Gun Laws & Legislation

Uber Quietly Changes Its Gun Policy

Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
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Uber, the popular ride-sharing company, has changed its gun policy saying drivers and passengers will no longer be allowed to carry them.

The company made the change with little fanfare, posting an update to the policy in the legal section of its website, The New Republic noted.

The “Uber Firearms Prohibition Policy” reads:

We seek to ensure that everyone using the Uber digital platform—both driver-partners and riders—feels safe and comfortable using the service. During a ride arranged through the Uber platform, Uber and its affiliates therefore prohibit possessing firearms of any kind in a vehicle. Any rider or driver found to have violated this prohibition may lose access to the Uber platform.

The policy change comes even after a 47-year-old Uber driver in Chicago defended several of his passengers from Everardo Custodio, a 22-year-old who opened fire on them in the middle of the street in April. The driver dropped his passengers off when Custodio began shooting. The driver, who has a concealed carry license, grabbed his gun and shot back. Custodio was arrested and sent to the hospital. (RELATED: Concealed Carrying Chicago Uber Driver Defends Group Of Pedestrians Against Wild Gunman)

According to The New Republic, Uber spokesman Matt McKenna said that company “adopted a no-firearms policy to ensure that both riders and drivers feel safe and comfortable on the platform.”

“We made this policy change after assessing existing policies and carefully reviewing recent feedback from both riders and driver-partners.”

Until the change, Uber’s policy required its drivers “to abide by local, state, and federal laws pertaining to transporting firearms in vehicles.” The change brings Uber in line with other ride-sharing companies like its competitor Lyft, which strictly prohibits drivers and passengers from carrying guns.

The company gave no indication how it plans to enforce the new policy.

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