Everyone is buzzing about Facebook’s non-statement on people using FB and Instagram to post pictures of guns for sale. Moms Demand Mayoral Action is claiming victory, the Brady Campaign is declaring a loss, the NRA and NSSF have published statements, and gun owners can’t seem to decide whether to spike the football or boycott Facebook. Here’s the actual important text from Facebook:
Today, we are introducing a series of new educational and enforcement efforts for people discussing the private sale of regulated items:
- Any time we receive a report on Facebook about a post promoting the private sale of a commonly regulated item, we will send a message to that person reminding him or her to comply with relevant laws and regulations. We will also limit access to that post to people over the age of 18.
- We will require Pages that are primarily used by people to promote the private sale of commonly regulated goods or services to include language that clearly reminds people of the importance of understanding and complying with relevant laws and regulations, and limit access to people over the age of 18 or older if required by applicable law.
- We will provide special in-app education on Instagram for those who search for sales or promotions of firearms.
- We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law. For example, private sellers of firearms in the U.S. will not be permitted to specify “no background check required,” nor can they offer to transact across state lines without a licensed firearms dealer.
In case you rode a different bus to school than the other kids, the Gun Nuts Translation Service is available. Here’s what Facebook said in plain english: “If some whiny bitchboy reports a post because it has icky guns in it, we’ll send a message to the poster reminding them to obey the law. Also, please don’t say stuff on facebook that violates the law like “no background checks” or that you’ll sell a gun across state lines.”
Basically, what Facebook has said is “don’t use our toys to break the f***ing law and we’re cool” which seems like a pretty reasonable policy. Remember, Facebook is a business that’s out to make money, and advertising dollars from gunbros are just as green as those from non-gunbros. Now, the tough thing will be to resist the temptation to Starbucks ourselves on this one. If you’ll remember, the whole OC clownshow with Starbucks started when they issued a very similar non-statement saying “hey, if ya’ll obey the law we don’t care” which resulted in OC smacktards carrying rifles in Starbucks and forcing their corporate office to issue a very clear “please don’t bring your guns in here” policy.
So to the anti-gun people I say “ha-ha sucks to be you” and to the gunbros and ladygunbros I say “hey, let’s just enjoy the fact that Facebook likes our money.”
That is also how I interpret their stance, Caleb. No need for panic, people.
Yeah, Facebook just threw them a bone. Sellers ought to be permitted to say “no background check if face to face to legal residents of my state” but most people know that already or will find out in further communication.
The other entertaining thing going on now is the cat fight between Bloomberg’s group and the Brady Center over who gets to suck up donations and call themselves “leader” of the losing cause.
Caleb, I’m sorry, but your completely wrong on this. Facebook has clearly said it will not tolerate ANY posts about firearms transactions. They also went on to say that they will enforce a strict “no tolerance” policy for purveyors of other filth, such as Bibles, wool socks, and homemade organic baby food. This is a fact. I read it on the interwebs.