Forbes
Two of the country’s most influential gun control groups are in talks withFacebook’s legal team in an effort to see gun sales banned on the world’s largest social network and its sister site Instagram.
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America has partnered with Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns to put pressure on Facebook to prohibit the private selling or trading of guns on its platforms — a practice that’s as widespread as it is unregulated.
“Facebook and Instagram are enabling people to sell weapons, often with no questions asked and no background checks required,” said Mayors Against Illegal Guns’ spokesperson Erika Soto Lamb.
Lamb cited a recent sting operation in Storm Lake, Iowa, where a convicted felon tried to exchange an assault rifle for a handgun via Facebook. In this case, the gun dealer was an undercover officer, and the 21-year-old felon was arrested and jailed.
“This police department shed light on how easy it is for someone who is prohibited from owning a gun to procure one using social media,” she said.
Lamb added that Facebook and Instagram would be joining fellow online platforms eBay, Craigslist and Google GOOG -0.03% +, all of which have banned the buying, selling or trading of firearms without background checks.
If the Moms Against Gun Ownership had the power they claim, they wouldn't be working with Facebook, et al. They'd issue a directive which companies would instantly comply with.
ReplyDeleteOf course, as I know very well from my company's work, social media is a slippery thing, and these Moms lack an appealing product.
Did you miss the part about "eBay, Craigslist and Google," Greg? Or are you pretending there's no traction here?
DeleteI'm not pretending anything. This astroturf group will gain some attention for a while and then will dry up and blow away. Guns will continue being sold.
DeleteFrom the article:
ReplyDeleteLamb added that Facebook and Instagram would be joining fellow online platforms eBay, Craigslist and Google GOOG -0.03% +, all of which have banned the buying, selling or trading of firearms without background checks.
Yeah--about "joining" eBay--their "assault weapons" parts ban doesn't seem to be very effective. That's one of the problems "gun control" advocates have--they're trying to control the behavior of people a good deal more intelligent than they themselves are.