Ebay says no more firearm part auctions

There's nothing like the smell of cheap publicity.

After years of allowing firearm parts and accessories to be sold on their website, and well over three months after the Virginia Tech shootings, Ebay made an announcement that they are no longer going to offer, support or list auctions for firearm parts or accessories.

Here's the email from way back on July 30th...

"***Message from Matt Halprin – New Listing Restrictions on Gun Parts***

Hello everyone…In mid-August, we will be updating our Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy to place more restrictions around gun-related items. Once these changes take effect, we will prohibit listings of any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun. This includes items like bullet tips, brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc. Please read the Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy for more details on our current policy.

As you may know, eBay does not allow the listing of any items which are regulated by individual states or the federal government; however, there are still a large number of firearm-related parts that are legal and are widely available in retail stores. These items have also historically been allowed on eBay.

After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do. After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team – along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc. – have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require.

This new update continues to encourage safety among our community members and brings our policies in the U.S. and Canada in closer alignment with our existing policies in other markets around the globe.

Sincerely,

Matt Halprin
Vice President, Trust & Safety"

This "new update" only encourages ebay customers to stick their head in the sand. Safety is fortified by knowledge. By ignoring the fact there were thousands of firearm accessories and parts listed on their site before, they fail to see this horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech was the result of a demented idiot who should have put the business end of the firearm in his cranium first. Ebay had nothing to do with this moron's actions, and neither did the individual(s) selling the parts on the auction site.

How many vehicles has Ebay listed on their website? What happens when one of the thousands of vehicles they have listed is involved in an accident? Will they send another email saying that since one of the vehicles purchased on Ebay "may" have been involved in a terrible accident, they are going to restrict the sales of all vehicles and vehicle parts?

And how about all those knives? I typed in "knife" just now in the Ebay search bar and the results came back with over 23,000 results. All were grouped under a listing titled "Knives, Swords and Blades"

Knives, Swords and Blades. Hey Ebay, what were swords used for again? Back in the BC-Roman-dark ages time? I forget. Its been awhile. And knives under the "Militaria" section... shouldn't that be spelled "Military"? Or is that a special way of addressing this section so it doesn't have to be banned as well?

Back to the dead horse for a second... my point is even if you could magic away all the firearms in the world, people will still do rotten things to each other with knives, pointy objects, rocks or whatever is immediately available.

Its all about personal responsibility.

There are plenty of other stores and auction sites online that sell firearm parts and accessories, but with Ebay leaving the arena with their tail firmly tucked up between their legs, I think for all their good intentions, they are establishing a terrible precedent.

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