Posting firearm ownership information on internet forums - bad idea?

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SlimeDog

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My search for information on this topic didn't yield anything, so here it goes. How wise is it for us to post information about the firearms we own on a public internet forum? Like I tell my kids, even with a silly username, there is ZERO expectation of privacy for anything you post on the internet.

Are forums like this (for example the "What is the last gun you bought?" thread) databases for the anti-2nd Amendment folks to mine when they evolve from universal background checks to confiscation? I think the answer is yes. What do you think? Do you plan to make any changes in how you interact on the web?

-SlimeDog
 
I hafta agree with you Dog. Threads like. " How much ammo do you have on hand?" and the like, rank right up there with " How many guns is enough? " and, as you said... "What is the last gun you bought?"
A lot of unneccessary attention drawing chest pounding.
Like when a particular gun is being discussed and someone will post a pic of that particular gun and there is another gun, or guns, in the pic that have nothing at all to do with the one being discussed.
Or posting pics of mass quantities of ammo

even with a silly username, there is ZERO expectation of privacy for anything you post on the internet.
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There's an IP address attatched to that " silly username".
 
not worried about the govt compiling a list of gun owners with me on it from the internet. they already know in my case.

Only issue I see is more crime related. They generally don't have access to the same data LE would so as long as you don't go posting stuff that could identify you it is fairly safe.
 
don't post info or pictures of what i own,call me parinoid. i don't need to call attention to myself. just my view from my saddle
 
not worried about the govt compiling a list of gun owners with me on it from the internet. they already know in my case.

Only issue I see is more crime related. They generally don't have access to the same data LE would so as long as you don't go posting stuff that could identify you it is fairly safe.
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x2.

Pretty much anyone who has purchased a gun not from a private sale and those of us with CCW are already on record somewhere in a dark empty room. If it really comes down to it, the information is already out there. I don't advocate yelling from the treetops which guns you own and where you keep them and how much ammo you have, but it's not really going to incriminate you as far as fears of confiscation go. If it gets to that point, everyone is guilty until proven innocent no matter how much info you have online.

I'd say I'd be more concerned about regular thugs or wannabe robbers knowing where you live and what you have.
 
I think it is a bad idea that could lead to some heart aches. I only have an interest in the hobby/ sport.:cool:
 
miller.lyte said:
x2.

Pretty much anyone who has purchased a gun not from a private sale and those of us with CCW are already on record somewhere in a dark empty room. If it really comes down to it, the information is already out there. I don't advocate yelling from the treetops which guns you own and where you keep them and how much ammo you have, but it's not really going to incriminate you as far as fears of confiscation go. If it gets to that point, everyone is guilty until proven innocent no matter how much info you have online.

I'd say I'd be more concerned about regular thugs or wannabe robbers knowing where you live and what you have.
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Very true. I, for example, actually live in Point Barrow, Alaska, and own nothing but spears. ;)
 
If the government was compiling a list, you'd already be on it. You're registered to and post on a pro 2A website.... You're already on it, man.
 
Well, as communities have increasingly broken down and the overall sense of community most of us (not all) experience in the real world has dwindled, these interwebs are the community. There is strength in numbers and communicating with others who believe as you do.
 
I lost all my guns in a boating accident!
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I will NEVER forget that day Oklacoyotekiller . The day you so recklessly ran yer skif into my yacht sinking both our vessels,sending both of our handsome and extensive firearm collections plumetting into the great blue abiss.
Sad thing was, my insurance premium was past due. Leaving me with only a vintage wrist rocket with to fill my frezer and defend my loved ones.
 
Just remember 3 important words if it ever came to them tracking guns through a forum such as this (probably the very last source they'd use). "I Sold It"
 
You have to accept that by posting, or even viewing this website, you announce to whatever government entities are watching that you are a person who is interested in firearms. If you give out information about what you have or how much, they have access to that too. Some people think that you are risking burglary by showing off your guns on a private forum.

There may come a day that they go door to door for "Zee veapons". I accept that posting may be used as another way to identify me as a gun owner.

If that day ever comes, it wont so much matter how they found out. The prepared response is what counts.
 
Confiscation is not possible. It cannot happen. Please stop with all this confiscation talk. Amazing how many gun owners don't understand this. How are non-gun owners supposed to accept this when even gun owner seem to think this is possible? It ranks right up there with the rumors of Executive Orders and UFO's.
 
Like others have said if there is a list you are already on it. And I feel that "if" they are watching and creating a list, internet forums would be low on their priorities. Too many "fish stories" to wade through to see who is telling the truth about what they have.

Do you belong to a public range? How often do you go? Do you worry that big brother has a hidden camera across the street, recording car tags? What about across from the LGS? My point is if the govt wants to get info on you, there are much easier and efficient ways than these forums.
 
TennJed said:
Do you belong to a public range? How often do you go? Do you worry that big brother has a hidden camera across the street, recording car tags? What about across from the LGS? My point is if the govt wants to get info on you, there are much easier and efficient ways than these forums.
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Ayup.
 
And email is likely even worse, so if your friend asks you to bring gun X, or you order some magazines and have the receipt emailed to you, that's easily obtained since it's sent un-encrypted across public servers.

I respect people who seek to keep their information private. I simply refuse to go through the hassle, and accept the duties involved in protecting my rights.
 
Dunno about govt. But I've read how that thieves have been known to monitor internet gun sales classifieds, agreed to buy, got address, stole guns, etc.

But also, there was kind of a challenge on THR for someone to find someone else's home address based on the challenger's posts.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=264866&highlight=$500

The whole thing was kind of strange. You have to look 13 posts down to see the challenge.
 
It honestly amazes me how far people can take paranoia to. If it's a forum, I really doubt you have anything to worry about. I don't do things on Facebook obviously, because that's just advertising, but where there isn't any personal connection (other than my dynamic IP address, changes every 24 hours like most) and the chances of someone putting forth the effort to track you down paired with the difficulty with doing so... Just silliness.
 
SunnySlopes said:
Dunno about govt. But I've read how that thieves have been known to monitor internet gun sales classifieds, agreed to buy, got address, stole guns, etc.

But also, there was kind of a challenge on THR for someone to find someone else's home address based on the challenger's posts.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=264866&highlight=$500

The whole thing was kind of strange. You have to look 13 posts down to see the challenge.
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I lawled at the reference to the Wenzel thread. I belong to that forum. I can assure you there are geeks there that can have your info in a matter of minutes. In many cases they find more from public information. If you've used your real name on Facebook you're toast! :D
 
I think a lot of people are just a little paranoid about this. I mean somewhere the government pretty much has a list of what I have. I'm not in the phonebook, phone is under the roomie's name. They don't have my address posted, house is also under roomie's name. So somewhere they are going to find me in all of Mobile, AL?
 
joeschmoe said:
Confiscation is not possible. It cannot happen.
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Do you think that by saying this over and over you can make it valid? What makes you so sure that confiscation cannot happen?
 
I've noticed this about a lot of people today. They seem face to face to be very protective about their privacy, to the point of being anal. But they then go to facebook or twitter and totally bare their souls. On these 2A forums they worry extensively about gun registration and confiscation, yet they list many of the guns they own with their signature! They quickly post pics of the guns any time some one starts a thread!
Its not my paranoia, that raises this question, its the inconsistent values displayed that raises the question.
 
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