firearms retail websites

[mekender]

what if any are the liabilities in running a website that sells firearms, specifically if i were to run a site similar (but different and better in may ways) to gunbroker?

i know that ebay recently stopped selling firearms, but that seems to be mostly press related, not caused by legal problems...

im sure that you would get people trying to sue you if someone bought a gun from your site and used it in a crime, but i cant see how liability would be any greater than it would be for any gun store or retail store that sells firearms... and in the case of gunbroker, they arent even selling, they are facilitating the search...my idea would even further remove the websites involvement in the actual transactions...

any thoughts would be appreciated...

 

[aloharover]

Very confused as to what exactly it is you want to do and what your question is.

 

[Frog48]

Yeah, I dont get the question either...

 

[strat81]

He's asking if he would be liable if someone got shot using a gun sold through his website. (I think.)

Given the current state of our legal system, you might be found liable if a felon manages to get one, even if it's the FFL's job to do checks (or if they skip the FFL step). You'll probably be sued sooner or later.

 

[Car Knocker]

i know that ebay recently stopped selling firearms

Ebay hasn't knowingly allowed firearms sales for years. They did recently discontinue the sale of most other gun-related items, though.

 

[mekender]

ok, to clarify... gunbroker and auctionarms facilitate transactions from FFL dealers and private sellers... what liability do those websites have?

furthermore, what are the legal needs involved in setting up a similar type of site... my idea is not nearly as involved as either of the two above examples so knowing the legal implications of those two will be more than enough...

 

[kingpin008]

It might help to tell us what you have in mind, so we can offer more specific answers. If you won't be offering the same services, which ones won't you be offering? Which will you? To what extent, will you cater to the .mil/LEO crowd only, or is the public included?

Details, man!

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

what liability do those websites have?

That's the beautiful thing about tort law, it's almost impossible to nail down what someone might accuse you of being liable for. That's why you need insurance. It's even better when transactions occur across state lines and via the internet involving third parties.

If you're seriously looking to start a business or service of this nature, the answer you are looking for isn't going to come from this forum. It's going to come from an attorney who is going to want ding your wallet for several hours of legal research.

Good luck.

 

[refrey]

Business Liability

If you are a business owner of any kind, it is only a question of when, not if, you will be sued by someone with only an imaginary loss. Regardless whether you have any liability or not, you will pay at least the deductible of your insurance policy to buy yourself out of the lawsuit. A firearms business only raises the level of payoff.

 

[mekender]

well, the financial backing could be there... its from family, so the likelihood of it is good... the industry involves huge money, the likes of which is rare outside of computers, electronics and medicine... so with the potential income, the risks can be tolerated... i cant talk about the idea yet, namely cus nothing is on paper yet... suffice it to say it would change the way that the industry does business...

kingpin, yes the public would be included... hmmm... ill have to make some phone calls about this one... ill keep yall posted... i just cant imagine that carmax.com gets sued for every car crash... but guns scare people into irrational behavior so i suppose that is a better way to ask the question...

how much more liability does a firearms related website have simply because it is firearms related? other than the general harassment by the brady bunch