REPORT: California AG Leaks Names, Addresses, and Assault Weapons Registry o Gun Owners In The State

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Spats McGee said:
I saw that, but the State will likely argue that a citizen has no right to privacy in documents filed with the State for these purposes.
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I just saw on the news that the State is giving affected persons a year subscription to a credit monitoring service. There was a similar sort of leak some years ago, and California did the same thing then.
 
Spats McGee said:
Which is one of the reasons 42 USC 1983 is so useful. Bring suit in federal court.
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Last time I checked the Federal courts were also part of the state. The notion of an "independent judiciary" is a joke, the courts are part of the state at all levels.
 
Will Munny said:
Last time I checked the Federal courts were also part of the state. The notion of an "independent judiciary" is a joke, the courts are part of the state at all levels.
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I don't know where you checked, but I wouldn't go back there. The federal courts are part of "the State" in the sense of "the gov't," but they're not part of any particular state of the union. That was on purpose.
 
Spats McGee said:
I've decided that I'm not calling this a "leak" any more. It wasn't a leak. It was a publication.
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You are correct. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

And the link is still not working ... I wonder why? ;)
LiveLife said:
CA DOJ Attorney General web page - https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-relea...s-new-firearms-data-increase-transparency-and

But there's "Website temporarily unavailable" message when you click on the link :p
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Frank Ettin said:
Spats McGee said:
AG Bonta, good luck with that....
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There is an explicit right to privacy under the California constitution.
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What? You mean us Californians actually have some rights? :D :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
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Good grief what a bunch of Political Speak! Buzz Words, :what: So many I can't underline them all!

"Ye Olde "Common Sense Gun Laws"

Pretty much putting gun owners in the same class as sexual predators listing!

Monday, June 27, 2022
Contact: (916) 210-6000, [email protected]
Releases 2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal through DOJ’s OpenJustice Platform

SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General today announced new and updated firearms data available through the California Department of Justice (DOJ)’s 2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal. The dashboard is accessible though DOJ’s OpenJustice Data Platform. The announcement will improve transparency and information sharing for firearms-related data and includes broad enhancements to the platform to help the public access data on firearms in California, including information about the issuance of Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permits and Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs).

“Transparency is key to increasing public trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As news of tragic mass shootings continue to dominate the news cycle, leaving many with feelings of fear and uncertainty, we must do everything we can to prevent gun violence. One of my continued priorities is to better provide information needed to help advance efforts that strengthen California’s commonsense gun laws. Today’s announcement puts power and information into the hands of our communities by helping them better understand the role and potential dangers of firearms within our state.”

DOJ seeks to balance its duties to provide gun violence and firearms data to support research efforts while protecting the personal identifying information in the data the Department collects and maintains. Data-driven research plays a critical role in keeping Californians safe by informing and shaping our commonsense gun laws. With today’s announcement, Attorney General Bonta is improving accessibility and functionality of the existing firearms database with expanded information in a comprehensive data dashboard. The dashboard includes data from the past decade when available on the following subjects:

  • Dealer Record of Sales
  • Gun Violence Restraining Orders
  • Carry Concealed Weapons Permits
  • Firearms Safety Certificates
  • Assault Weapons
  • Roster of Certified Handguns
Among the changes are more in-depth analysis of GVROs, which are now displayed at both the state and county level. According to the dashboard, GVROs issued in California over the past five years have increased from 104 issued statewide in 2017 to 1,384 issued statewide in 2021 — a 1,231% increase over a five-year period. Attorney General Bonta is a proponent of GVROs as a key tool in helping to prevent gun violence. The research supports this strategy. This year, University of California Davis published a report indicating that GVROs prevented approximately 58 mass shootings in California between 2016 and 2018.

The dashboard also provides links to a variety of supplemental resources such as reports, applications, legal information, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), among other resources. The release of the expanded data and information continues Attorney General Bonta’s commitment to make the data more accessible to the public. In April 2021, Attorney General Bonta announced that his office would begin sharing additional data with gun violence researchers to help better inform policy choices within California.

California continues its efforts to advance laws and policies that save lives and prevent gun deaths. In 2021, California saw a 37% lower gun death rate than the national average. According to the CDC, California’s gun death rate was the 44th lowest in the nation, with 8.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people – compared to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 nationally, 28.6 in Mississippi, 20.7 in Oklahoma, and 14.2 in Texas. California’s gun death rate for children is also lower than other states, and is 58% lower than the national average.

Attorney General Bonta stands with partners throughout the state to continue preventing gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

The 2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal can be viewed here.

# # #
seal.png
State of California Department of Justice
Office of the Attorney General
Search
 
Does anyone know if there's a screen shot with people's information on it?

Now with the site down, we can't look at it. If info was put out, we need to know.

This would also help if anyone is interested in a civil case against CA.
 
These people know what they're doing. They know what the reaction is going to be. They know they're going to get smacked down and they do it anyway because they know once that cat is out of the bag, the damage is done and there won't be any real consequences.
 
Frank Ettin said:
I just saw on the news that the State is giving affected persons a year subscription to a credit monitoring service. There was a similar sort of leak some years ago, and California did the same thing then.
Click to expand...

I think that's the law... isn't it

I think there are penalties as well.


I'd like to see the list to see if I'm on it :neener:
 
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Isn't some of the CCW issuance data available via FOIA? My memory is fuzzy on this but wasn't there a big push a number of years ago to sift through all the good cause statements on applications to find inconsistencies/discrepancies regarding issuance (i.e. someone denied a permit whose claimed good cause was similar to another whose was accepted)?

Regardless, that info was heavily redacted iirc. But the point is, there is no absolute privacy.

As for this being intentional, the cynic in me can accept that. However, it would also mean the CADOJ/the AG were willing to allow quite a bit of collateral damage from the leaked info, by way of including the names of judges, prosecutors, etc. who carry too. Unless the database was only that of regular Joes, which I doubt.
 
This was the link I discovered this morning. I love how they give recommendations on watching our credit ratings as if they’re watching out for us. Doublespeak scumbags.

https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-relea...alerts-individuals-impacted-exposure-personal

Here’s an excerpt from the Ministry of Truth, the Office of the Attorney General.
  • Consider placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus:

I froze my credit on all three systems this morning.

One guy at work today said “We should sue ‘em. Sign up to any class action suits leveled at them.
I said “Here’s some irony for you. In California when you sign on to a class action lawsuit your name and address is made public.”
He didn’t see the irony. He ain’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he is a nice guy.
 


Lawmakers Demand Accountability After Personal Info Of Concealed Weapons Holders Leaked



The brown stuff just hit the fan ... AG Bonta got some explaining to do. :fire:

This breach of gun owner data comes as NRA is in litigation with California over gun owner privacy - https://www.nraila.org/articles/20220629/california-leaks-personal-data-of-carry-permit-holders

Database link was active long enough for full downloads to occur and apparently following information were available - https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=27030764&postcount=45

"CCW: County, Gender, Race, CCW Status and related dates, Full name, DOB, addresses (including possibly your work address), CCW #, CII #​

FSC: Issue Date, DOB, ID/CDL #, FSC #​

DROS: Race, Gender, DOB, the gun store the transaction took place, date of transaction, type of transaction, gun make, model, and type. This does NOT include gun serial numbers."​

From California Rifle & Pistol Association - https://crpa.org/ca-doj-dox-gate/

CA DOJ "DOX GATE" - CRPA and our legal team were made aware of a massive leak of personal information of CCW holders in California. The disclosure of all CCW holders in California is unprecedented and unconscionable. The leak included personal information including the addresses, birthdates, driver’s license information, and information from DROS documents.

Our legal team is still looking into the situation and has been working to find out how far this break extends. This page will serve as a single location to post updates for concerned CCW holders as more information becomes available.

If you are interested in serving as a plaintiff in a potential lawsuit regarding this breach of sensitive personal and confidential information, please contact us at either [email protected] or [email protected]
​
CRPA statement of serious breach of privacy - https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CRPA-Statement-on-DOXING-Gun-Owners-3.pdf

California Department of Justice Alerts Individuals Impacted by Exposure of Personal Information from 2022 Firearms Dashboard - https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-relea...alerts-individuals-impacted-exposure-personal

CA Senate Republican Caucus letter to AG Bonta - https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Senate-Republican-Caucus-Letter-to-DOJ-6.29.22.pdf

Dear Attorney General Bonta:

We are writing with grave concerns over the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) release of the private and personal information of individual firearm owners in California including information regarding California Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permit holders as well as data regarding the Assault Weapon Registry, Handguns Certified for Sale, Dealer Record of Sale, Firearm Certificate Safety, and Gun Violence Restraining Order. This egregious release of confidential information is unacceptable and in violation of state law.

We ask for a detailed and thorough investigation of the DOJ to determine the cause and reason this information was publicly released and notification as to any criminal, civil or disciplinary actions that will be pursued by your office when the information can be released. In addition, we ask that the DOJ portals not be operational until it is confirmed that no additional private information is accessible regarding firearms or other confidential data possessed by the department.

We also ask that specific guarantees be put in place to prevent this from ever happening again and ask for a copy of your current protocols with regard to the storage and release of confidential data, particularly in relation to the public release and posting of information to the dashboards ...​

The California State Sheriffs’ Association public alert - https://www.calsheriffs.org/blog-2/california-sheriffs-issue-public-alert-following-doj-data-breach/

The California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) is alarmed to learn of a data breach by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) that has made public the personal information of California’s citizen concealed weapon (CCW) permit holders.​

CSSA is issuing this alert to make CCW permit holders aware of the situation so they can take appropriate precautions.​

... Every law enforcement agency in California that issues CCW permits is required by law to provide certain information about CCW permit holders to DOJ, which in turn is required to safeguard that information. The data breach was in conjunction with DOJ’s launch of its “2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal.” The breach included, but was not limited to, the names, ages, and addresses of individuals who hold CCW permits in California. It appears that before the breach was detected by DOJ, the information was copied and at least some portion of it was posted on the internet.​

After learning of the breach, CSSA President and Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea contacted DOJ officials. During that conversation DOJ confirmed there was a data breach involving CCW permit holder information. DOJ advised it has deactivated the dashboard and is working to determine the scope of the breach. DOJ stated it would be contacting all CCW permit holders directly to advise them of the breach and will institute a program to mitigate any harm or damages to CCW holders that result from the breach.​
 
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Looks like this privacy breach was "intentionally" published by AG Bonta. This from the CA AG page - https://oag.ca.gov/about

"Attorney General Bonta's passion for ... social justice ... to stand up for those who are ... harmed ... seeking accountability from those who abuse their power and harm others as one of the most important functions of the job."
​
So now he is the one who "abuse ... power and harm others" by violating CA state constitution of privacy breach.

Unbelievable.

Well, AG Bonta just helped NRA-ILA's lawsuit defending CA gun owner's privacy - https://www.nraila.org/articles/20220105/nra-files-suit-to-defend-gun-owners-privacy-in-california

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) filed a lawsuit against California on Wednesday challenging a law that allows the state to disclose sensitive personal information about law-abiding gun owners to universities and any “bona fide research institute.”

“California must be held accountable for its near-constant, unconstitutional assaults on law-abiding gun owners and the Second Amendment,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director, NRA-ILA. “This law strips privacy rights from anyone who has ever purchased a firearm, transferred a firearm, purchased ammunition, or obtained a concealed-carry license. This is an outright violation of our rights and must be reversed."

The bill, Assembly Bill 173, allows for the disclosure of highly sensitive information, including a gun owner’s name, address, place of birth, phone number, occupation, driver’s license or ID number, race, sex, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and even their social security number and types of firearms that they own. This information was gathered from law-abiding gun owners with the understanding that it would only be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

“This information is a person’s identity. And it’s being handed over to organizations that have no duty to safeguard it. This will do nothing to prevent crime — it will only serve to put law-abiding gun owners at risk,” Ouimet said. “Gun owners are entitled to the same privacy rights as all law-abiding citizens. They should not be ‘doxxed’ for exercising their rights.”
​
From CRPA (CA affiliate of NRA) - https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CRPA-Statement-on-DOXING-Gun-Owners-3.pdf

This is a privacy breach of stunning proportions. The incompetence that the Attorney General has displayed in allowing such sensitive data to be accessed is shocking. The Attorney General has put thousands of people in danger by essentially handing criminals a “shopping list” of specific homes to burglarize to steal firearms, a list of judges home addresses, addresses of stalking victims for their stalkers to find, locations of battered women and rape survivors, and home addresses for police officers.

Careers of individuals excising their right to self-protection may now be in jeopardy ... At least one reporter was able to independently confirm that 244 judge permits were listed in the database along with the judges’ home addresses and dates of birth. This is a massive violation of California law. “No state or local agency shall post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official on the Internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.” (Gov. Code, § 6254.21(a).) ... and the release of CII numbers violates Government Code sections 6254, 6276, and 6276.12 and Penal Code sections 11076 and 13202.

... CRPA is questioning whether this was not simply incompetence, but instead an intentional, malicious act by someone at DOJ to intimidate gun owners as retaliation for the Bruen ruling. What better way to stop law abiding citizens from trying to get their CCW than by a show of power to dox them all if they dare apply ... simply because the Supreme Court restored the rights that had been taken by politicians like Newsom. CRPA and our attorneys are exploring all options, up to and including litigation, to protect the privacy of California gun owners who are now in danger thanks to the DOJ ... Attorney General should take responsibility and should resign for causing one of the worst data leaks ever seen in this state.​
 
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So AB 173 was supposed to share the gun owner's sensitive information only with gun violence researchers but AG Bonta published the information for the world to download in a single database ... Good grief.

I bet there's a lot of hand waving going on in Sacramento now ... Right behind AG Bonta and Governor Newsom - https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AB-173-CRPA-Veto-Letter-September-2021-1.pdf

"The bill, Assembly Bill 173, allows for the disclosure of highly sensitive information, including a gun owner’s name, address, place of birth, phone number, occupation, driver’s license or ID number, race, sex, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and even their social security number and types of firearms that they own. This information was gathered from law-abiding gun owners with the understanding that it would only be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes."
​
And the judge who refused to block the bill - https://www.courthousenews.com/judg...rnia-from-releasing-gun-owners-personal-info/

Signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom last September, Assembly Bill 173 amended state firearms laws to allow California to turn over gun owners’ personal information to gun violence researchers.

Finding there was no “emergency” to warrant restraining California from sharing millions of gun owners’ personal information with gun violence researchers, a federal judge Wednesday declined to block the state’s enactment of Assembly Bill 173.

U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns heard from attorneys for Jane and John Does and Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding a constitutional challenge to Assembly Bill 173, a law which amended California firearms laws to authorize the attorney general to disclose gun owners’ personal information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis and any other “bona fide research institution” meeting certain requirements.

Gun owners’ personal information — including their name, address and age — is collected with every firearms sale in California and entered into the “Automated Firearms System” database.

Additional personal information is collected from applicants who apply for a “Carry License” to carry a concealed firearms including Social Security number, California driver’s license or ID number, occupation, address, weight, height and reason for applying to carry the weapon.​
 
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Experts: California lacked safeguards for gun owner info - https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-california-lacked-safeguards-gun-232234672.html

Cybersecurity experts say the California Department of Justice apparently failed to follow basic security procedures on its website, exposing the personal information of potentially hundreds of thousands of gun owners ... for about 24 hours ... a spreadsheet with names and personal information was just a few clicks away, ready for review or downloading.

... The damage done ... Criminals could sell or use the private identifying information ... Five other firearms databases were also compromised ... “The volume of information is so incredibly sensitive," said Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California. “Deputy DAs, police officers, judges, they do everything they can to protect their residential addresses,” he said. "The peril that the attorney general has put hundreds of thousands of people ... in is incalculable.”

Attorney Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle and Pistol Association ... expects will be a class-action lawsuit.

The improper release came days after the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for people to carry hidden weapons, and as Bonta worked with state lawmakers to patch California's newly vulnerable concealed carry law.

... Every Republican state senator and Assembly member called on Bonta ... to increase his disclosures about the information lapse, which they said violates state law.
​
 
CRPA President Chuck Michel On ‘Leaked’ Info From Cali’s AG’s Office

President of the California Rifle and Pistol Association, and CEO of Michel and Associates (https://michellawyers.com/) about California’s AG office ‘accidentally leaking’ the personal information of concealed Carry License holders, not only violating law, but putting their lives in danger.

You have to register your info in California as a gun owner, which should not be a requirement - but it appears that California’s AG office leaked that info, putting a target on the backs of those law abiding citizens. This should have everyone on the same page about NEVER IMPLEMENTING a national registry (‘Universal Background Checks’). We have background check requirements already in place, but the ‘Universal Background Check’ actually is a registry, so don’t be fooled by the political rhetoric. Get updates on how Chuck and his team are fighting the bureaucrats in California on this issue: https://crpa.org/ca-doj-dox-gate/​

​


CA gun owners demand action and answers over AG's leak of personal info

CRPA head Chuck Michel joins Cam with the latest info into the massive leak of private information of hundreds of thousands of California gun owners from Attorney General Rob Bonta's office, as well as a look at the 16 gun control bills that are likely heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom in the next few days.

​
 
Some media coverage:

Gun owners, advocates react to California DOJ data breach

There are growing concerns Wednesday night after a major data breach exposed information of thousands of gun owners – and now, investigators are trying to determine how that information got out.

The California Department of Justice said that an update made to its Firearms Dashboard Portal Monday leaked the personal information of Californians who were granted or denied a concealed and carry weapons permit between 2011 and 2021.

That included their names, birth dates, gender, race, driver’s license numbers, addresses and criminal history. The DOJ said the dashboard was online for less than 24 hours – and the website is currently unavailable.


​



 
Letter from CA AG Bonta to CA gun owners - https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DoJ-Letter-7-8-22_Redacted.pdf

"This letter is to inform you ... an unauthorized release of your personal information by the California Department of Justice (DOJ).

... the information that we have determined was exposed includes full name, date of birth, address, gender, race, CCW license number ... In some cases ... driver's license number.

... We sincerely regret the unacceptable disclosure of your personal data and I offer my sincerest apology ... we are taking appropriate actions with regard to the staff involved."​
 
Gun-permit data leak creating huge political fallout: Public expected to vote AG who failed to protect information out of office - https://www.wnd.com/2022/07/gun-permit-data-leak-creating-huge-political-fallout/

"At the statewide level, Nathan Hochman, Bonta’s GOP challenger for attorney general, said the leak has irreparably broken public trust in his ability to handle sensitive and private data, and he urged voters to punish him at the ballot box in November."​
 
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As one who was/is affected I received a 'nice' ltr from the CA Attorney General. An interesting and small and buried at the end of two pages was this: ....We want to assure you that we are taking appropriate actions with regard to the staff involved. Emphasis by this poster.
Sounds like someone had an agenda.:mad:
 
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