Another reason to close the handgun carry permit database
Yesterday in the mail, I received a solicitation from the American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens. It was addressed to me. The letter began by acknowledging that I had a handgun carry permit. So, it seems, people are getting the data to market to folks they think are like-minded. If you have a permit, I’d be curious to know if you also receive such a solicitation.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Sure did. Got it yesterday. First piece of junk mail addressed to me in about 5 years
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 am
I received a similar letter a few months ago. I can’t remember the exact wording, but it sounded like a veiled hint of a threat that I should help them out. Or else. Or else what? Like I say, it was vaguely worded. Did yours have that kinda feel to it?
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Got it yesterday
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I still get adverts for other gun magazines, based on a gift subscription I got years ago – using only my initials on the address, just like the subscription. I get junk mail based on a long-lapsed NRA membership. (gotta get another range bag – where was that most recent NRA sign-up form?) I get junk with the same incorrect name spelling as that on my city water bill. Private firms and the government selling my data is nothing new to me.
Thank god for the national and also state-level “Do not call” lists, that have cut my annoyance calls by 90%. I think if I keep explaining to charity callers that they should cross-reference the list before calling, and really cussing at political pollsters, in another decade or so I may not get any solicitation calls at all.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
The best part is that no one is “selling” your name. they are “renting” your name. A small piece of terminology that is apparently a big deal in the world of direct marketing (IE junk mail).
I had the opportunity to work for a large company in the direct marketing world. You would be amazed at how often your name gets rented out to people and for the stupidest reasons too. Oh I see you are apart of this list of people who have adult website memberships. Perhaps they want Vonage VOIP? The reason? People with adult website memberships should have high speed internet.
The worst of these renters are companies who troll free and open databases like the county real estate records or something like this CCW database. They slop their data together and rent it REALLY cheap. Their data is never as accurate as an organization like the NRA. By the way, on average these names rent for 10 CENTS per 1000 names.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Not yet, but I live in an apartment, so procuring my address is a little more complicated than just a name, zip code, and phone book.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I received the same letter yesterday
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Get rid of the stupid permit requirement and this argument gets cut off at the knees.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Mine came in the mail today, but I live out in the sticks. Curiously, the copy of the database the newspaper had listed my address prior to our move, and the mailing came to the address that I changed with the state for my DL & HCP. That was about 10 months ago.