Shopify just amended their definitions of restricted items to include many firearms and parts. This means that these gun parts and firearms are not allowed to be sold online using Shopify’s services.
Banned Firearms for Sale Online on Shopify
Shopify’s new policy against online firearm sales prohibits the online sale of the following firearms using their system:
- Full-Auto Firearms,
- Certain Semi-Automatic Firearms,
- “80% guns” or 3D printed guns/plans, and
- Silencers
Full-Auto Firearms:
Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly legal to own a full-auto firearm (or, machine gun) under Federal law.
It is also legal to sell these firearms online – however, Shopify’s new policy prohibits the sale of machine guns online using their software.
Certain Semi-Auto Firearms:
Shopify has taken a strange approach in which semi-auto firearms are banned online using their system. It seems to be a mix of certain state’s “assault weapon” bans and the expired Federal “assault weapon” ban.
Any semi-automatic firearm with the capability to accept a detachable magazine AND at least one of the following features may NOT be sold online using Shopify’s system:
- 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
Additionally, even if a semi-auto gun doesn’t have a detachable magazine, it is still banned if it can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition in the magazine.
“80% guns” or 3D printed guns/plans
Along with the recent craze/scare of “80% guns” and 3D printed firearms, they (and plans for them) are now banned online using Shopify.
The online sale ban includes firearms without serial numbers (which are perfectly legal under federal law to make for yourself) and 3D printed guns and their plans.
Silencers/Suppressors
Listed under “parts” (who can expect anti-gun people to understand what they are talking about?), silencers/suppressors are also banned for sale online using Shopify’s system.
If you’d like to learn about firearm definitions, we’ve got you covered: firearms defined.
Firearm Parts Prohibited from Online Sale using Shopify
In addition to banning online sales, Shopify has also banned many firearm parts from being sold online using their system.
First, they’ve banned the online sale of any parts for a firearm listed above. This includes “80% receivers.”
Second, they’ve also banned a list of gun parts for online sale:
- 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
- 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
*only if for use with a semi-automatic firearm
It is important to note that the asterisk appearing next to some items on this list means that those firearm parts are banned online only if they are for a semi-automatic firearm. Notice that the restriction for selling magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds online doesn’t have an asterisk – that means all of them are banned online, regardless of what type of firearm they are for.
Firearm Sales Online
It is perfectly legal to sell firearms and their parts online. Of course, there are some rules to follow. First, if you’re selling firearms online as part of a business, you’ll need to get an FFL.
Second, you’ll need to find a platform that supports the Second Amendment, and doesn’t ban firearms or firearms parts online.
From Shopify’s website:
The definitions listed below (“AUP Definitions”) apply to Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”). Shopify reserves the right to update and change the AUP Definitions at any time.
“Materials” means any photo, image, video, graphic, written content, audio file, code, information, data or other content uploaded, collected, generated, stored, displayed, distributed, transmitted or exhibited on or in connection with your Account.
“Restricted Items” means:
Certain Firearms
- an automatic firearm that has not been rendered inoperable
- 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
- a semi-automatic firearm that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds
- firearms without serial numbers
- ghost guns and 3D printed guns, including blueprints for such guns
- any part, component or kit for any firearm or gun listed above
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
- 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
*only if for use with a semi-automatic firearm
Ryan Cleckner is a former special operations sniper and current attorney specializing in firearms law/ATF compliance and is a firearms industry executive (former govt. relations manager for NSSF, Vice President of Remington Outdoor Company, and a SAAMI voting board member).
Ryan,
Moving to Reno, NV from CA. I’m starting a Glock after market type barrel. G17, G19 etc.. I would like to get a FFL and concealed and carry. Can you help me paperwork and be my business attorney? Also started a website with shopify. Do you have alternative company to recommend?
Thanks,
Pete
Thanks for reaching out, Pete. Sorry, but I can’t take on any more clients right now.
If you’d like help with getting your FFL, start with our course and reach out if you have any questions about it.
Free advice: get away from Shopify. They are anti-gun and known for shutting down gun-related sites/stores without much notice.