(TFC) Washington D.C. – One of the largest fears of firearm owners is the prospect of a database of their names and personal information in the hands of the federal government. The idea of the government in possession of a list of gun owners has been one of the most opposed proposals in the gun control debate. The stiff opposition is linked to the justifiable fear of the government using such a list to confiscate firearms by force.
The idea of registering with the federal government brought such stiff opposition that when the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was instituted, the law specifically prohibited the collection of data about legal gun owners and the implementation of any kind of registry. The law reads in relevant part:
“The NICS, including the NICS Audit Log, may not be used by any Department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to establish any system for the registration of firearms, firearm owners, or firearm transactions or dispositions, except with respect to persons prohibited from receiving a firearm by 18 U.S.C. 922(g) or (n) or by state law. The NICS Audit Log will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to detect any possible misuse of NICS data.”
In plain English, unless a person is prohibited from owning a firearm, their information cannot be retained. However, a recent Washington Post article parroted the Government Accounting Office’s numbers related to firearms purchases:
“Between 2004 and 2014, suspected terrorists attempted to purchase guns from American dealers at least 2,233 times. And in 2,043 of those cases — 91 percent of the time — they succeeded.”
Upon first reading, many Americans might be glad the authorities are keeping an eye on those potential terrorists in our midst. Of course, the facts are a little different. The term “suspected terrorists” in this case means somebody on the combined terrorist watch-list. These are people that may have never been convicted or even charged with a crime. The list has expanded so much that there are around 700,000 names on the list. They include a number of journalists, former Department of Justice ethics adviser
Even more disturbing is that to make the matches, the government must retain records on everyone, or at least have every purchase in a supposedly confidential system scanned. That data is being shared within the government, contrary to federal law. When the FBI released its figures, it went as far as saying that 2,000 known or suspected terrorists bought a pistol, sports rifle, or assault weapon. This means they are collecting information about the types of purchases as well. Just matching a name to a list would not be enough to come up with accurate data. This means the NICS program, which was promised to be free from other agencies, is sharing personal data such as name, date of birth, address, and social security number.
To be very clear, the NICS system is retaining records of legal purchases, it is sharing that information with other agencies, it is retaining and sharing information containing enough detail to match the purchaser to a government created list, and now the US government is publicizing the fact that it is doing this even though it is a violation of federal law.
This comes at a time when the government is making another power-grab for firearms. If we can’t trust the government to obey its own laws, how can we trust them with more power? This revelation leaves those seeking sensible reform to a shoddy gun control system in the lurch. It has become clear the only way to avoid having your firearms purchases tracked and registered by the federal government is to exploit the “gun show loophole” so many want to close.
A list of news outlets parroted the government’s release of information without questioning where the data came from and the legality of it be recording. Whether you agree with the concept of gun registration or not, the failure to report the dubious origin of the data demonstrates either poor journalism or complicity in pushing a government agenda. Those outlets include: The Washington Post, Newsweek, CNN, the New York Daily News,CBS, and dozens of others.
http://theantimedia.org/feds-illegally-maintain-registry-of-firearm-owners-media-fails-to-report-it/
If you didn’t know the vile and evil feds have been keeping a database of every firearm sold via an FFL in this country you haven’t been paying attention.
Definitely true. And even if they didn’t track the gun purchases, they can still easily look up who is buying ammo and in what calibers and quantities.
That said, the concerns about a database being used to enable confiscation make little sense to me. Should a wholesale gun-grab ever be attempted, gun owners should hardly be trying to hide their ownership of guns. They should be USING their guns. If they’re not willing to do that, then the country has already been disarmed as far as the Second Amendment is concerned.
Who pays with a credit card for ammo? Looking to pick up more miles for that trip you are going to take?
Why? Go buy more ammo F that trip!!
Cash is king and 500ish or more rounds at a time is just fine for anyone to add more to their supply.
They can track it here in Illinois as you have to have your FOID scanned at the checkout.
Anyone who buys lots of ammo online, as I do, uses a credit card. It’s a lot easier that way to shop around and find good prices on the bulk ammo you want.
I’m not worried about the government knowing what weapons I own, since I intend to use my weapons if mass gun confiscation is ever attempted. The jackbooted fags are going to see what I own anyway if they arrive in my neighborhood to disarm everyone and we begin shooting them.
There’s no point in owning weapons like the AR-15 or having a Second Amendment at all if everyone’s just going to hide their guns rather than use them when naked tyranny descends. Did the Founders bury their muskets when the Redcoats came for them?
L.A. county did an end run around that. Can’t buy ammo without a thumbprint.
One more reason (of many) I left that sh#thole.
Agree 100% bill. That’s why they have you fill out paper work in the first place. AND NOW IN PA. THEY ASK FOR YOUR SS #. I’ve been telling people this for years.
I understand the need for some people to go the CC route but I choose not to. I travel for work so its easy for me to do these sorts of purchases and they are planned into the work trips. The main reason is if a state restricts something like the purchase of ammo take your tax dollars to another state or city in the case of la la land. Riverside co is not far from la and or sd where you can make purchase of ammo with ease.
Philly,
I buy ammo in pa all the time with no ssn this must be something out of the city of brotherly love?
Good response BMF. Confiscation at my abode, will be met with deadly force. By the way, it is a RIGHT to oppose excessive force.. Those interested, can review the trial of the Branch Davidians at Waco. The FBI and the so-called Justice Department, tried to get convictions, on the surviving Davidians, for murder. They were all acquitted on that charge. It was a beautiful thing. Even the FBI’s perjuries (and they were legion) did not carry the day.
You might be tempted to ask what happened to this country but, you’d be missing the point. The question is, What the hell happened to the people in this country? You, me, everyone have failed to keep a close eye on our elected servants and here we are. They’re no longer servants, they’re “officials.”
The FIRST infringement should have been paid for with that persons life and any incidents thereafter. So much water has gone under the bridge, there is no way it can be fixed. It’s time to start over. Most Trenchers know what that entails.
Every elected person in local, state, and federal positions, need to tender that ultimate payment for their misdeeds so this doesn’t ever happen in the future. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Each and every last one of us must be prepared to take life, distasteful as it may seem to most of us. You must find the LORD for strength. Even those that were forced to defend themselves, during the actions our government instigated, still will find it difficult.
It is with heavy heart I say this. Don’t ever mistake that for weakness. Men, stronger than myself, detest being in this position. Some things must be done for our posterity and our country as a hole. Time is very short. I hope I’m wrong… There can be no quarter, no mercy. The evil that has taken over these governments must be eliminated, utterly.
Get your mind right, because when the SOB’s finally feel they’re backed into a corner, they will strike. It’s desperate for them right now. Just days ago, legislators tried to take our 2nd Article away. It barely failed. Stand ready. When the SHTF, we’re all going to get dirty. Trust not these people in the least. I wouldn’t put it past them to pull something over the coming holidays.
It’s a helluva way to spend the holidays.
Peace
Hoppes
“It has become clear the only way to avoid having your firearms purchases tracked and registered by the federal government is to exploit the “gun show loophole” so many want to close.”
NOT the only way.
Build your own.
If you have a concealed carry permit, you are on the system and government knows you have weapons.