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The increasing access to gun parts to make yourself an assault weapon is explored in this month’s episode of “Reveal.”

In delving into this world, reporter Matt Drange found hundreds of firearms components and accessories listed for sale on eBay that violate the company’s own strict policy.

But eBay hasn’t always banned the sale of parts or accessories for assault weapons. In fact, the popular online auction and shopping website has gone back and forth on its gun policy for years.

Here are some significant events that influenced how eBay deals with the sale of guns and gun parts.

Matt Drange is a reporter for Reveal, covering the business of guns. He previously reported on Silicon Valley and the intersection of technology and the environment. He won a James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California chapter for his work on the Toxic Trail investigation, which exposed how mismanagement of Superfund cleanup sites often leads to substantially more harm than good. Prior to joining Reveal, Drange worked for the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, where he wrote about malfeasance in state government and the influence of money in politics. Drange started his career covering police and courts for the Eureka Times-Standard in California. He earned a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and did his undergraduate work at Humboldt State University. Drange is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.

Julia B. Chan worked at The Center for Investigative Reporting until June, 2017. Julia B. Chan is a producer and the digital editor for Reveal's national public radio program. She’s the voice of Reveal online and manages the production and curation of digital story assets that are sent to more than 200 stations across the country. Previously, Chan helped The Center for Investigative Reporting launch YouTube’s first investigative news channel, The I Files, and led engagement strategies – online and off – for multimedia projects. She oversaw communications, worked to better connect CIR’s work with a bigger audience and developed creative content and collaborations to garner conversation and impact.

Before joining CIR, Chan worked as a Web editor and reporter at the San Francisco Examiner. She managed the newspaper’s digital strategy and orchestrated its first foray into social media and online engagement. A rare San Francisco native, she studied broadcasting at San Francisco State University, focusing on audio production and recording. Chan is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.

Aaron Williams is a news applications developer for Reveal, focusing on front-end development, data analysis and data visualization. He previously served as a web producer for the Los Angeles Times and received a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Francisco State University. Williams is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.