‘Very dangerous.’ Gun sales on Instagram, social media alarm top NC officials
The N.C. Attorney General’s Office recently contacted Facebook to express concern about gun sales on the social media giant’s Instagram and namesake platforms.
Laura Brewer, a spokesperson for Attorney General Josh Stein, said their office wants to know what the company is doing about firearms sales on its sites.
The concern follows The News & Observer recently reporting more young people getting involved with guns in North Carolina, including 15-year-old Ian Wells.
The teen was fatally shot in Durham by a 15-year-old and 16-year-old when he tried to buy a magazine for a 9 mm handgun from the 16-year-old, who had been selling a firearm on Instagram the day before the killing, court records state.
“ON DA MARKET DON’T HIT UP MY PHONE IF U BS,” the caption on a photo of a silver barreled, black handled 9 mm said.
The gun magazine deal, however, was a ruse to rob Wells of his gun, court documents state.
“The investigation has identified multiple juvenile suspects who utilized Instagram to communicate regarding this incident, as well as other possible robberies and shootings,” a search warrant said.
Juvenile Justice officials don’t investigate gun crimes but often find self-incriminating posts when they review young people’s social media accounts.
“I think inappropriate material by young people is something [Facebook and other social media companies] definitely need to look at, not just in gun sales but drugs sales and other criminal activity that they shouldn’t be allowing to be posted on the website,” said William Lassiter, deputy secretary for Juvenile Justice.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could not provide data on illegal gun sales on social media platforms in North Carolina, but a spokesperson in the Charlotte Field Division said they are increasing.
“The number of investigations into illegal sales and trades on social media platforms has become more frequent in our area, as has the number of tips provided to our office,” Corey Ray wrote in an email.
ATF officials haven’t seen many cases of youth selling and buying guns on social media, he wrote.
“The issue is concerning and any incident would warrant our attention,” Ray wrote. “Not only could such a purchase be against the law, but it could also be very dangerous for the buyer or the seller.”
The best prevention strategy involves the corporate community, law enforcement and public, Ray wrote.
“It takes a consistent and collaborative approach to match those efforts, identify those individuals involved, and prevent these types of sales from happening,” he wrote.
Gun sales banned in 2016
In January 2016 Facebook banned private gun sales on its namesake platform and Instagram.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Mayors Against Illegal Gun sales had sought the ban, The New York Times reported.
Firearms and ammunition sales are prohibited on Facebook and Instagram and will be removed, a Facebook representative wrote in an email.
The company uses technology and more than 15,000 reviewers across the world to detect and remove content, according to the company.
Views of content involving drugs and guns are “very infrequent” according to the company, “and we remove much of this content before people see it.”
From January to March, Facebook took action on about 90,400 pieces of firearm content on Instagram.
The action marked a 66% increase compared to the same time in 2020, but was far below the 1 million drug-related items the company acted on from January to March this year, according to the company.
On Facebook, the company took action on 1.9 million pieces of gun related content from January to March and 3.2 million pieces of drug related content.
‘Completely inappropriate’ posts
In addition to the Wells case, a defendant in the fatal attempted robbery of Durham restaurant owner Hong Zheng in 2018 admitted in his testimony to selling guns on Instagram despite a felony conviction that prohibited him from having guns.
On Aug. 11, The N&O asked to speak with the Durham Police Department about gun sales on Instagram. The department hadn’t made anyone available as of Thursday afternoon.
In Raleigh, Police Capt. Eric DeSimone said they aren’t seeing instances of gun sales on Instagram.
Still, deaths likes Wells’ and the increase in youths under 15 facing nonviolent gun charges have Lassister and other officials calling upon social media companies to do a better job of policing online gun sales.
“It seems like that would be a basic step to me,” Lassiter said.
Most sites requires someone to be at least 13 before they post, but Juvenile Justice officials see many kids posting before then.
“And they are posting things that are completely inappropriate, and also basically doing criminal activity on it,” Lassiter said. “I think there is definitely a need to look at how we put regulation on that more.”
Nisha Williams, chair of Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and Jake Charles, executive director of the Duke University Center for Firearms Law, agreed.
Durham concerns
Durham City Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton said he is deeply concerned about activity on social media sites ranging from illegal gun sales to bullying.
Police forces the size of Durham’s can’t dedicate employees just to illicit social media activity, but he suggested a partnership among local, state and federal officials could beef up the ability to address it.
“We are so busy investigating crimes that are actually happening out in the real world ... that often times we don’t have the resources to cover all the areas we should,” Middleton said.
Middleton acknowledged limits on social media companies lead to debates about free speech versus censorship.
“But listen, gun sales are illegal to minors, “ he said. Sometimes bar owners are held liable if they don’t cut off someone who was drinking and then later hurts someone.
“I think a similar level of scrutiny should be brought to these platforms,” he said.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel is also concerned about social media, young people and the glorification and availability of guns.
Police officers who monitor online gang activity see posts of young people brandishing guns, he said.
“Very young people,” Schewel said.
Federal officials urge caution
Federal law treats online sales like face-to-face transactions.
It is illegal to buy or sell a weapon to someone under 18 or someone who has been convicted of a felony. In North Carolina a pistol purchase permit or concealed carry permit is required.
Federal officials recommend buying a gun from a reputable federal firearms licensee, including online, wrote Ray wrote in an email.
“In some cases, the buyer is the victim of a scam, doesn’t receive the firearm, and loses several hundred dollars,” Ray wrote.
But there is also the chance the gun is being sold to someone who is prohibited and could be used in a violent crime.
“That’s our bigger worry, and that’s why ATF recommends that purchasers and sellers always exercise caution when taking part in these transactions” he wrote.
To report illegal Firearms activity call 1-800-ATF-GUNS or go to the ATF’s website: www.atf.gov/contact/hotlines.
This story was originally published September 17, 2021 at 9:03 AM.
