Facebook, Instagram Ban Private Sales Of Firearms On Their Social Networks: Let’s Hear Your Thoughts

In an effort to “updating our regulated goods policies”, the massive social networks Facebook and Instagram have banned the private sales of firearms on their networks. This ban only applies to peer-to-peer transactions and does not affect any FFL holders, or ads for firearm sales by FFL holders.

Long story short, I can’t post a rifle on my personal Facebook page and offer to sell it to someone. In reality (in New York), I can’t do that anyway. Well, I can, because I hold an FFL. However in a state that doesn’t require a firearm transaction to take place through an FFL, this type of sale is now prohibited on the book and Instagram.

“Licensed firearm retailers will still be able to post about their goods and services on Facebook while completing sales transactions off Facebook,” the spokesperson said.

This doesn’t come as a surprise, as there was talk of this happening last year when light was brought to certain Facebook groups that allowed members to connect with potential buyers and sellers of firearms.

“Over the last two years, more and more people have been using Facebook to discover products and to buy and sell things to one another. We are continuing to develop, test, and launch new products to make this experience even better for people and are updating our regulated goods policies to reflect this evolution,” said Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of product policy.

What do you think about this policy? Is it a good implementation, or is it junk? Either way, it’s their site(s) and they make the rules. It’s kinda like how we won’t let a certain ‘holster’ company advertise on our website, but not really. Well, kinda.