Facebook Cracks Down on Gun Posts with New Regulations

Facebook Cracks Down on Gun Posts with New Regulations

Facebook cracks down on gun postWhen it comes to anything security related, I try to stay as up-to-date as possible, but honestly, selling guns on Facebook and Instagram?! I find this odd because that’s the last place I would look if I wanted to buy anything online, choosing to find my bargains at places like Etsy.com, Amazon and sometimes, Ebay. Besides, what happened to needing a background check to purchase a gun? Or, what about having to be a licensed firearms dealer to sell them? How do you virtually check either of these? Impossible.

Social network giant, Facebook, has outlined some new rules to stop users from illegally promoting the sale of private firearms on their network by:

  • Limiting posts on Facebook and Instagram that discuss the sale of firearms to users that are over 18 years of age; (easy to manipulate your age when signing up for a Facebook account)
  • Preventing the posting of offers to sell regulated items that would help people evade the law; (Who or what technology is going to be used to actively police such a large network?)
  • Warning people promoting the private sale of weapons to comply with relevant laws; (Most people skip over warning messages anyway); and
  • Introducing “in-app education” on Instagram that will remind firearm sellers to check their local laws to make sure transactions are legitimate. (Are people really going to pay attention to this?)

Facebook worked with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Sandy Hook Promise, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to develop these new regulations; however, opposition groups are saying that Facebook caved from the pressure of the aforementioned groups and that these new policies unconstitutionally limit the rights of gun owners.

Okay, readers, it’s time for you to voice your opinion.

Do you agree with Facebook’s new policies as it relates to firearms? Or, do you think that even with these regulations, if someone really wanted to purchase a firearm, they are going to do it anyway?

Do you think Facebook’s new regulations violate your Second Amendment rights?

Image credit: Thinglass / Shutterstock.com

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.