat Emails: We will never email you claiming your account is at risk, suspended, or requires urgent "verification" to avoid closure
• Spoofed Emails Are Not From Us: Any message of this kind purporting to be from American Gun Trader is fraudulent and did not originate from our systems
• Reporting: If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from American Gun Trader, do not click any links or provide information — forward it to our support team for review

10. FFL Verification for Vendors

Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders must verify their license to access vendor features.

10.1 Verification Requirements

• Valid FFL license number (unique, verified)
• Legal business name (matching FFL records)
• Business phone number
• Federal FFL license document upload (PDF/JPG/PNG, max 10MB)
• Proof of legal business name document upload
• Active vendor subscription ($24.99/month or $239/year)

10.2 Verification Process

1. User subscribes to vendor plan
2. Uploads FFL license and business proof documents
3. Payment processed and subscription activated
4. Verification status pending until admin review
5. Admin manually reviews submitted documents
6. Admin approves or rejects verification request
7. Upon approval, user gains full vendor features including ability to list "New" condition items

10.3 Vendor Benefits

• FFL-verified badge displayed on profile and listings
• Ability to list items in "New" condition
• Enhanced credibility with buyers
• Premium vendor status
• FFL inventory management tools (bulk listing, Excel upload, analytics)
• 5× more reach: FFL Vendors may share a single listing to up to 50 community groups simultaneously via the "Share to Groups" feature

10.4 Compliance & Record Retention

• FFL documents retained indefinitely for ATF compliance
• Verification records maintained for regulatory audits
• Admin audit trail for all verification actions

10.5 Restrictions

• Only verified FFL vendors can list "New" condition firearms
• Non-verified users restricted to "Used" and "Damaged" conditions
• Ensures compliance with federal firearm regulations
• The "Share to Groups" feature is limited to 10 groups per share for Basic (non-FFL) accounts and 50 groups per share for FFL Vendor accounts

11. Uptime, Security, and Platform Integrity

• AGT commits to maintaining 99.9%+ uptime and industry-standard security protocols, including encryption, secure data centers, and automated backups.
• Access may be limited temporarily for scheduled maintenance or unforeseen technical issues.
• Users are responsible for securing their own login credentials and accounts.

12. Affiliates

• AGT offers a lifetime 15% revenue share for every user referred using your affiliate link.
• Commission applies to every paid purchase your referral makes — boosts, newsletter features, guest articles, partner ads, and FFL vendor subscriptions (monthly and yearly) — not just subscriptions.
• Lifetime recurring: You earn 15% on every transaction your referral makes, for as long as they remain a referred user — with no expiration.
• Commission is credited automatically as platform credit to your balance the moment your referral's payment confirms — there is no payout schedule or minimum threshold to wait on.
• Real-time earnings dashboard with detailed commission breakdowns.
• You can use AGT-provided marketing materials, scripts, and brand assets.
• Affiliates must not engage in deceptive, illegal, or abusive promotional methods.
• Bonus: Earn one free newsletter feature (valued at $24.99) for every successful referral who registers.

13. Donations and Ethics

• AGT donates 10% of annual net profits to NGOs and/or verified 501(c)(3) organizations actively fighting child trafficking.
• Your use of the platform helps fund this initiative.
• Charity selection: Users vote monthly on which organizations receive donations.
• Transparency: Donation records publicly available on platform.

14. Age Restrictions for Firearm Transactions

IMPORTANT: AGT does not verify user ages or process firearm transactions. You are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all age-related firearm laws for transactions that occur between users.

You must be at least 18 years old (or the minimum legal age in your jurisdiction, if higher) to use AGT for any activity related to the advertising, sale, trade, or purchase of firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts.

Users under the applicable legal age are strictly prohibited from:

• Posting firearm-related advertisements or listings
• Initiating communications for the purpose of acquiring a firearm
• Participating in any transaction involving firearms or ammunition (transactions occur between users, not through AGT)
• Appearing in any media depicting firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories

AGT reserves the right to require proof of age at any time and to suspend or terminate accounts found in violation of this policy. However, AGT does not verify ages and is not responsible for age verification in user-to-user transactions.

15. Media Upload & Prohibited Content Policy

When uploading any photos, videos, or other media to AGT, you agree to the following:

• Age Restrictions in Media: No person under the applicable legal firearm purchase age may appear in any media depicting firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories.
• No Nudity or Sexual Content: Explicit nudity, sexual acts, or sexually suggestive content are prohibited.
• No Illegal Substances: Media must not depict controlled substances, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia.
• No Prohibited or Illegal Items: Content showing items that are illegal to possess, sell, or advertise under applicable law is strictly prohibited.
• Ownership Rights: You must own the rights to any media uploaded or have documented permission from the rights holder.
• Misleading or Staged Content: Media may not depict unlawful activity, staged violence, or unsafe firearm handling intended to mislead or provoke.
• Google Search Integration: AGT provides an integrated Google search tool to allow users to locate images of their products if they do not have existing media. Use of this feature is at your own discretion. AGT is not liable for the content returned or uploaded via this tool, and users must ensure that any media obtained complies with all applicable laws and this policy.
• Wrongful Uploads: Any media uploaded in violation of this policy, including via the Google search tool, may be removed. Requests for removal should follow the same process outlined below under the DMCA Takedown Policy.
• File Upload Security: All uploads are scanned for security threats. Only approved image file types are allowed with enforced file size limits and upload rate restrictions.

16. DMCA Takedown Policy

If you believe that content hosted on AGT infringes your copyright, you may submit a takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to our designated agent. Your notice must include:

• A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized representative.
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed.
• Identification of the material claimed to be infringing, with enough detail for us to locate it.
• Your contact information, including name, address, telephone number, and email.
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

Upon receiving a valid DMCA notice, AGT will promptly remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content and may notify the uploader. Users may submit a counter-notice if they believe the removal was in error.

DMCA Agent Contact: [email protected]

17. Trademark and Brand Protection

AmericanGunTrader.com is a pending registered United States trademark. While final registration is in process, we reserve the right to use the ™ symbol to designate and protect our brand as a source identifier in commerce. This use is legally permissible and communicates our intent to maintain exclusive rights to the AmericanGunTrader.com name and mark.

Because our platform is free to use and funded by donations, search engine visibility is essential to our ability to connect users with our services. We rely heavily on organic search as a cost-effective means of outreach, since most other acquisition channels are expensive and not sustainable for a free platform.

Accordingly, we will take action against practices such as bad-faith backlinking, search engine de-optimization, or other attempts to damage our search reputation. These activities may constitute unfair competition, tortious interference, or other legally actionable conduct. We reserve the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies against individuals or entities engaging in such conduct.

18. Termination

AGT reserves the right to terminate any account at any time for the following reasons:

• Violations of these Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policy
• Bypassing the built-in FFL transfer tools in chat (Section 3B) — including sharing FFL details in plain text or attachments instead of using the platform's propose/share/agree controls
• Fraudulent activity or scam attempts
• Repeated security violations (SQL injection, XSS attempts, etc.)
• Posting prohibited content or illegal items
• Circumventing content moderation or security systems
• Accessing AGT from outside the United States, or masking your location via VPN, proxy, or anonymizer, or attempting to circumvent the geographic/anti-anonymization controls (see §2.4)
• Account lockout due to excessive failed login attempts
• IP address permanently blocked for malicious activity
• Legal obligations or court orders
• Violation of federal firearm laws or ATF regulations

Upon Termination:

• Account access immediately revoked
• All active listings removed from platform
• Vendor subscriptions cancelled (no refunds)
• Data retention per Privacy Policy (180-day soft delete, then permanent deletion)
• Financial records retained for 7 years (legal requirement)
• Right to appeal termination by contacting [email protected]

19. Changes to Terms

AGT may update these Terms at any time to reflect changes in our practices, features, or for legal compliance.

• Notification: Significant changes will be announced via email and a prominent banner on the platform.
• Effective Date: Changes become effective immediately upon posting (or date specified in update).
• Latest Version: The current version is always available at https://americanguntrader.com/terms-of-service.
• Continued Use: Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.
• Review: We recommend reviewing these Terms periodically.

Contact

For legal correspondence, questions about these Terms, or account termination appeals, contact:

Email: [email protected]
Support: Submit a support request

Company: AmericanGunTrader.com
Website: americanguntrader.com
7901 4th St N STE 300
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702
United States