Here is an email I sent Matt Halprin (
mhalprin@ebay.com)
Matt Halprin wrote:
As you may know, eBay does not allow the listing of any items which are regulated by individual states or the federal government; however, there are still a large number of firearm-related parts that are legal and are widely available in retail stores. These items have also historically been allowed on eBay.
Sooooooo Mr Halprin, what about after market car parts that are not 50 state legal? You / ebay seems to have no problem allowing them to be listed and sold. What about radar detectors? I know they are illegal in some states yet they are still listed on ebay. These are just two examples, there are plenty more.
Matt Halprin wrote:
After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do.
I do not deny that what happened at Virginia Tech was a tragedy but guess what Mr. Halprin, the sicko scumbag that caused it would have done so even if he had not purchased "some items" on ebay! And technically speaking he did not actually purchase any item from ebay. Nope, he purchased his "items" from another individual that used ebay as a communications medium! If I'm wrong please tell me, but I am sure the "items" he purchased were not shipped from an ebay warehouse or an ebay distribution center.
Matt Halprin wrote:
This new update continues to encourage safety among our community members and brings our policies in the U.S. and Canada in closer alignment with our existing policies in other markets around the globe.
Please tell us how this update "continues to encourage safety"? I still see a bunch of items listed on ebay that have great potential to be unsafe and would also fall outside of your new safety umbrella!
668 items found in Stun Guns
285 items found in Handcuffs (I especially like item # 170134388079)
52747 items found in Mature Audiences
8501 items found in Archery
45338 items found in Clubs (yep, golf clubs. Club: a heavy stick, usually thicker at one end than at the other, suitable for use as a weapon)
Hey what about this item?
Item number: 160142214666 "FBI USES IT, SO SHOULD YOU! CYBER-SPY!"
About half way down the listing the seller goes out of their way to tell us (in red text on a yellow background)
I WOULD LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD, THIS AUCTION DOES NOT OFFER ACCESS TO ILLEGAL INFORMATION NOR DOES IT SUPPORT OR PERPETUATE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. USE OF THIS PROGRAM AND ANY INFORMATION GAINED IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER.
So if someone were to use it for nefarious activities would ebay be inclined to add it to the restricted list?
Hey Mr. Halprin, what I don't see listed are items that have the ability to think or act on their own, unless I missed the hitman / murderer / gangster section.
Kevin Osborne (former ebay user wrzwaldo)
That's the only thing you have to worry about when a physco is running around with the EVIL gun stuff he MAY have bought on e-bay. 
Oh, wait a minute... what should I do with my bullets that are blunt on the end???? 
I know I'll call e-bay and ask them! 
Gary