From Risks-Digest and Wired: FBI Gun-Check Computer Crashes

S

Sciri

New member
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 11:51:37 -0400
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject: FBI gun-check computer crashes

http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,36310,00.html

The FBI's Interstate Identification Index database system crashed on 11 May,
preventing background checks of some 100,000 would-be gun purchasers who
have to be vetted by the National Instant Check System. The crash also
prevented use of the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System
associated with the National Crime Information Center NCIC 2000. Service
expected to return on 14 May. [The U.S. General Accounting Office notes
that NICS was offline for 215 hours from November 1998 to November 1999.
[PGN-ed]
 
Well, I think (I'm not inLEO) the NCIC is what is logged into every time you're pulled over to tell you to have a nice day, or other reasons.

You see, the officer has to known what (s)he's dealing with before it happens. So the car tag is radioed in before you ever see someone walking up to the car.

So, the NICS system references the same database of nasties in this country.
Doesn't that make you feel all warm and sick feeling?

Suppose someone hacked the system (NCIC), and placed the information in your file that there were outstanding warrants on you. Oh, and they also put in there that you were to be considered armed and dangerous. That you had a history of shooting first, and not asking questions.
That you were, oh no, I can't say it, an NRA member!!!

Awww, that could never happen though, right? I mean the system is SO SECURE that it'll never develop a problem, because even if it did, we have round the clock IT pro's working to make sure it doesn't...

Best Regards,
Don

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The most foolish mistake we could make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms; history shows that all conquerers who have allowed their subjected people to carry arms have prepared their own fall.
Adolf Hitler

[This message has been edited by Donny (edited May 15, 2000).]
 
I believe that this computer shutdown is a prime opportunity to sue under a Second Amendment challenge. Everyone who was turned down from Thursday through Sunday and all dealers and gun show operators would have standing on this one.

The fact is that if the Second Amendment is an individual right, where is it written that a right should be controlled by a fickle electro-mechanical device?

Where is it written that inanimate objects are, or should be, the arbiters of American rights?

Where is it written that an electro-mechanical device can hold sway over the rights of any American citizen?

Where is it written that we gave up this right and turned it over to an electro-mechanical device?

The "instacheck" system is a joke and trojan horse. we all got a great glimpse of the future this weekend and the ability of the government to abrogate our rights with the flip of a switch.

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Gun Control: The proposition that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own panty hose, is more acceptable than allowing that same woman to defend herself with a firearm.
 
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