Ebay tightens policy on firearms and accessories

San Jose (CA) – The world’s largest online auctioneer will tighten its firearms policy by banning any part that is required for the firing of a gun. EBay’s Trust and Safety department made the changes after the April 2007 shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech which killed 32 people.

The changes will take effect in mid-August and will ban listings for firearm parts like magazines, bullet tips, casings and firing pins. Actual firearms sales have been prohibited on eBay for several years.

Matt Halprin, eBay’s Vice President of Trust & Safety, said that some of the items used by the Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hi Cho, were bought on eBay. After the shooting, eBay spokesperson Hani Durzy told the media that Cho purchased several empty pistol magazines from eBay. Magazines can also be easily be bought at many sporting goods stores.

After “much consideration”, Halprin said the company decided to “further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require".