Years ago, eBay banned the sale of all complete firearms on its online auction and shopping website.  However, they did continue to allow the sale of parts and many accessories.  This week, a spokesman for eBay announced that the company would ban the sale of all gun-and-ammunition-related parts and components. 

The ban is set to begin in mid-August, when eBay will prohibit the listing of “any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun.”  This prohibition will include, according to eBay, “bullet tips, brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc.”  In explaining the decision to restrict these items, Matt Halprin, eBay’s Vice President, Trust & Safety, said, “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.” [emphasis added] 

With this action, eBay sends the message that they don’t want, or appreciate, law-abiding gun owners’ business.  By banning these legal products, eBay is adopting the anti-gun movement’s opposition to all legal gun ownership.  Fortunately, gun owners and sportsmen have alternatives.