Facebook says no more to gun sales and promotions on its site, following increased pressure from gun control advocates. The social network will now delete posts that contain language that seems to promote illegal gun sales or circumventing gun law restrictions in any way.
Facebook will now have to remove and report posts that violate its new policy. Occasionally, Facebook will have to alert law enforcement agencies if the posts seem to advocate breaking federal and state gun laws. Facebook will also place restrictive age limits on certain posts to prevent young, impressionable people under the age of 18 from seeing too many gun-related advertisements.
"We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law," Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of global policy management, said in a statement. "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."
Previously, Facebook remained mum on the issue of gun control, but in recent months, it has faced a lot of antagonism and pressure from gun control advocates. Facebook met up with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Americans for Responsible Solutions, Sandy Hook Promise and other organizations that are interested in curbing gun violence in America to determine its new policy. Many in favor of restricting gun purchases and use in the United States praised Facebook for its efforts.
"Responsible social-media sites know that it is in no one's interest for their sites to become a 21st-century black market in dangerous and illegal goods that place our families and communities at risk," Schneiderman said in a statement, adding that he will "encourage other social-media sites to follow their lead."
Meanwhile, gun rights advocates reacted angrily, arguing that the new policy infringes upon their freedom of speech on Facebook, as well as their right to bear arms.
"While we've recently heard specific concerns from people about offers for the private sale of firearms, this is one of many areas where we face a difficult challenge balancing individuals' desire to express themselves on our services, and recognizing that this speech may have consequences elsewhere," Bickert said.
