Gun Owners Group Calls for Federal Inquiry Into Firearms Industry’s Secret Sharing of Customer Data

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A group advocating for firearm owners has urged three federal agencies to look into how the gun industry’s primary lobbying organization covertly utilized personal information of gun purchasers for political purposes. The Gun Owners for Safety group referenced a ProPublica investigation revealing that the National Shooting Sports Foundation shared sensitive buyer information with political operatives while portraying itself as a strong supporter of gun owners’ privacy. Gun Owners for Safety condemned the NSSF’s secret program as “deceptive” in a letter sent to the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Malcolm Smith, a member of Gun Owners for Safety, emphasized the importance of safeguarding gun owners’ privacy rights and condemned the exploitation of customers’ personal data in an undisclosed scheme. The letter was directed at agencies including the FBI and the ATF, but responses from these organizations were not provided. The NSSF defended its data collection practices as legal, maintaining that it adhered to the terms and conditions of relevant entities. The NSSF is a respected organization in business, political, and gun rights communities, despite being less known than the National Rifle Association.

Senator Richard Blumenthal supported the call for an investigation into the NSSF’s data collection practices, citing concerns over privacy and safety. The NSSF collaborated with Cambridge Analytica in 2016 to enhance its voter information, using personal details for political purposes without customer consent. Privacy experts suggest that companies sharing data with the NSSF may have violated laws against deceptive business practices.

Smith, a former bank executive and gun enthusiast, expressed dismay over the lack of privacy in the firearms industry and called for government intervention. He joined Gun Owners for Safety after becoming disillusioned with extremist views in gun rights circles, highlighting the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy rights.