Is posting one's list of guns a good idea?

[esq_stu]

Many members here post their list of guns in their signature or in the member profile. I've had mixed feelings about posting such info. Is is a matter of "big brother is watching you" or "I only want my close friends to know"? Or are you particularly proud of your collection and want to share the info? I'm on the fence on the subject, and I am undecided whether to remove my list from my profile or add the list to my signature. What do you think?

 

[Tommygunn]

If you're worried "BIG BROTHER" is going to glean what guns you own off the net, then why post, really? This is a gun related forum. If our esteemed overlords are really spying on us, they will likely assume you have guns simply because you're here. If the conspiracy theorists worries come to pass, merely having your name and traceable stuff on an internet site is going to be the invite to a zero dark thirty jackboot raid. They won't care if you own a AR-15, an M-1 CArbine, a Browning Auto-5 12 gauge, or your grandfather's .22 rifle. In fact, a book or photo of a gun might be enough for all I know.
I wouldn't worry about that. A more pressing concern would be to prevent evil doers from identifying you. A lot of people might post a gun and a serial ### and ask (on some forums) "when was this made?" Well, if you do, it might be wise to post your serial number as "1234XX" rather than as "123456."
It will probably be close enough to help, without tagging that particular gun to you.

 

[Bruce333]

I just never thought about it. Doesn't mater to me what anyone else has. I have no problem listing what I have, just don't feel I need to put the list in my sig or profile, what's the point?

Some people have too many to list in their sig, you'd have to scroll through their list to see the next post.

 

[tinygnat219]

I will post what types I have and such if I am interested in learning more about them, but I don't see the point in putting all of them in my .sig line.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I suspect if "Big Brother" ever decides to watch you he'll know, whether you post in the Internet or not.

 

[Eric F]

on this site I wouldnt mind as my address is relatively unknown then even if you did find my address good luck finding my stash because its in the room with the........hey..............point is just watch what you post

Now for real its just bad business names and address are not all that hard to find with a little research on the Army Knowledge Online site folks talk all kinds of guns and post what they own then with 2 clicks of the mouse I have their address in fact this guy in Iraq right now posted his stash online stated he is overseas and living by himself ect. made a couple of clicks I even drove by his plase then sent a PM to tell him how stupid he was in posting that stuff.

For security reasons best policy is to not post your stash.

 

[alan]

In the past, I addressed this point, stating that I thought stuff like AR-15, Benelli, Kimber blah, blah blah at the end of a post was poor practice. Responders made mention of forms already filled out and so forth. Also that one's presence on gun related discussion sites could well be indicative of gun ownership, all of which is true.

My thoughts re this run as follows, then and now. Please note MY in my thoughts. I do not know how much effort would be requiired on the part of Big Brother to discern such things, what with existing data bases and such however I personally opt for the following idea. Make the batards work for the data.

 

[Josh Aston]

I don't think its that big of a deal as far as security or big brother purposes are concerned. I do think its tacky though.

 

[AntiqueCollector]

I never give a full or even nearly full list of my stuff, any stuff, on the internet. A little bit yes (unavoidable if you want to have any discussions or you have questions on something), all or most, no.

 

[sacp81170a]

I'm partially concerned about security, but it's also a problem posting the whole list because:

A. I have quite a few.
B. I have a certain subset that I think of as "trade stock". If I listed them, the list would keep changing all the time.
C. I think it's a little tacky.

 

[NAK]

It's not Big Brother" that I worry about...I'm more worried zealots with too much time on their hands.

 

[brentn]

I still am fond of my collection, but its getting too big for the sig so I took it off.
Either way its not a big deal anymore..

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

It would take up way to much room to post my collection in my sig line. While my collection would be meager compared to some on here, it could also be considered quite vast compared to others. I don't mind mentioning specific guns in threads if it adds to the discussion, but I don't see the need to advertise everything in every post.

 

[Clipper]

It just seems low class to me...

 

[offroaddiver]

I never worry about any post being used against me, because i don't give full details. No one knows how many weapons or firearms i have except me and very close people that I trust and they trust me. Plus the list changes kinda often so kinda pointless for me to keep posting what all i have bought....

 

[weisse52]

Just not something I really want to do. Of course if you have time you can find some of what I have just by following posts.
But, not thinking Big Brother is watching either.

 

[wally]

I'll gladly talk about guns I own or have used. See no point in listing them for the sake of listing them.

I am proud of my collection and wish they could be displayed in my home instead of needing to be locked away in safes behind multiple layers of alarm systems for when I'm not there.

--wally.

 

[Hikingman]

List them and don't fear the result.

For those of us that are Boy Scout leaders and otherwise work in positions of military authority, we've been examined, reexamined, background checked, researched, and likely looked over-more than ma's favorite kettle. If Big Brother has spent say-half THAT effort toward catching bad guys vs. early release, and other money saving programs....oops, maybe we should be thinking about our own SD measures, eh? Big Bro. when you catch the career criminals, how 'bout throwing away the key more often....

 

[SAWBONES]

Nobody cares what you own.
Why list 'em?

Talk about them when you have something of substance to say, sure, but making a tagline list of your guns is silly.

I have dozens. Why in the world would I place a list of them on everything I post on gun-related internet BBs?

 

[doc2rn]

I have been researched by SS, KBI, FBI, and AG's office. There isn't alot they dont know, but what they dont know I sure aint offerring up. I have enough weapon systems for me.
Hikingman hit the nail on the head, sounds like he went through what I did.

 

[harmonic]

Don't worry about the government. In spite of the tin foil types the govt doesn't catalog every post you make about every gun you own.

There is another kind of risk, though. Let's say you shared information about your collection over the net. Let's say someone wanted your collection. I don't know how plausible it is, but the risk is apparantly real.

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

Someone surmised that it was possible to locate a collector's physical address off the net.

A person who knows their way around a computer can back track from your post on here and find out where the computer you typed your response in this thread is located.

Texasrifleman said,

No they can't.
Not without getting help from your ISP.
The only way that can happen is if you own a registered IP address which very few folks do.

If that's true, find someone to tell you who I am and where I am, using these tricks. There's $500 bucks in it for you.

I need to see the steps documented and where the info came from.

500 cash.

A poster named Spaknaveli actually located Texasrifleman.

Texasrifleman then said,

Spaknaveli should scare you all.

Though he did not use the system described above, locating the posting PC by "back tracking", he did indeed track me down and even called my house. He didn't find the location of the PC since I am not at home, I am using a Verizon wireless EVDO card but that's nitpicky and the end result is the same. I saw the missed call because Vonage emails me when I get a call.

The detractors (I'm formerly one) should be scared.

I appreciate him doing that, it was indeed a real eye opener.

Since I invited it I'm certainly not mad or anything, indeed quite the opposite.

Knowing how it was done will allow me to take some steps, but it's very impressive.

If he wants I will buy him a Molon Labe had from Correia as thanks.

Then there was a beef about the $500. Texas wasn't going to pay, so he ended up paying half that.

Lesson? Running our mouths on the net could create as big a problem as running our mouths in real life. We might not be as anonymous as we think.

BTW, I don't own any guns, jewelry or anything of value. I'm typing this at the library.

 

[busy_squirrel]

Posting what you currently have sometimes comes across as bragging or having something to prove.

I, personally, have no problem mentioning that I use-to own a particular model, but only when it's applicable to the discussion.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Posting what you currently have sometimes comes across as bragging or having something to prove.

I kind of agree, even though said person isn't probably bragging, it can be construed that way; I also don't wear a tin foil hat either.

If you read through all of my previous ~1700 posts, you could more than likely name a good majority of my collection, but like busy squirrel said, I name them only when it's applicable to the discussion.

Or I have a question, which is most of the time.

 

[loop]

Don't really care about big brother. If I did I wouldn't have a CCW and have my fingerprints enshrined in some sort of files at BATFE, FBI and the state police...
But, I don't want every jackass (particularly the thief types who may think they can gain at my loss) knowing what I have.
Other thing, ain't got room on the signature line to itemize what I've got...
Maybe if we kept it down to an action type or caliber... LOL

 

[qajaq59]

But, I don't want every jackass (particularly the thief types who may think they can gain at my loss) knowing what I have.

My sentiments exactly.