SSN

[chrt396]

When you all buy a firearm through your dealer and filling out the papers...do you give your social security number..or do you refuse? I was not going to give it the first gun I bought, then I received an explanation that seemed to be righteous..so I gave it. Just wondering if I'm setting myself up for misery later on down the road.

 

[NavyLCDR]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=580344&highlight=ssn+4473

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=202456&highlight=ssn+4473

 

[rajb123]

I NEVER give out my SS except where it is required under the law (employer, tax returns, banks/brokers)

To do so is an invitation for fraud and identity theft. Yeh, the FFL keeps the NICS paper work on hand for 10 years or so but that is no guarantee the control over the paperwork will continue to be intact. For example, FFL employees or the ATF might have access to these records.

I don't buy the argument that your SS is availible to all on the Net. It is not an accuse to be careless with personal information that should not be provided to everyone who asks.

 

[Big_John1961]

I do not.

 

[voyager4520]

I do. If they can figure out exactly who you are to clear you at the time of the background check, they can figure out exactly who you are when they look at your Form 4473 for purchasing that gun. The dealer has to keep the copy you filled out for as long as they're in business, and when they go out of business they have to give that copy to the ATF.

The only risk for identity theft is if the dealer gets burglarized and the burglars are somehow more concerned with stealing papers than they are guns. Or if the dealer goes out of business, the ATF gets the form and stores the info electronically, then the ATF database gets hacked.

 

[hermannr]

If you have a very common name, ie Joe Smith, or something like that, it might very well be to your advantage to put down your SSN.

I have a unique name (at least here in the US), so the chances of them bungling it would be difficult, but if you name is Smith, Jones, Johnson, etc..lots of other people for them to confuse with you.

I, personally, would rather give my SS than delay my purchase.

 

[oneounceload]

When the Feds get your DL#, they can have your SSN within seconds; long gone are the days when your SSN was only used for your retirement - I have my original card saying that- it has become a non-issue for the most part - bank passwords are even more critical any more

 

[FruitCake]

I don't have to but I do. If they (Feds) want it they easily have acces to it.

 

[dogtown tom]

oneounceload When the Feds get your DL#, they can have your SSN within seconds;

FBI NICS does not ask for drivers license number.

I have two or three frequent customers who always get a "delay" when they give their SSN, yet get a "proceed" when they don't provide it.

 

[MedWheeler]

I have a fairly common name, and my first and last names have only one syllable each. I used to provide it; the last two guns I bought, I provided the last four digits only. I had no delays.

 

[bikemutt]

FBI NICS does not ask for drivers license number.

I have two or three frequent customers who always get a "delay" when they give their SSN, yet get a "proceed" when they don't provide it.

Maybe that's my problem, I will not give it on the next one to see what happens.

 

[gdesloge]

The Feds already have your SS# - they issued it to you.

The problem is anyone ELSE getting their hands on it.

I don't know where gun stores store their completed forms, but it seems like an unnecessary exposure.

gd

P.S. You do know that the pen which the salesperson at the gun store offers you when you fill out the form has a camera and fingerprint reader, don't you?

 

[Tape]

NEVER, and never had a problem

 

[Kurt S.]

I never have It doesn't make much difference with a CHL in TX, anyway. If I had to- I really don't have any libertarian objections to doing so, just concerned about ID theft.

 

[isc]

never. its a point of princible for me.

 

[rajb123]

The Feds already have your SS #?????

Well, I guess that is technically correct.

However, that would be limited to the Social Security Adminstration and the IRS. Neither agency is permitted to provide this informtion to other agencies or individuals unless ordered by a court; right?

As far as an FFL keeping the NICS paper form, that is an invitation for someone other than the FFL to get the information and use it against you. A SS# combined with the other information on the form such as date of birth, address, etc. is more information that I want to be stored by a third party and which no assurance can be given that this will always be within the control of the FFL.

Since it is not likely two persons with the same name were born on the same day and live at the same address, the Feds at the NICS data shop should be able to distinguish you Vs. a bad guy and this is another reason not to give out your SS #.

My advice: don't do this with a NICS application or for other "voluntary" requests; I beleive it is specifically discussed in the federal law and only your employer and the IRS can ask for this. Banks and brokers are given this info voluntarily to avoid witholding 20%for taxes on interest and dividends.

 

[BBQLS1]

I do. I'd rather not have my name mixed up with someone else. Besides, the government knows your SSN and you are telling them who you are.... if they were to decide to make the connection, it's going to happen.

 

[chrt396]

The Feds already have your SS# - they issued it to you.

The problem is anyone ELSE getting their hands on it.

I don't know where gun stores store their completed forms, but it seems like an unnecessary exposure.

gd

P.S. You do know that the pen which the salesperson at the gun store offers you when you fill out the form has a camera and fingerprint reader, don't you?

REALLY??? I was apprehensive on giving it..but I figured the same as many of you. If they wanted it..they could surely get it. The store that I have bought from states that they keep it on file for 10 years. I asked what would happen if the feds came in if a total gun ban were to go into effect. He mentioned something about how a fire would start!

As some of you have stated..it's not so much about giving it to the feds as leaving it in the hands of a gun dealer. Not everyone in the gun world is totally straight up and honest. They are human as well.

 

[Rail Driver]

I give mine. I'm already a CWL holder, but I have a relatively common name and would rather not deal with a conditional denial based on something that someone else may have done.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Always. I'm not to worried about it. I'm old enough to have had a driver's license the used my SS# as the number on it. It's not like my SS# hasn't been passed around thousands of times already. Heck, I believe it was even printed on some of my personal checks years ago.

 

[brickeyee]

the FFL keeps the NICS paper work on hand for 10 years or so

The record must be maintained for 20 years but can then be destroyed.

If a government agency has actual need of your SS# they can easily get it.

 

[Sig88]

You don't have to but I usually put the last four digits.

 

[gdesloge]

"However, that would be limited to the Social Security Adminstration and the IRS. Neither agency is permitted to provide this informtion (sic) to other agencies or individuals unless ordered by a court; right?"

Well, many have admitted on this thread that they willingly turn their SS# over to the NICS on these forms, so the FBI must have access to the database of them to perform the background checks.

Otherwise, why would they even request the SS#?

Or am I missing something?

gd

 

[ForumSurfer]

I NEVER give out my SS except where it is required under the law

Same here. I've investigated too many security breaches. I also have an extremely common name and I know for a fact at least 1 other person with my name in my town is a felon. Still, I won't give out that SSN unless it is legall required. It is just too dangerous.

As far as an FFL keeping the NICS paper form, that is an invitation for someone other than the FFL to get the information and use it against you. A SS# combined with the other information on the form such as date of birth, address, etc. is more information that I want to be stored by a third party and which no assurance can be given that this will always be within the control of the FFL.

Since it is not likely two persons with the same name were born on the same day and live at the same address, the Feds at the NICS data shop should be able to distinguish you Vs. a bad guy and this is another reason not to give out your SS #.

My advice: don't do this with a NICS application or for other "voluntary" requests; I beleive it is specifically discussed in the federal law and only your employer and the IRS can ask for this. Banks and brokers are given this info voluntarily to avoid witholding 20%for taxes on interest and dividends

To me, the thought of SSN floating around on a piece of paper in a pawn shop is just as scary as posting it on facebook.

Luckily for me, in NC a concealed handgun permit qualifies for an NICS exemption.

 

[rajb123]

A friend was visiting FLorida last year and he purchased an out-of-state fishing licence at K-Mart. The fishing license required the applicant to provide a SS#.

Since FLorida cannot legally require this information for fishing licenses, he listed a fictiious SS number in the application.

They took his money and ran.