A group representing gun owners has requested three federal agencies to investigate how the main lobbying entity for the gun industry allegedly misused detailed personal information of weapon purchasers for political objectives.
Gun Owners for Safety referred to a ProPublica investigation, which revealed that the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) had provided sensitive personal data on gun buyers to political operatives, all while advocating for firearms owners’ privacy. The letter sent last week to the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives described the NSSF’s program, which lasted nearly two decades, as “underhanded.”
Malcolm Smith, a member of Gun Owners for Safety, stated that privacy for gun owners transcends partisan lines, criticizing the secretive use of private data, such as personal preferences and family details, for commercial gain. Gun Owners for Safety has been managed since 2019 by the gun violence prevention organization Giffords, which was co-founded by former lawmaker Gabby Giffords. The organization operates in nine states and comprises gun owners and Second Amendment advocates who support “common sense” measures to reduce gun deaths, such as safety locks and enhanced background checks.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives acknowledged receipt of the complaint, though the FBI, FTC, and NSSF have not responded to requests for comment. The NSSF previously defended its data collection practices as legal and in line with agreements made with manufacturers and other entities.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, along with others, supports the call for an investigation, citing concerns over NSSF’s covert data collection practices, which could pose privacy and safety risks. Blumenthal had earlier requested that the NSSF clarify its data collection practices, but the trade group did not respond.
The ProPublica investigation identified at least ten businesses, including prominent names like Glock, Smith & Wesson, and Remington, which shared private data with the NSSF without customer consent. This data was reportedly used to galvanize electoral support for industry-preferred political candidates.
Privacy experts consulted by ProPublica suggest that firms involved may have breached laws against deceptive practices by not clearly informing customers about their data usage policies. ProPublica reviewed numerous warranty cards from gun makers and found no indication that buyers were informed their information might be used for political purposes.
In 2016, the NSSF collaborated with Cambridge Analytica to enhance their voter data, adding thousands of data points from external sources to their database. This database included various personal details that ranged from financial information to consumer habits.
ProPublica obtained a segment of the NSSF’s database, and upon reaching out to those listed, many expressed surprise and disappointment about their inclusion. Malcolm Smith emphasized the importance of maintaining privacy for gun owners, especially in the wake of potential data misuse.
Smith, a retired J.P. Morgan executive and gun enthusiast, initially joined Giffords in 2020 due to growing discomfort with extremism in gun rights advocacy. His demand for government intervention was further fueled by concerns over recent attempts by government entities to acquire confidential citizen data.
Smith expressed his belief that individuals should expect privacy in their lives, questioning the ethics of the NSSF and other entities infringing on that expectation.
