Meg Whitman was the CEO of eBay from March 1998 to March 2008.
She became the CEO in 1998. They stopped selling guns in 1999:
http://news.cnet.com/No-guns-on-eBay/2100-1017_3-221898.html
February 19, 1999
She was also the CEO when they upgraded the anti-gun policy in 2007:
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3186
She now campaigns to be the Republican Governor of California.
Does anyone have some more detailed information on her stance on firearm rights?
She became the CEO in 1998. They stopped selling guns in 1999:
http://news.cnet.com/No-guns-on-eBay/2100-1017_3-221898.html
February 19, 1999
Online trading community eBay today announced that it is ending user listings of all firearms and ammunitions on the site.
The company said its decision was based on the belief that the Internet is not an appropriate venue for that kind of merchandise. Beginning March 5, firearms will not be listed in any categories, including the "Firearms," "Antique," "Collectibles," and "Sport" categories.
"While we acknowledge the gun collectors and sports enthusiasts among our users, eBay takes its role as a responsible member of the online community very seriously," Steve Westly, eBay's vice president of marketing and business development, said in a statement.
"After careful consideration of the issue, we believe the process of buying and selling firearms online is sufficiently different from the offline world, and it is appropriate for us to end the user listing of firearms on eBay," he said.
Westly added that online sellers cannot readily guarantee that buyers meet all the qualifications and comply with the laws governing firearm sales.
The company tried instituting changes to the firearm category but after investigating a variety of alternatives, eBay concluded that, in consideration of current technology and laws, no alternative met its standards.
"We realize that the sale of firearms is a controversial issue, and our stance will spark support as well as criticism," added Westly.
"A private enterprise can decide to sell or not sell anything they want," said a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, an organization that fights for the right to own firearms. "This has no effect on the right to own guns."
Sales of firearms were miniscule, representing less than one quarter of 1 percent of sales, said an eBay spokeswoman.
The company said that firearms-related items, such as holsters, literature, clothing, and scopes, may still be sold on eBay, but only listed in the "Collectibles: Western Americana," "Collectibles: Militaria," and "Miscellaneous: Sporting Goods: Hunting" categories.
eBay members who posted messages on the site's community boards were evenly divided among those supporting the company's decision and those against it.
"The way this venue is created, there is no way to absolutely guarantee that anyone is who they say they are--credit cards and id's can easily be copied--and there is no 'face to face,'" wrote one member. "Rather than have kids, sickos, and criminals buying guns via the Internet, everyone has to suffer!"
Another member said that he would no longer visit eBay because of the decision.
"Your new policy is ill advised, anti-freedom and anti-American," wrote one member. "I will personally quit eBay, advise everyone I know to avoid eBay and its stock."
The company plans to hold public forums on next week to answer questions from community members about the firearms policy.
She was also the CEO when they upgraded the anti-gun policy in 2007:
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3186
eBay Expands Its Anti-Gun Policy
Friday, August 03, 2007
Years ago, eBay banned the sale of all complete firearms on its online auction and shopping website. However, they did continue to allow the sale of parts and many accessories. This week, a spokesman for eBay announced that the company would ban the sale of all gun-and-ammunition-related parts and components.
The ban is set to begin in mid-August, when eBay will prohibit the listing of “any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun.” This prohibition will include, according to eBay, “bullet tips, brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc.” In explaining the decision to restrict these items, Matt Halprin, eBay’s Vice President, Trust & Safety, said, “After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team – along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc.– have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require.” [emphasis added]
With this action, eBay sends the message that they don’t want, or appreciate, law-abiding gun owners’ business. By banning these legal products, eBay is adopting the anti-gun movement’s opposition to all legal gun ownership. Fortunately, gun owners and sportsmen have alternatives.
She now campaigns to be the Republican Governor of California.
Does anyone have some more detailed information on her stance on firearm rights?
