Posted on 04/06/2013 7:51:29 AM PDT by LibWhacker
A recent notice from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reveals that the agency intends to acquire an online database capable of bringing up many of an individual’s personal characteristics and connections with just a few keystrokes.
On March 28 the federal law enforcement organization, which is a branch of the US Department of Justice, filed a solicitation notice for a “massive online data repository system” for its Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information.
The solicitation is hosted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, where vendors and developers can offer their services to the government in a competitive reverse auction format.
What a contractor would be tasked with, according to the ATF’s list of intentions, is facilitating an automated system that allows agents to “find connection points between two or more individuals” by linking “structured and unstructured data” about American citizens.
The Bureau asked that the database be capable of working for at least five years.
If they get their way, ATF computer analysts will be able to “obtain exact matches from partial source data searches” using an individual’s age range, address, vehicle serial number, or even a fragment of one’s Social Security number. Once that information is deposited, the database would return with the desired search result and that person’s known connections.
Despite the current political climate and the amount of personal information sought for review, there’s no indication that the ATF would use the database to follow gun sales, as current gun laws prevent a central federal registry logging firearm ownership.
Wired Magazine was careful to note that while the Bureau in question is “perceived as weak, stagnant, and underfunded,” law enforcement agencies already use the tactics this hypothetical database would simplify.
Investigators have long opined the time-consuming process of seeking out a suspect’s friends, relatives and cohorts. The solicitation reads, “Many of these tasks are performed manually, resulting in longer turnaround times on important information and intelligence research and analysis requests.”
The revelation comes just days after a report that ATF agents could have stopped the so-called 'Fast and Furious' illegal gun running project that gave Mexican drug gangs access to 1,700 automatic weapons over a nearly 18-month span.
Just keep pushing fellas. Keep pushing.
IS ANYONE PUSHING BACK???
Looks liek we’re in a police state now for real.
The ATF is just something we do not need in this country. Should be marked for extinction with the DEA.
They’ve already got it. Its called facebook.
I knew this was coming. It’s why I frequently point out her on FR and elsewhere in online discussions that I do not own ANY guns — not a single one.
The rest of you can go ahead and boast about what you have. But keep in mind someone is out there cataloging it.
Come on guys, if you can’t trust the ATF who can you trust?
But the difference would be weither the folks can be tracked down, doubtful.
This idea, the drones etc need be purged from any budget request and just not funded. I’ve been saying to anyone who will listen we have the largest police state in the world now. I am sure the old KGB would be amazed how far we have gone. This is now 1984 on steriods. Soon they will be developing a machine capable of projecting thoughts into beings ala Forbidden Planet.
Kevin Bacon. That should bring their system to its knees.
We dropped our accounts months ago.
In related news, sources close to the BATFE indicated that the organization’s new employment recruitment drive will contain elements of spiffy new uniforms (black serge, lots of leather bands and belts, knee-length boots, and high browed, short brimmed garrison caps - WITH INSIGNIA!)
According to Obergruppenfuhrer Waffenampt Julius Alphonse Dixon, the ATF’s spokesman, “we will instill camaraderie and brotherhood, even if we have to send them off for re-education.”
Ping!
They never stop, do they?
From the Liberal authoritarian left — we are just paranoid. The government would never use personal information against the citizens.
A gun owner database? No problem. Don’t worry. The government would never use that database to confiscate previously legally owned firearms... or leak that information to a local newspaper to show all of the conceal carry permit owners with their addresses. No, never. It would never be misused.
Bureau of Arrogant Tyranical Fascist Enemies
“1,700 automatic weapons”
I thought they were semi-auto??????????
You have GOT to be kidding.
What are you talking 'bout Willis? The ATF could have stopped Fast & Furious?? The ATF were the gun runners to the Mexican drug cartels. LoL.
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