Q&A: Ads for private gun sales

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From HNE Media (Columbus):

Q: We have not accepted gun/ammunition ads placed by private party advertisers. With all of the attention on the gun issue, I would love to know how other papers are handling those requests and what liabilities we would face if we accepted those ads. 

A: Whether to accept ads for private sales of firearms or gun shows is a local decision based on a newspaper’s position and influenced by the attitude of its community.

There is no legal liability in running the ads. The product is legal, as is advertising the sale of it. We have member newspapers who don’t accept the ads and members who do.

Contact Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel, with media law questions at skey@hspa.com or (317) 624-4427.