While browsing at a gun store I noticed a Glock case and some paperwork sitting on the counter unattended. I curiously looked at it and noticed it was a good chunk of the purchase paperwork from another customer. This paperwork included their full legal name, date of birth, finger prints, phone number, and a copy of their drivers license which confirmed almost all of this information including the home address of the customer. There was also a note attached from an employee about when this customer could be called to pick up the gun. Coincidentally an 8 hour block in the middle of the day was listed as a time NOT to call, likely when they are at work.
You can do everything right as a privacy advocate to be untraceable and still get compromised, often by means outside of your control. In this case it was an issue of employee negligence and/or carelessness resulting in this person’s personal information being left wide open. If there is an argument to be made for physical security being a component of privacy, and vice versa, this is it. A bad guy would now know where this person lives, likely when they aren’t home, and a valuable item being stored in the home.
You’re absolutely right; this is a clear example of how personal privacy can be put at risk due to someone else’s carelessness. Even when people take steps to protect their own information, they’re still vulnerable if others fail to handle it securely.
Physical security and employee attentiveness are crucial, especially in situations like this, where personal information and even home security can be compromised.
In those old blog posts, MB was talking about a gun safe. Those are generally fairly large because you have to be able to fit rifles/shotguns inside of them. For example, the gun safe I have at home is approximately 140cm x 51cm x 43cm. Plenty of space to fit a dozen or so handguns and a little over a half dozen long guns.
What you see here is just the case the gun comes in. Usually it includes the gun, magazines, a lock, safety literature, and a cleaning rod. Here’s a sample picture I found online. I’m assuming the gun store didn’t leave the gun attended on the counter, and it was still hopefully locked up in the display case, but I’m not holding my breath.
