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As many people know, eBay and Paypal are considered Anti-Gun, but you can still sell some gun accessories on eBay (as long as you don't show any pictures of those parts on or near a "real" gun)
I was selling a picantinny rail accessory for an M17S rifle on eBay, and had the auction pulled for being an "assault weapon part or accessory"
When I contacted phone support, and told them the M17S was a self-loading semi-automatic rifle, and was not an assault weapon, I was told eBay maintains their own independent list of what they consider assault weapons, and the M17S was listed specifically on that list (it even refers to it on the list as semi-automatic).
Any listing which mentions a keyword on this list will be removed, as a violation of eBay's policy. After arguing at length, and offering to provide documentation that the M17S was an American-built rifle, intended for the civilian market, with the S standing for "semi" automatic, I received my auction fees back, and was told my suggestion to remove the M17S from the assault weapons list would be considered, but that I shouldn't relist the item, or any other M17S parts.
I suppose I shouldn't be, but I was surprised to find out eBay has taken it upon themselves to regulate firearms beyond what the Federal and even State Government have outlined. There is no published "eBay assault weapons list", and the phone operator refused to mail me a copy, although it was something he could easily pull up on his system.
Here is the text of the original email, it mentions Federal and State laws, but not 'eBay laws':
I was selling a picantinny rail accessory for an M17S rifle on eBay, and had the auction pulled for being an "assault weapon part or accessory"
When I contacted phone support, and told them the M17S was a self-loading semi-automatic rifle, and was not an assault weapon, I was told eBay maintains their own independent list of what they consider assault weapons, and the M17S was listed specifically on that list (it even refers to it on the list as semi-automatic).
Any listing which mentions a keyword on this list will be removed, as a violation of eBay's policy. After arguing at length, and offering to provide documentation that the M17S was an American-built rifle, intended for the civilian market, with the S standing for "semi" automatic, I received my auction fees back, and was told my suggestion to remove the M17S from the assault weapons list would be considered, but that I shouldn't relist the item, or any other M17S parts.
I suppose I shouldn't be, but I was surprised to find out eBay has taken it upon themselves to regulate firearms beyond what the Federal and even State Government have outlined. There is no published "eBay assault weapons list", and the phone operator refused to mail me a copy, although it was something he could easily pull up on his system.
Here is the text of the original email, it mentions Federal and State laws, but not 'eBay laws':
Unfortunately, we had to remove your listing because the following information violates our policy:
We have removed your item because your item is described as being compatible with an assault weapon, which indicates that the item is an assault weapon accessory. (M17S) Due to U.S. Federal and California state laws, We do not permit the sale of any assault weapon-related parts or accessories.
If your item has a legitimate use with firearms other than assault weapons, you can relist it. Just make sure not to mention names of assault weapons in your listing and inform potential buyers that the item can't be shipped outside the United States. If your item does not have a legitimate use with firearms that are not assault weapons, please do not relist your item.
We have removed your item because your item is described as being compatible with an assault weapon, which indicates that the item is an assault weapon accessory. (M17S) Due to U.S. Federal and California state laws, We do not permit the sale of any assault weapon-related parts or accessories.
If your item has a legitimate use with firearms other than assault weapons, you can relist it. Just make sure not to mention names of assault weapons in your listing and inform potential buyers that the item can't be shipped outside the United States. If your item does not have a legitimate use with firearms that are not assault weapons, please do not relist your item.
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