Facebook’s Sensible Ban on Gun Ads

[SecularMotion]

Facebook’s decision last week to prohibit private gun sales on its social networking site and on its photo-sharing app Instagram should make it harder for convicted felons and other dangerous people to acquire deadly weapons. That’s a very good thing, especially considering the unwillingness of lawmakers in Congress to enact sensible gun safety policies.

In recent years, Facebook has become a thriving marketplace where people buy and sell all kinds of goods and services, including firearms. People often post ads to buy or sell guns on the site and meet in person to complete the transaction. But unlike licensed dealers, private sellers are not required to conduct criminal background checks in most states, and Congress has refused to close this gaping loophole at the federal level.

It’s hard to say exactly how many posts offering to sell or buy guns exist on Facebook at any given time. But one recent study estimated that Facebook was the second most popular site for gun ads in the state of Nevada.That study was by Everytown for Gun Safety, a research and advocacy organization backed by Michael Bloomberg. Some of the guns sold on Facebook have been used in crimes. In December 2014, for example, Brian Harleman, an Ohio man, shot and injured a former girlfriend, killed her 10-year-old daughter and committed suicide using a gun he bought through Facebook. If he had tried to buy the gun at a dealer he would have been denied because of an earlier felony conviction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/opinion/facebooks-sensible-ban-on-gun-ads.html

[GGJohn]

1. It's laughable that people, like yourself,

think that convicted criminals will have a tough time getting a firearm because Facebook has banned the posting of firearms ads.

BTW, why is it that you very rarely comment on your own threads?
Why are you a host of the other gun group, but never post there?

[DonP]

3. Oh, he posts here sometimes

Usually to try and run this group that he thinks he's in charge of. Telling us what is and isn't allowed or appropriate here.

Then he gets his knuckles rapped and he slinks away to return with another 5 irrelevant Google Dumps to show us who's really "in charge".

Our host Krispos is very patient with them, much more so than the rest of us might be after about the 437th penis reference,

[GGJohn]

4. That's what I admire about krispos, he allows wide latitude from the controllers here,

unlike the other group that will block you for the slightest hint of not walking in lockstep.

[Duckhunter935]

2. the also banned an ad for gun safes

I guess they are not really into gun safety

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. Gun safety...

...requires a gun. Many controllers have voiced their interest in making private ownership illegal.
Isn't that a gross mischaracterization? Wouldn't that be like saying abstinence is "safe sex"? Can anything that doesn't involve sex really be "safe sex"?

[ileus]

6. All my gun sales facebook groups have turned into "trade" groups.

I've made several FB trades over the past 5 or 6 years, great place to see guns listed but prices are normally really high.

FB is really great hopefully the gun groups will find a way around the "ban"

[Lizzie Poppet]

7. Private messages and euphemisms.

Sorta like Craigslist, where gun sales are banned (*snicker*), as well...

[ileus]

8. Yeah I traded a gun & boot for a dirtbike on Craigslist a few years back.

[Eleanors38]

9. "Boot?" Just one?

[pablo_marmol]

10. "Boot?" Just one?

Roasted boot is absolutely delicious if seasoned properly.

[Eleanors38]

11. Mihe are already well-seasoned; cats sleep in them.