eCommerce Platform Restrictions for Firearm Sales

Selling Firearms Online In the US guns can be legally purchased online from a licensed dealer. Federal law doesn’t treat online gun sales differently from other gun sales ‒ these sales are governed by exactly the same legal restrictions that govern other firearm transfers, including laws regarding interstate and “private party” gun sales. The process for the customer is very similar to buying a firearm in a brick and mortar store. All an “online" sale allows you to do is PAY for the gun online. How exactly does it work?

The firearm is bought directly from the seller’s eCommerce website by the customer. The customer provides the seller with a valid Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer of choice at the point of sale. The seller ships the firearm to the FFL. Once the firearm arrives at the dealer’s shop, the customer must go in, have a background check performed, and adhere to any mandatory wait periods based on state law and the type of firearm purchased. Once approved, the customer returns to the gun store and can take home their newly purchased firearm. Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) for Firearm Sales Even though online firearm sales are legal, if you’re an independent gun store or manufacturer looking to create an online presence for your business or you already have an eCommerce store, you need to be aware of the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in place for many of today's eCommerce platforms. Many of the most-used eCommerce platforms won’t allow you to sell your products online or will restrict the catalog you can offer. All are not created equal and many are far from being 2A friendly. Check out the terms, conditions, and policies governing the use of some popular eCommerce platforms that restrict the sale of many firearms and firearm accessories.

Shopify's Firearm Sale Restrictions Although you can generally sell hunting rifles, simple wheel guns, and most pistols using Shopify (if you set up 2A friendly credit card payments correctly), many firearms and accessories are on their “restricted items” list. You should read the complete Shopify Acceptable Use Policy for yourself but in the meantime, we’ve provided a list of some of their prohibited 2A related items.

Any functioning automatic weapon regardless of FFL license A semi-automatic firearm that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, with one or more of the following items. magazine capable of accepting more than 10 rounds bump stock rapid fire trigger activator or trigger crank barrel shroud thumbhole stock threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, sound suppressor or silencer grenade or rocket launcher flash suppressor, sound suppressor or silencer pistol grip (or in the case of a pistol, a second pistol grip) forward pistol grip Ghost guns and 3D printed guns, including blueprints for such guns Firearms without serial numbers Certain Firearm Parts 80% or unfinished lower receivers magazine capable of accepting more than 10 rounds bump stock grenade or rocket launcher pistol grip (or in the case of a pistol, a second pistol grip) forward pistol grip if for use with a semi-automatic firearm barrel shroud thumbhole stock threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, sound suppressor or silencer flash suppressor, sound suppressor or silencer rapid fire trigger activator or trigger crank any part, component or kit for a firearm part or including a firearm part listed above WordPress and WooCommerce Firearm Sale Restrictions WordPress is one of the most widely used site building software. It’s free and open source so that it can be modified and shared by any user in the WordPress community. The core WordPress software package can be downloaded by anyone from WordPress.org, or it can be installed as part of a hosting package from a web hosting provider.

WordPress.com also supports Wordpress. It is run by a commercial company called Automattic which was created by one of the founders of WordPress in order to host WordPress driven sites. Users don’t have to download or install WordPress ‒ it’s part of the hosting services that WordPress.com provides.

When using WordPress.com, you are using a “hosted site” and are subject to their Terms of Service and Store Guidelines Use of ecommerce services on a WordPress.com site ‒ such as a WooCommerce or Payments block ‒ must not violate their User Guidelines and you are restricted from selling any items that are prohibited, fraudulent, abusive, hazardous, or illegal. Firearms, firearm parts, accessories and ammunition fall into their prohibited category.

If using hosted WordPress with WooCommerce, you may not sell (or facilitate the sale of) any of the following in (or through) the eCommerce services on your site:

Firearms or other weaponry Firearm parts Firearm accessories Ammunition Self-hosted WordPress and WooCommerce sites allow administrators full access to all the site files and code which they can deploy any way they like. This type of site is hosted by one of many hosting providers who make server space available for websites of all kinds. Owners of self-hosted sites are free to make changes to site files to customize their sites and add any necessary functionality. WordPress and WooCommerce sites that are self-hosted will support firearm sales as long as your hosting provider has no restrictions on what can and can’t be sold when using their servers.

Salesforce Firearm Sale Restrictions Salesforce bans companies from using its technology in the sale of many types of firearms, including semi automatic, automatic, and 3D-printed guns ‒ as well as many firearm accessories such as magazines (more than ten rounds) and flash or sound suppressors. We recommend that you read the complete Salesforce Acceptable Use and External-Facing Services Policy for yourself. In the meantime, we’ve provided a list of some of their prohibited 2A related items.

Firearms Automatic firearms Semi-automatic firearms that have the capacity to accept a detachable magazine Any of the following thumbhole stock folding or telescoping stock grenade launcher or flare launcher flash or sound suppressor forward pistol grip pistol grip (in the case of a rifle) or second pistol grip (in the case of a pistol) barrel shroud semi-automatic firearms with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds ghost guns 3D printed guns firearms without serial numbers .50 BMG rifles firearms that use .50 BMG ammunition Firearm Parts magazines capable of accepting more than 10 rounds flash or sound suppressors multi-burst trigger devices grenade or rocket launchers 80% or unfinished lower receivers blueprints for ghost guns blueprints for 3D printed guns barrel shrouds thumbhole stocks threaded barrels capable of accepting a flash suppressor or sound suppressor Find the Right Platform for Your eCommerce Business Firearm eCommerce sales are complicated. Although all platforms called out here allow some firearm sales, finding the right 2A friendly eCommerce platform can simplify your online sales process, provide a solid foundation for growth and increased revenue and more importantly, provide you with the security that policy changes won’t mean you are suddenly no longer welcome on a specific platform. Smart Solutions is a veteran-owned eCommerce agency that knows the tactical space. Let us help you find the right platform for your business. Contact us to get started. We’re here to help.

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