So they say the NRA has a database on all gun owners

[RottenApple]

At least the NSA doesn't provide their database to every commercial come on that wants to solicit, credit cards, insurance, investment schemes, and a lot more. I've opted out of all these irritations but I still get them. The only way to end this is to not renew, it seems.

When I went through this with AOPA, I even offered to pay extra to not be on the mailing lists they sold, to no avail. I finally cancelled my membership and had them erase all evidence of my existence from their records. After a few years, I didn't get anymore mail or e-mails.

The NRA doesn't either. They only provide contact info (not demographics) to partner companies. Not only that, it is an opt-in system. If you joined the NRA online (at least in the last few years), there was a checkbox to receive (or not) third-party communication. If you missed it or joined via a different method (mail in, gun show, NRA class, etc), you can log into the website and turn it off. And if, for some reason, you don't want to/know how to log into the NRA website, just give customer service a call and they will be happy to make the change for you.

[G.A. Heath]

Does the NRA have a database of every gun owner? The answer is NO.

So what does the NRA have a database of?
First, they have a database of every current/recent/(possibly past) member for membership purposes.
Second, they have a database of some/most/(possibly all) people who has taken an officially certified NRA course for verification purposes.

In regards to the second, we saw this database come into play after the Sandy Hook shooting when the media claimed the shooter had taken an NRA certified course. The NRA looked into this database and came back with something to the effect of "Never took a certified course from us." Beyond that how would the NRA have anything else? This whole article is nothing more than an effort to hurt the NRA through GOA/NAGR type histerics.

[JALLEN]

At least the NSA doesn't provide their database to every commercial come on that wants to solicit, credit cards, insurance, investment schemes, and a lot more. I've opted out of all these irritations but I still get them. The only way to end this is to not renew, it seems.

When I went through this with AOPA, I even offered to pay extra to not be on the mailing lists they sold, to no avail. I finally cancelled my membership and had them erase all evidence of my existence from their records. After a few years, I didn't get anymore mail or e-mails.

The NRA doesn't either. They only provide contact info (not demographics) to partner companies. Not only that, it is an opt-in system. If you joined the NRA online (at least in the last few years), there was a checkbox to receive (or not) third-party communication. If you missed it or joined via a different method (mail in, gun show, NRA class, etc), you can log into the website and turn it off. And if, for some reason, you don't want to/know how to log into the NRA website, just give customer service a call and they will be happy to make the change for you.

It would be a happy circumstance if all that were true. Alas, it hasn't worked that way at all. I've e-mailed, called, e-mailed, forwarded the come-ons I've received, complained, etc. to not much avail. I've gotten several recently, after some weeks of respite. They give soothing assurances but either don't know how to deliver or cannot. Getting fewer than everyone else doesn't really cut it.

[bdickens]

just to put on my own tinfoil hat what is to keep a government from seizing all the databases of any gun related industry and using that info to go after gun owners

The United States Supreme Court.

Chas.

The Supreme Court sure has done an outstanding job of keeping the .gov from illegally tracking people's phone records and web activity, haven't they?

[bdickens]

"Las Vegas Democrat Examiner "

That pretty much sums up the veracity of that malarkey.

[Charles L. Cotton]

just to put on my own tinfoil hat what is to keep a government from seizing all the databases of any gun related industry and using that info to go after gun owners

The United States Supreme Court.

Chas.

The Supreme Court sure has done an outstanding job of keeping the .gov from illegally tracking people's phone records and web activity, haven't they?

Please cite the case that has gone to the Supreme Court.

Chas.

[bdickens]

I know of none, but the damage is done already.

[TheCytochromeC]

You know I received a "final notice" calling all gun owners to join the NRA recently. I wondered how they got my info. Maybe Midway USA. Anyways, I just chuckled and threw it in the trash. I'd actually be relieved if that were the "final notice".

[Charles L. Cotton]

I know of none, but the damage is done already.

That's right, no case has even been filed, much less reached the Supreme Court, so there was absolutely no basis for your comment.

No damage has been done re: NRA membership material -- the subject matter of this thread.

Chas.

[Dave2]

I know of none, but the damage is done already.

That's right, no case has even been filed, much less reached the Supreme Court, so there was absolutely no basis for your comment.

No damage has been done re: NRA membership material -- the subject matter of this thread.

Chas.

I think his point is that, AFAIK, the courts can only react to lawsuits or charges filed after the fact... They can't prevent the damage from being done in the first place.

[texanjoker]

Now I am a NRA member and I have never worried about it, but in reality all takes is some wacko like the Army private traitor that released stuff to wiki or the guy in Russian who leaked NSA doc's to steal the list and that info is out there.

[bdickens]

I know of none, but the damage is done already.

That's right, no case has even been filed, much less reached the Supreme Court, so there was absolutely no basis for your comment.

No damage has been done re: NRA membership material -- the subject matter of this thread.

Chas.

I think his point is that, AFAIK, the courts can only react to lawsuits or charges filed after the fact... They can't prevent the damage from being done in the first place.

Precisely. And Mr. Cotton knows that better than I.

There was absolutely a basis for my comment. Mr. Cotton remarked that the Supreme Court would prevent the .gov from illegally seizing the NRA's database and using that info against gun owners.

I simply pointed out in my typically snide manner that SCOTUS didn't prevent the NSA from illegally monitoring the telephone activities of millions of Americans. Nor, for that matter, has SCOTUS prevented any of the numerous other blatantly illegal and Unconstitutional things that the .gov has done.

Nor can they.

As was rightly pointed out, no lawsuit has been brought yet. Maybe there will be. There certainly should be. And years and years down the road, it may wind it's way around to SCOTUS. And they may or may not decide that the .gov was a bad boy and order them to stop.

And then, the .gov may or may not stop (Texas' voter ID law anyone?).

In the meantime, through all the years that this gets hashed out in the courts, the .gov, through a rogue organization that operates essentially without any oversight as to their activities (yeah, I know, there is supposed to be oversight), continues to blatantly violate the privacy of its subjects - I mean, citizens - under the supposed guise of protecting them from terrorists.

The damage is done. This massive invasion of privacy might be able to be stopped from continuing, but it can't be undone any more than you can get your virginity back.

[mojo84]

There is no such thing as privacy any longer. It is a only an illusion from yesteryear.

[bdickens]

And that somehow makes it OK for the .gov to spy on its own subjects - I mean citizens?

[mojo84]

And that somehow makes it OK for the .gov to spy on its own subjects - I mean citizens?

If you are addressing your last comment to me, I didn't say or mean any such thing. Putting words in other people's mouths does no one any good. I simply stated a fact there isn't any privacy any more. Being on the internet, buying with credit cards, carrying a cell phone, making phone calls etc., makes more information available to others than most realize and want.

You can whine all you want about who has what list and whatnot but as long as you use the internet, email, phones, cellphones, credit cards etc. and think you have privacy, you are fooling yourself. I doubt the NRA has any more info on anyone that other similar organizations and companies can gather. Right, wrong or indifferent, your info is out there and people are using it.