The sleuths at the Wall Street Journal bill this an an “exclusive” report. As if they’d somehow unearthed the story of the century. Facebook can’t stop the signal and never will.

Now, a new tactic involves posts purporting to sell stickers, alongside images of gun makers’ logos. Sellers typically ask an interested party to send a private message via the service for more information. Several sellers contacted by the Journal responded to say they were actually selling guns, not stickers, and provided details and pricing.

The Journal, using a simple search for “gun sticker” and “stickers,” over two days earlier this month surfaced more than 40 posts that purported to be selling stickers, next to images of gun makers’ logos, or a particular caliber ammunition. After that search, Facebook’s recommendation algorithm offered a Journal reporter a full page of more than 50 similar postings across multiple U.S. states.

A separate, one-day analysis conducted last week by Storyful identified more than a dozen listings for stickers of popular gun brand logos, including Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. and Remington Outdoor Co., across 10 U.S. cities. In Lexington, Ky., and San Angelo, Texas, for instance, the search found two listings in each city for stickers related to gun brands. Storyful is a social-media intelligence agency owned by News Corp, which also owns the Journal. While some gun manufacturers have profile pages on Facebook, there is no indication they sell firearms on the site.

One seller in Amory, Miss., posted the logo for Glock Ges.m.b.H., an Austrian maker of semiautomatic handguns, describing his item as a “0.40 sticker,” for $450. He also posted “PM for info,” a shorthand way of asking interested parties to send a private message via the Facebook Marketplace platform for more information. When contacted by the Journal, the seller said he was actually selling a Glock .40-caliber pistol.

– Parmy Olson in Gun Sellers Use New Tactic to Deal on Facebook Marketplace

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

83 COMMENTS

  2. SO! Exactly how many Glocks did the Social Justice Warriors at WSJ purchase? How many of these alleged gun sellers mailed a semiautomatic pistol to the reporters?

    • Companion question:
      How many of these advertisements are stings, set up by law enforcement? Any person responding to the ad is presumed to be trying to circumvent the law. The deeper in they can pull the suspect, the more assured the conviction.

        • Probably circumventing faceplant’s rules against freedom and 2A. One of the cities mentioned was in TX, where you are free to sell your gun or buy a gun from a private citizen and it’s nobody’s business, assuming some wild-eyed craziness and illegality is paranoid bullshit.

        • Only, maybe if you are in the same state. You still can’t sell across state lines without a FFL.

  4. Did the sellers offer to ship the firearm directly, not to an FFL? There is nothing unlawful about fooling Facebook.

    • You can’t stop the Signal?

      What an obvious dog whistle to the neo-Nazis and the racists, no sense of style or nuance.

      And yes, we can stop the Signal, the original American armed anti-fascists did it once and they can do it again. The United States Army crushed the Nazis and their ideology circa 1945, and if they keep marching with torches on the streets of America, it will happen again.

      “Signal was a glossy, illustrated photo journal and army propaganda tool, meant specifically for audiences in neutral, allied, and occupied countries. A German edition was distributed in Switzerland, Axis countries, and German-occupied Europe, but Signal was never distributed in Germany proper.

      The promoter of the magazine was the chief of the Wehrmacht Propaganda Troops, Colonel Hasso von Wedel. Signal was published fortnightly (plus some special issues) in as many as 25 editions and 30 languages, and at its height had a circulation of 2,500,000 copies. It was available in the United States in English until December 1941.“

      Piss off, Nazis…

      • I don’t know if this is parodying Miner or him being utterly clueless. If it’s stupidity, I notice a lot of declarations of “dog whistles” come from projecting their own secret meaning onto things. “Signal” wasn’t even capitalized in the original post. The whole quote from the movie Serenity is: “Can’t stop the signal, Mal.” It’s in reference to a hacker exposing corporate/government secrets.

      • *yawn*

        Next you’ll tell us all about the racist code words found in fishing lures, Irish dancing and common idioms about yard tools and cookware.

        • Wow, fishing lures. Would that be Bayou Boogie? Jitterbug? Lucky Louie? Brush Popper? Tiny Torpedo? Zorro Aggravator? Maybe some of the Bandit line?
          Trying to figure that one out, I have a lot of the old lures that my dad left me (he called ’em “plugs”), helluva fisherman in the 50s–70s.

      • Miner, don’t compare the soi boi, skinny jean wearing, incel crowd to which you belong to anything remotely that of the GI’s who took on Nazi Germany. My father landed at Normandy, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and spent 3 months in a German POW camp. Just before he died at the age of 83 I’d wager he could still kick your fascist ass. Because that is what ANTIFA is, the Brownshirts of the far left democrats. GFYS

        • Quote: “Because that is what ANTIFA is, the Brownshirts of the far left democrats. GFYS”

          AntiFa are the Black Shirts of the democrat (communist Party USA) party.

      • What the phuk are you talking about and what the HELL does it have to do with with shutting down a service used by 2.5 billion people WORLDWIDE? This ain’t 1940s Europe

      • So which John Schneider or Tom Wopat album do I have to play backwards to get my instructions for Operation Werwulf II? Or are the messages hidden in the credits of Battlefield Earth? Maybe if I take off my aluminum foil Pickelhaube I’ll be able to pickup the thought waves coming from Walt Disney’s frozen head?

      • “What an obvious dog whistle…”

        When you’re the one picking up the sound of dog whistles, guess what: you’re the dog.

        • As a Dog owner I say …YOU SIR have just insulted all the dogs in the world….Miner is lower and dirtier than what comes out the end of my dog’s butt. Please choose your insults more carefully next time.

      • Sorry boys, the real anti-fascist fighters have already spoken about what they see today in America streets.
        And it seems they are concerned with the neo-Nazis, no mention of BLM or liberals.

        Just white Supremacy

        “Caesar Civitella, who killed more than a dozen Nazis in World War II and helped capture more than 3,800, has a message for the neo-Nazis who staged a deadly rally in Virginia over the weekend.
        “I would tell them that we have no use for Hitler-type philosophy in the U.S. and that they can either stop being a Nazi or people will give them bodily injury,” said Civitella, 93, of St. Petersburg.
        Civitella was reacting to a march Saturday in Charlottesville, Va., in which one of the neo-Nazis is accused of driving a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one and injuring 19. Additionally, two Virginia State Police officers were killed when their helicopter, which was monitoring the rally, crashed.

        During the war, Civitella served with the Office of Strategic Services, a forerunner of the CIA. On Aug. 29, 1944, he and a team of fellow OSS operators jumped into occupied France to help the French resistance. Working with the French Maquis, he helped capture nearly 4,000 Nazis, according to his official government biography.
        Seeing the neo-Nazis marching, he said, “was terrible.
        “I thought we eliminated that in World War II,” he said.

        Gerald “Bud” Berry, 96, of Clearwater, flew transport missions in Europe during the war and was in Etain, France, the day the Nazis surrendered on May 8, 1945.
        “I would be completely opposed to” neo-Nazis marching around waving swastikas and giving the stiff-armed Nazi salute, Berry said.
        Still, he said, they have a right to express their opinion.
        “Whether I fought them or not doesn’t matter,” he said. “I am absolutely opposed to what they are trying to do, but still, it is their right as far as I am concerned.”

        When he was rolling across Europe with the 134th Infantry Regiment, better known as “The Nebraska Boys,” Harvey Lentz saw some of the worst of humanity in what the Nazis had done.
        In April, 1945, the retreating Germans had marched prisoners from a concentration camp, rounding up hundreds of them — those too tired or ill to continue — in a barn near the German town of Gardelegen.

        The Nazis set fire to the barn, killing nearly everyone. Those who lived were shot as they tried to escape the flames.
        More than 1,000 were burned alive.
        “I’m a little bit angry,” Lentz, 100 and living in Riverview, said of the Virginia rally. “They ought to find their own country, but everyone has their own opinion.”

        On Aug. 1, 1943, U.S. Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Rans was on a B-24 that took off on a mission to bomb the Nazi oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.
        But before his plane could deliver its ordnance, it was shot down and Rans, now 96 and living in Tampa, was taken prisoner by the Nazis and held by the Romanians.
        “I think it’s stupid,” he said of the rally.

        “What the hell would you be doing supporting something like that,” he said. “Why would they want something like Hitler and the swastika idea?”
        To Rans, “there is no such thing as white supremacy as far as America is concerned. That is not our principles.”
        Like Civitella, the OSS operative, Rans has a message for neo-Nazis.
        “I would say … he should get the hell out of here if you don’t like to see a black person or Indian person or Eskimo or Jewish guy,” he said.”

        • In the context we use ” can’t stop the signal ” is not the Nazi ideology you wish it to be. You are smart enough to know better and to commit to such hyperbole is intellectual laziness.

          There are times you make a lucid point, you should do that more often.

      • someone did watch firefly. How do you dress yourself? Please God be a paid troll instead of someone who actually believes what he’s saying and has bred.

      • The only fascist in America these days are rioting in places like portland. 2 fascists were just arrested for snatching the hat off a childs head because it had a message the party did not approve of.

        But you are right. The army can stop this nonsense. And they likely will after Trump, the anti fascist gets his second term.

  6. Yep chit like this happens. And a few years ago you could sell guns on fakebook. Variations of the sticker meme abounded. Whoopdie effing do!

  8. I’m certain Facebook doesn’t allow ads to sell firearms. This is a simple method to fool the censors (usually a so-called “AI” but sometimes an employee).

    The publisher recently received a petition from hundreds of employees requesting the Journal change it’s editorial policy. These snowflake activists didn’t want any more editorials or columns that go against their “progressive” world view.

    Bottom line, the editorial board will continue with their common sense editorial policy and will continue to allow columns and guest columns from both sides of an issue. However, the reporters are unredeemable and often don’t know the difference between slanted news reports and actual facts.

    • “The publisher recently received a petition from hundreds of employees requesting the Journal change it’s editorial policy. These snowflake activists didn’t want any more editorials or columns that go against their “progressive” world view.”

      “Requested”? Now that’s interesting. When they did that at the ‘New York Times’, they *demanded* that points-of-view they didn’t agree with not be published, and whoever wrote them to be run out of town on the metaphorical rail. And they actually did that, several times. Now, the NYT is run by the inmates, and there isn’t a damn thing management can do about it.

      “Bottom line, the editorial board will continue with their common sense editorial policy and will continue to allow columns and guest columns from both sides of an issue.”

      We’ll see about that. They were ‘asking’ now, that will change to demands, since Leftists always eventually go full Leftist.

      I really hope the WSJ stands firm on this, bit I’m not confident they will be able to. The Leftists learned at the NYT that management can be made to heel to the Marxists, and they have zero intentions of giving up that new-found power…

    • Obviously a scam, no gun seller today would sell a Glock for less than 600.

      If a deal sounds too good to be true…

      • Yes, but if the firearm was stolen or had been used previously in a crime, $450 would be a great price because they want to get rid of it to some unsuspecting rube who will carry it far away.

        And you can let go of the propaganda BS, weapons are sold this way all the time on the Internet. The same system is employed to sell dope, Facebook will allow voice recordings as messages, you should hear the junkies slow motion sales pitch for their product, hilarious.

        And of course the reporters did not buy a firearm, if they had and written about it, you would be attacking them for engaging in an illegal sale.

        • It’s not illegal to buy property from someone dumbass only places trying to keep you safe. Buy the gun as long as they don’t mail it directly to you it’s all legal..

        • Tomato, only a fool would buy a gun, provenance unknown, from a total stranger.

          You would have no idea if this gun was stolen, used in a crime or dangerous to operate.

          But if you want to be an accessory after-the-fact or help fence stolen goods or be hospitalized from a firearm accident, then by all means, engage in commerce where you will, caveat emptor!

        • I do it all the time. Meet up and buy/sell the weapon. You just keep their name, the sale date, make and model of vehicle, and the tag number in a log. If you ever get the knock about a sold/purchased gun bust out the log and give them the info. Names can be fake but tag numbers and vehicles aren’t gonna be faked, you’re not buying/selling to Mossad

  10. I’m shocked laws, rules, policies and regulations don’t physically stop people from sellijng guns to others.

    Shocked.

    • The only way to really stop this is to put up signs. Face book hasn’t put up enough signs.

      • Facebook needs a backroom for folks to engage in business activities not authorized, but profitable. Remember, Sam’s Cafe’ American did not have any gambling out front. It was in the backroom. The front room was drinking and dancing and Frenchies and Germans having a sing-off competition.

        There was also that pretty french gal with the guitar … she cried easily … the poor lil’ thing …

  11. If only a single instance of an actual gun sale, and delivery direct to the buyer, can be proven it will be sufficient grounds to pass a law banning the sale of firearms, stickers or any subterfuge via electronic means. And every person posting social media content will be required to certify with each transaction, that firearms are not involved in any manner, even addressing matters concerning firearms. Oh yeah, and every user of the internet must certify that they understand each use of electronic communications is a direct and knowing waiver of their rights for a warrant required for no-notice inspection of their residence, person and property in order to prove they are not misusing the internet.

    There, that ought to do it.

    • This method is only being used to bypass Facebook’s censoring and filtering. Otherwise all normal rules of firearms transactions apply.

      • “This method is only being used to bypass Facebook’s censoring and filtering. Otherwise all normal rules of firearms transactions apply.”

        Just one illegal sale will trigger the grabbers. Hide and watch.

      • Remember kids, Congress passed a law outlawing virtual hunting on the internet when it doesn’t exist. Don’t underestimate the lengths they will go to.

  12. Along a similar line, on Facebook Marketplace, I’ve seen postings for “gun cases”, for example “Case for Glock 17. Like new. $800”

    Obviously, there’s something inside the case that’s included.

    • “Obviously, there’s something inside the case that’s included.”

      Really? Let’s say someone buys that advertised ‘case’ for 800 bucks and gets an empty case, or a case with a Glock-style BB gun in it.

      Who’s he gonna complain to? He was sent exactly what was in the picture, a Glock case. No fraud there…

      • Do you really think someone would offer an empty case for $800, their intended market being a criminal who could not purchase a gun legally?

        I am led to believe that whoever receives the empty case would take immediate affirmative steps to rectify the omission.

        This sort of subterfuge is employed thousands of times every day on the Internet, for guns, drugs, prostitution, etc.

        • “Do you really think someone would offer an empty case for $800, their intended market being a criminal who could not purchase a gun legally?”

          Famous, and true quote :

          “There’s a sucker born, every minute…”

        • Ha ha I guess the prostitutes get sent over the internet… come on it’s to set up a deal then purchase it… which is legal because guns are legal and not scary.. it’s very simple the only people fighting against that are people who want control… I like being able to buy used things cheaper than new or stuff that’s not in production anymore it’s called capitalism.. like it or go to hell

        • Really, I agree, it would take a real sucker to think he could screw over a criminal looking to purchase an illegal gun.

          You know, the criminal is up to no good and wants a gun to further his career, and yet you would be willing to defraud him of his money and feel there would be no consequence?

          In my experience, most criminals wantig a gun already have violence in mind and would not hesitate to deal harshly with anyone who attempted to cheat them.

          But if you think it’s an easy way to make a quick buck, go right ahead, carry-on!

        • So what you’re saying, miner, is that facebook needs to be shut down because of all the ‘illegal’ activities.

          You fascists really want to censor stuff, don’t you.

    • I sold an old cartridge box of 7mm Remington on eBay once for 20 dollars. Shipping weight was the giveaway and a clever buyer figured it out. I never showed it open.

  13. Well, maybe I should go to Facebook to purchase my next firearm. I keep trying to buy firearms (legally I might add) through ARMSLIST and no one ever responds to my queries. At least the people selling “stickers” on Facebook respond to queries.

  15. I recall some decades ago that the Brainiacs at the Wall Street Urinal published an article on the alleged epidemic of firearms accidents that occur at gun ranges. I submitted a Guest Editorial rebutting the basic premise and cited data from the official CDC publication VITAL STATISTICS that documented the fact that only about a dozen fatal firearms accidents occur each year at places for “sport and recreation.”. Falls, drownings and other initial resulting from sports sick as football, basketball, baseball and polo not to mention drownings at swimming events kill far more people. They were so incensed that they refused to even check my sources before reflecting the article.

    Of course of these gun sales are conducted with background checks through licensed dealers, there is no violation of the law.

    • No that’s wrong if the sale is face to face in most states it’s legal. The through a dealer is just back door registration. I mean don’t spew wrong advice. Do a bill of sale to cover your butt if you need to but it’s legal.

  16. Maybe next they’ll discover that Facebook “peaceful demonstration” notices are a watts line for BLM/antifa looting and rioting ? I think that the dog got off of the leash long ago.

  17. The Chair is against the wall. John has a long mustache. I have a sticker for sale.
    Wolverines

  19. Wait until they figure out what “pizzas” and “cabinets” are. Or why popular ladies are asking for 150 “roses”.

  21. “People Selling ‘Stickers’ On Facebook Are Actually Selling Guns”

    And other people in America are selling “womyn’s healthcare” are actually selling abortions & harvested human organs.

    What’s your point?

    • And other people in America are selling “womyn’s healthcare”

      Truth in advertising… It’s the law.. but who gives a damn?

  22. Wall Street Journal is just another MSM rag. Good financial info, but regular news reporting might as well be MSNBC. I had it free for a year.

  23. People in my industry (not guns), often have to resort to methods like this to sell at places like Ebay. People sell one thing, but with the real item in the background, or the item is renamed to something only people on the inside know about.

    • “People in my industry (not guns), often have to resort to methods like this to sell at places like Ebay.”

      Years ago, I “bought” an item on eBay at a very advantageous price. Having a bit of experience with eBay, didn’t pay attention to the shipping cost ($450). The seller actually admitted that the scheme was designed to avoid paying fees per sale to eBay. Researched for two days, and found over 100 other sellers doing the same thing. Sent a note to eBay about the scam, and received no acknowledgement. Every so often I scan the products. The practice continues, as far as I know, today.

      • That practice doesn’t exist anymore and rather than moderating their site, they punished everyone. Now auction sites combine the item price and the shipping price together, then take around 10% off the top. Paypal does the same thing. This practice by Ebay is actually fraud since they are not providing the shipping service, but nothing will ever be done about it as some animals are more equal than others.

        Etsy tried some stunt about charging listing fees for each quantity of an item and I put a stop to that asshattery real quick and started selling in lots, rather than letting the customer pick the quantity.

        I usually list items under a generic or general name that encompasses the item and a lot of other stuff. Since the naming isn’t on the office jockey’s manual and they don’t know what they are looking at from the pictures to begin with, I’m allowed to conduct commerce in peace. Someone in India doesn’t have a clue.

        I don’t mind paying fees to Ebay if its reasonable, but it’s pretty obscene these days at 10%, then paypal double dips with its own fees. Ebay and Etsy support BLM an every time that can be kept from them is a little victory.

      • Double post, derp, no way to pause my edit timer.

        The exorbitant fees and totalitarian policies of Ebay and Etsy are one of the reasons I started my own business website with some of my CARES/stimulus money. Two reports against your store, no matter how big and Etsy automatically shuts it down. Guess what your competition is liable to do? On Ebay, they automatically side with the buyer in all cases and buyer fraud is quite common.

        I save around 6% on fees and it costs around $120 for hosting per year and to pay for it, I need to move $2,000 in sales through my own website, per year. However, having independence from the Marxists is worth every penny, even if I take a small hit from it. It’s a backyard business so it’s not there yet.

        Next year, I will accept mail orders and cash sales. This will cut out all of the merchant processors and I will keep all of the profits. The exceptions being the tax man and the US postal service.

        Typo in my previous post: And every DIME that can be kept from them is a little victory.

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