Excellent point! I've wondered on occasion whether it would be more of a 'red flag' to a potential totalitarian government, for an individual to be on a looooong list of possible/probable gun owners, or a short list of people with no credit card activity, no online purchases or forum activity, no concealed carry license, etc.
"Most states who issue carry permits do not require information about a particular firearm in order to issue the permit. There are a couple of exceptions."
It may have changed since I left New Mexico, but (IIRC) that State's concealed carry permit used to specify the type of handgun (revolver or auto pistol) as well as an approved caliber or range of calibers. Obviously, other States are likely to have unique provisions in their laws, also.
Thanks for another interesting article!
The bureaucrats in charge of compiling those lists look more impressive when the lists are longer. And they can make a case for expanded budgets with more staff when the lists are longer.
The folks tasked with enforcement actions like the shorter lists better. They don't have the staff to handle the workload anyway, and all the expansion goes to the headquarters departments that are making the lists. It pays better to brown-nose back at the central office. The enforcers are never going to catch up. They just pick a few cases at random from near the top of the list and work them as best they can.
BTW, the "short list" people with no past - are low-budget covert Government agents or people in the witness protection program.
You are on a list, guaranteed. You are in position 5,298,714. It may take them a while to get around to you.
I have two close friends who have “gone dark” in the past couple years. They got rid of their cell phone accounts and started using burners. Cancelled their cable, internet, and landline services. Quit social media (including one of them on FR).
Both subsequently had visits from the FBI.
One was asked why he did this and he told the two polite FBI guys, “Because I suspected I was being monitored and now here you are!”
The FBI guys laughed, wished him a nice day and then left.