Politics & Government

Lawmakers Seek to Stop Unregulated Gun Sales on Social Media Sites

Lawmakers start online petition seeking supporters.

Two state legislators are calling on popular social media sites to change their user policies which she says allows for the unregulated sale of firearms without background checks.

Assemblymembers Michelle Schimel, D-Great Neck, and Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, recently launched an online petition campaign asking social media companies Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to change their policies regarding guns — but some sites already have detailed rules in place.

The petition came a day after the Daily News reported popular sites have become open markets for weapons sales.

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“Social media should not be marketplaces for gun sales without background checks," reads the petition. "We're calling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to act responsibly and change their user policies to not allow their sites to be used for the unregulated sales of firearms without background checks.”

Ads and sponsored stories may not directly or indirectly link to landing pages where users can purchase any of these products," says Facebook guidelines.

According to Facebook guidelines, ads and sponsored stories may not promote firearms, ammunition, paintball guns, bb guns, fireworks, explosives, pepper spray, knives, tasers, or weapons of any kind, including those used for self-defense. 

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Schimel and Kavanagh are co-chairs of New York Chapter of Legislators Against Illegal Guns group.


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