About that registry we don’t have
For the arresting officers, there was another wrinkle. They knew from running Shahzad’s name through databases that he had purchased a gun in March. If the suspect was following the media reports, he knew the noose was tightening and might try to shoot his way out.
Could be a CT thing, though.
May 7th, 2010 at 10:08 am
They cross reference the NICS database and the terror watch lists.
May 7th, 2010 at 10:48 am
It would appear to be part of a particular CT state law
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/pub/Chap529.htm#Sec29-36f.htm
Sec. 29-36f. Eligibility certificate for pistol or revolver. (a) Any person who is twenty-one years of age or older may apply to the Commissioner of Public Safety for an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver under the provisions of section 29-36f shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the Commissioner of Public Safety may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33 for verification that such certificate is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500
(f) An eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall not authorize the holder thereof to carry a pistol or revolver upon his person in circumstances for which a permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28 is required under section 29-35.
May 7th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Yea, but it’s also a Maryland thing, and likely a Delaware thing and a New York thing too.
I don’t think there’s anything in federal law that would prevent these several state’s databases from being linked together, possibly by some sleazy corporation like Choicepoint. Perhaps there’s something to keep the BATFU from buying access to such a database, but I doubt it. That would be your end-run around the current law that bars a central BATFU database.
(Now all I need is someone to tell me the Orbital Mind Control Lasers are getting right through my chosen headgear)
May 7th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Not just state databases.
If you buy anything with a credit card, that information can be purchased from the bank.
Skip tracers, sales-tax officials, and police use this all the time to find people and/or purchases.
May 7th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I believe the CT Dept of Public Safety has a record of gun sales made by FFLs AND individuals (if they sold/transferred the gun per state law). I remember filling out an additional form required by CT (in addition to the BATFE 4473 or whatever it is called) that included 3 (I think) duplicate copies. A copy went to CT DPS, one to your town’s PD (or first selectman) and I suppose the FFL keeps one.
Federal agencies may be prohibited from keeping a registry (wink, wink), but CT sure seems to have one, even if not formally called a registry.
It was probably a simple matter of inquiring with either Bridgeport PD or CT DPS to determine if this guy had ever purchased a gun. Where, when, make, model, caliber, etc. right on down to the serial number would be included in the info.
No conspiracies, just drastic state gun laws that made the data readily available.
Glad I now live in NH where private sales are allowed (w/o state permission) and no records are maintained by the state. Now, if we could just get rid of the BATFE records…
May 7th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I’ve never seen credit card info that details what was purchased.
I’ve also never worked for a credit card company, so I could be way off base.
May 7th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
TomcatsHanger, you are correct that the bank or credit card company cannot see specifically what you bought.
Of course, if I see that someone spent $500 at Bob’s Gun Shop or somesuch, I can make an educated guess…
May 7th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Oh yes. They definitely know you have a gun. It’s NOT just a CT thing.
I got my dad to buy me a Makarov when I turned 18. I later joined the USMC. Later, in Okinawa, I get an email that was sent to my CO asking if I have the Makarov. I never filled out any paper on it, I never registered it, I never flew anywhere with it, I didn’t even do the background check on it. But they knew I had it. They didn’t even ask my father about it.
How did they know? Because I had purchased a barrel for it online. Thing is, I lived with my grandmother at the time, and needed a credit card to buy it. She lets me use her credit card and I give her cash. Since it was her card, and her address, there was no record of it being bought by me, but they knew I had it. They didn’t ask my Grandmother about it, either.
Believe me, they know what you got.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Ah, yeah, Choicepoint, the employer of the person I refer to as my ex-brother.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
P.s. Acidman referred to his ex-wife as a Bloodless Cunt. My ex-brother is also a Bloodless Cunt.
May 8th, 2010 at 1:09 am
The Delaware State Police had the fire put to their rear recently about maintaining gun buying records despite it being not allowed (I’m not sure if it’s not allowed due to law, dept policy or what.) It’d be of little surprise if purchase databases were maintained in many other states. Digital data is so inexspensive today that it makes storing gub purchasing data almost hard NOT to collect and database.
May 9th, 2010 at 12:45 am
It’s also an Oregon thing. All FFL transfers go through the State Police. They keeps those records for 5 years. Or so they say.
Name
Address
Make
Model
Serial Number
But they assure us it’s “not a registry.”
I feel better!
—
I’m not mad as hell and I will take it some more.