On July 30th, 2007 eBay announced further planned restrictions on the sale of gun parts and accessories on the site. See eBay's announcement here http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200707301000452.html.

I fully understand that eBay has the right to make decisions for the use of it's site. However this in my mind does not fly in the context of "Community" and what the "Community" wishes. I believe that this decision is to distance eBay from any type of negative publicity that may be associated with tragic incidents such as the Virginia Tech murders.

If eBay is truly concerned with events that may cause injury or death, they might be interested to know that according to the CDC website, for the year 2004 (the last year for which statistics are available) 29,900+ deaths in the US were attributed to firearms. In the same year, 45,000+ deaths were attributed to Motor Vehicles.

Maybe eBay should consider placing the same style of restrictions on the eBay Motors site? Nah,,,, that won't happen, eBay realizes way too much income from the sale of motor vehicles.