Warned not to post about guns on Facebook.

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i refrain from posting pics or discussing firearms on FB. it's a little too public a forum for some things. i'm also very reluctant to discuss politics or my political views on FB or THR and not b/c i'm afraid of the gov't per se. this is even after locking down all the open access i can.

FB is more of a chick thing with cute pics of the kids on vacation than a guy place to me.

it would not surprise me that THR got mined every so often. even if it does there is very little to worry from that.
 
As for FB, I would only worry about thieves using it to scope out what they could get.

As for your employer, I nipped any thought of that in the bud a long time ago. I sat down with my boss and told him, FB is mine, I do not advertise or mention our business on it. It has absolutely nothing to do with them and if they had a problem with that, then I would strongly consider another place of employment. Really, as long as you do not reference your employer on it, then it is yours. Now if you are all advertising who you work for them yeah, you are representing them a bit.

As for the feds, the day they come at me accusing me of not being a patriot, well that is the day I know the US is dead. I have a clean record, I have nothing at all in my background to charge me with anything. So if they want to watch me, they can have at it.
 
I will say that facebook is fair game for law enforcement and procecutors after the fact. I've read a couple articles where they're almost giddy about the warrentless, publicly availible information people provide.

No, I doubt they're going to seek you out.
Yes, anything you say (and publish) can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Just be smart about it and you'll probably be fine.
 
"...I'll always have the family ranch..."

Never take anything for granted. My family owned land that had been in the family since the Revolutionary War (Land Grant). Today, the old home, is a flyash lagoon and the family cemetery is visited by the good graces of the power company, which just changed ownership (again).
 
I feel that I have not much to fear from things I put on the internet. I am not afraid of the the police randomly coming in my home and removing my guns. I am not afraid of someone stalking me. If someone wants my possessions bad enough, well they are going to get them one way or another. Remember locks only keep honest people honest. I am not afraid of one day guns being completely banned.

It doesn't take an MBA to know that fear sells. So what does the news sell? Fear. It helps themselves, the gun & ammo companies, not for profit organizations (Even though they do a large amount of good, don't think for one second that the NRA isn't in the end trying to make money), and anyone else with an interest in people buying things in fear.

Your dad sounds like my dad. He's 77 years old and spends every waking moment watching Fox News and they've got him scared to death. He's convinced there's either a nutjob or terrorist hiding around every corner. He's constantly telling people not to do this or that because he's certain that terrorist are targeting them -- don't eat at restaurant salad bars, don't dring water from municipal water systems, don't go to shopping malls, etc. It's sad watching someone live their life in fear.

My advice: Don't worry about terrorists, nutjobs, or the government. All three are highly overrated.
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I have an uncle, who sounds like he is your dad's twin. He drives semi-truck so he is constantly listening to Rush, Glenn Beck, and the like. When he is home he is usually watching Fox. He is scared and tries to scare others. Usually I just simply agree, but other times I can't resist trying to convince him other wise. He knows where I stand and I know where he stands. And our relationship is very close.
 
I have massive Facebook photo albums of both my weapons and U.S. military photos from around the net as well as friends and family who serve.

I am a patriot, and I abide by all laws. I will not shrink from the light because the left does not approve of my lifestyle.
 
You posting on THR is probably more dangerous than posting on Facebook (or other user-driven website such as Myspace, Youtube, LinkedIN etc.) so you have already trumped your transgression with a worse one. Assuming theoretically of course that the internet is watched. Being a member of the NRA or MGO (Michigan gun owners) is probably more dangerous than occasional Facebook posts.

Logic: THR is most definitely considered a political action group (same goes for other groups mentioned) by some who would seek to suppress information or opinions. Facebook is just plain incidental and all over the map in every way describable.

I would not worry about what you post being picked up by the Gov't unless you start going really off the map, and on the internet I bet there is someone out there that is further off the map than you are. Only thing I would worry about is taking too hard of a stance or appearing openly threatening because Facebook is trolled by potential employers and those are people you do need to worry about.
 
OP: Your father is a nutjob worrying about other nutjobs. Unfriend your dad, go on with your life.
 
Oh they are certainly watching Facebook. A friend of mine made an off hand comment about Pelosi after the Giffords shooting, NOT a threat mind you and was called by the Capitol Police the next day who questioned him for 30 mins. Post what you want but don't be surprised if you get a call from the Feds
 
I was told I was on the "list" in King Bill's day, way before Facebook. It was kind of nice knowing that. I figured once I'm on the list, I don't have to hide from it anymore.

The only time I've ever been questioned was when I couple of police officers showed up at the range while I was plinking with my tacticool 10/22 (they were there for some practice as well). They asked what it was. I did a little show and tell, we laughed about how the accessories offset the low price of .22 ammo and had a good day. They even gave me a homemade HRT target. It was fun.

That being said, I post very little on facebook about anything personal and have never put anything up about guns. I do know that there are pictures of me at the range posted by other people.
 
I doesn't take a government agency to find out all kinds of information about people. There are websites like spokeo.com that somehow go out and gather extensive amounts of what you might think is personal data about you, and that will display some of that information for free and even more for a fee.
 
this is not a problem at all. your dad is being an alarmist.

turn on full privacy settings so that people who are not your friends cannot see you. who cares if the govt' is looking at you and know about your love of guns?
 
facebook,much like the now-defunct myspace is fine for chatting with friends around the globe, but i NEVER post stupid stuff like how im feeling today or what im going to do this weekend, it seems like a big security risk,telling everyone what your going to do and when,,,, as far as what people think about you posting gun-stuff on the internet i can relate to others on here with "that dad" or "that uncle' who is always watching Faux-news and running-round telling others what Rush said that day, as i have a friend who dosent even want to buy a gun,"legally" (wants to buy from private-party only) because then "THEY" will know he has one,,???? I always tease him and tell him that's ok because "THEY " know I have alot of guns already so their watching me already,he's "safe",,,,,, just like anything in life : what you sow,so shall ye reap,,,,
 
IncredibleGord said:
My Dad is very unfamiliar with guns to begin with. My friend and I talked about our range trip http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=565886 on facebook, mentioning that we shot an Osama Bin Laden target. My Dad called me and told me not to post anything online about guns, stating that he saw a tv show about people posting on facebook, and being "watched by the government." He said especially after Tucson..... My Dad was certain that I am now being watched, and should hide my passion for the shooting sports. I told him I'm not going to worry about it, as I don't break the law, and I'm a patriot.

Do you think posting about guns on Facebook could cause problems? My gut answer is no, as I have nothing to hide, but my Dad thinks it could be bad. Opinions?
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Tinfoil.

However, let me tell you about something that happened once in the city where I was raised in Oklahoma. This happened back in the 80's when people first started getting all in a tizzy about "assault weapons".

An enterprising reporter for the local rag decided to get some "human interest" for the paper and got in touch with some of the local IDPA shooters about doing a story on them. He promised it would be objective and all that stuff.

And it was. He even brought a photographer with him and put their pictures on the front page of the paper - with their names: "Joe Smith and Dave Johnson of suchandsuch gun club, preparing to shoot in an IDPA match with their semiautomatic Colt model 1911s."

Uh oh. Within a week Joe and Dave both got burglarized on the same day and had their guns stolen.

Uncle Sam might or might not be watchin, but Bubba the Burglar and Charcellus the Criminal are.

Discretion is a good thing.
 
Not Worried Here

about any Facebook posting's~! Heck, I worked in law enforcement for most
of my adult life; often times assisting the Fed's. Now, that I am a retail sales
rep in firearms; I have sold, and signed many, many 4473 forms. I have done
nothing illegal; so the BATFE, FBI, SS, ICE, or DEA can look all they want. I
will not hide underground, from anybody~! I abide and obey all laws. good
or bad; and thats the way it will be, so long as I live. I pay applicable taxes,
and vote in all elections, and support the N.R.A. (read my signature line). Its
my right, too express my disbelief's; and correct them at the polls, not with
gunfire. I am an advocate for 2nd Amendment rights; as well as the rights
of other's. I am a patriot, who loves GOD, country,family, animals, and
mankind. I'm a defender of The Constitution; out too hurt no one~!
 
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Your Dad is somewhat correct. I can tell you that companies almost always do a detailed background check on our prospects - before interview, during interview, after the offer is made, and after the person is an employee.

(to the self-righteous, please don't tell me it's unethical or illegal. Every company does this - from HP to IBM to Oracle. Whether they will admit to it is another story.)

I can tell you that many larger companies are VERY weary of its exposure to harassment and workplace violence issues. If you post on your Facebook page, do it with knowledge that it may affect your ability to be hired by a company. Also, God forbid if you should get into a legal issue in the future that involves or has something to do with firearms.

My recommendation to everyone... Don't have a Facebook page or participate in any social networking arena with your real name and pictures. Make it so that there is "plausible deniability".

Yes, I am in tech. Security is part of my job. Yes, I know of many individuals who got fired or not hired by companies. Also, most of you would be very surprise at what is being monitored by your employers and the private sector. Government is only a small part of the equation.




IncredibleGord
Warned not to post about guns on Facebook.
My Dad is very unfamiliar with guns to begin with. My friend and I talked about our range trip http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=565886 on facebook, mentioning that we shot an Osama Bin Laden target. My Dad called me and told me not to post anything online about guns, stating that he saw a tv show about people posting on facebook, and being "watched by the government." He said especially after Tucson..... My Dad was certain that I am now being watched, and should hide my passion for the shooting sports. I told him I'm not going to worry about it, as I don't break the law, and I'm a patriot.

Do you think posting about guns on Facebook could cause problems? My gut answer is no, as I have nothing to hide, but my Dad thinks it could be bad. Opinions?
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You are giving our govt way too much credit if you think they have time to monitor Facebook postings about guns.
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It's not so much about the guberment you have to be concerned about as it is lawyers, HR departments, & prospective employers.
 
Don't post anything on the web that you wouldn't want printed on the front page of the New York Times. This may save you some future grief. Do I think it's a big deal to post about firearms on Facebook? Probably not, but it might be a really big deal for somebody else. I think it's best to keep all personal interests at a very low level on the web, it's just good personal security, simple as that.

Thanx, Russ
 
I agree I have always tried to post to someone as though he was sitting in the room with me not a thousand miles away.

Watch list? I'm a vet, unfortunately my government now considers me someone to be watched because I once fought for it. That is pretty sad.
 
, be careful of what you put out there....not so much because people are "watching" you but because common sense applies everywhere, including fb
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Exactly! I saw news report sometime ago about a convicted felon on probation who was foolish enough to post pictures of himself holding a handgun on his FB page. He was quickly incarcerated. Another posted pictures on FB of himself and his small daughter holding a hawk he had just shot . Fortunately "someone" sent an e-mail and the picture disappeared before anything became of it. ALWAYS USE DISCRETION!
 
I'm much more annoyed that a quick google search of my name comes up with the local paper's reporting of deeds filed (where I live, when I bought, and how much I paid). Google Maps has both satellite photos and drive by photos of my house, including the license plate of the car parked in the driveway. Then typing my address into Redfin.com has the original floor plan.
 
Rest assured that Facebook is being monitored by Homeland Security. But unless you're posting terrorist or anarchy dribble, to them you're just one of 500 million users on there.

I would be circumspect about posting enough personal info to allow someone to show up at your doorstep looking to get the firearms you've highlighted on Facebook.
 
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