posted on Aug, 15 2007 @ 08:29 AM
Originally posted by lombozo
When ordering something gun related from ebay, is there any kind of 'background check' for lack of a better term. Can anybody and his brother order
these types of items? ... I realize we're talking parts here. I didn't miss that part in your post.
Items such as barrels, sights, stocks and other add-ons dont require background checks. They are each useless without the body of the fiream itself.
The receivers and other working parts. Those do require background checks and in the cases of the gun auction sites I mentioned earlier they must be
shipped to a licensed dealer to complete the transaction.
If eBay did host auctions for such working parts I did not know. I like to inspect and check such components in person so I wouldnt purchase them in
such a way.
The reality of gang-bangers and thugs and other criminals altering a non-functioning firearm into a functioning one though isnt very likely purchasing
what was allowed to be hosted on eBay. If the weapon finctions with the exception of a barrel that barrel can be purchased anywhere. It can even be
fabricated from steel pipe from the Home Depot. One of the easiest way to discredit ballistic fingerprinting is to simply swap a barrel. It takes 30
seconds and usually no tools to accomplish.
Anyway, if eBay was hosting auctions for lower receivers and the like without requiring the items to be transfered to a FFL to complete the
transaction than they were clearly in the wrong. I, personally, do not have any evidence that they were or were not doing this.
As a side note the thugs and gangsters can manufacture weapons from pipes, nails, elastics, compressed air, black powder and all sorts of things if
their desire to kill warrants the effort. But as in the case of thwarting ballistic fingerprinting thankfully thugs and criminals are not too bright.