This past Monday out in California, any gun owners who also sport a Concealed Carry Weapon permit have recently had their information — such as names, race, and current address– leaked in the wake of Attorney General Rob Bonta officially launching the new 2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal.
Able to be accessed through the state’s OpenJustice Data Platform — which has since been taken down due to the recent data exposure — Bonta stated in a recent release Monday morning that the dashboard for firearms would “improve transparency and information sharing” for all data in relation guns, which includes public access to data on guns for the state of California, and other information about CCW permits and Gun Violence Restraining Orders.
“We are investigating an exposure of individuals’ personal information connected to the DOJ Firearms Dashboard,” claimed the California Department Of Justice to the outlet The Reload. “Any unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable.”
“We are working swiftly to address this situation and will provide additional information as soon as possible.”
Chuck Michel, the current President of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, stated to The Reload, “vindictive sore loser bureaucrats have endangered people’s lives and invited conflict by illegally releasing confidential private information.”
Michel stated that the association is working alongside quite a few legislators and police officials to emasure the extent of the total damage done by doxing of various law-abiding gun owners.
“Litigation is likely,” he stated.
It was reported by The Reload that a database from Los Angeles County managed to leak the personal information of 244 judge permits, 63 people with a place of employment permit, 7 custodial officers, and 420 reserved officers.
The report also stated that the personal information of 2,891 people with standard concealed carry licenses within Los Angeles County was also compromised.
It was confirmed by members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s office that this data breach managed to leak names, ages, addresses, Criminal Identification Index numbers, and license types. Despite the state turning the portal off, there are still many concerns that someone has managed to copy the information from the leak and could choose to circulate it across social media or more sinister sections of the internet.
Bonta stated of the portal, just a scant 24 hours before the leak took place, “transparency is key to increasing public trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve.”
“As news of tragic mass shootings continue to dominate the news cycle, leaving many with feelings of fear and uncertainty, we must do everything we can to prevent gun violence,” he stated. “One of my continued priorities is to better provide information needed to help advance efforts that strengthen California’s commonsense gun laws.”
He went on to add that the announcement “puts power and information into the hands of our communities by helping them better understand the role and potential dangers of firearms within our state.”
Any persons that suspect that their information has been compromised in this leak should make an online report as requested by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.