M14 Forum

TheTinMan

Many people don't realize that the internet is forever.

Literally, there are servers which download and store massive amounts of data off the internet and keep "archives". What information and/or images you choose to share with the world are your choice, but it is important that everyone understand that once data is on the web it lives forever.

IF I had a firearm which was inherited or purchased in a private sale, I definitely would choose to keep its serial number private for the same reasons Charles explained. I might even go out of my way not to mention such a firearm in internet discussions.

For anything else, I'm a belt & supsenders guy anyway and it's really easy to PhotoShop out the last 3 digits of a serial number so why not?

charlesPOSTLEwade

Just remember"Parnoid is smart thinking when the whole world is out to get you" Dr Johnny Fever WKRP Cincinnati

BagemTagem

well my IP is attached to all of these posts but as all of my firearms were gifts or private sales i fear nothing.

I have reconsidered a silencer and possibly a legal automatic weapon just because i dont want the ATF Welcome sign in front of my house

DukeRustfield

Hate to break it to you but the code for social security numbers has been hacked. It took a long time, but they can pretty much figure out anyone's.

There's an unbelievable amount people can do in terms of identity theft that has nothing to do with electronics. They can pass bad checks relatively easy. If you have ANY credit card that data gets passed all over the place. Look at the back of your bank card. There's a bunch of networks. What happens is, you swipe at Discount Guns Inc, they got your info, it goes to a provider the business works with, they got your info, it goes to a network, they got your info, it goes to the bank for authorization--then back again with approved/denied. I used to work at a provider and I literally had millions of credit card numbers and transactions. Just because they only show YOU the last 4 digits of the card number on the receipt doesn't mean they don't have it.

Again, unless you're bartering for everything, your data is out there and can be stolen. A bricks and mortar retailer can be just as dishonest as an online one. If you go buy a dinner and pay with a credit card, they auth it for $1 to see if there's anything there. That's how you're able to write in a tip amount and it comes to one bill later. But when you leave, they could add whatever they want to that tip because the real transaction hasn't been completed.

That's why it's important to look at your statements. But I love credit cards. It is unbelievable how much protection you have using them. You buy something with cash and it breaks, you have to sue them. You buy something with a credit card and it's busted, you reverse the charge. The onus is on the bank and retailer, not you. That is Regulation E and the basis for all electronic payments (debit and credit) in this country. They will try and hassle you and say you need to pay first, but say "Reg E, fux off." Of course, they might cancel your card after that but that's the risk.

cpd544

Just because you think everyone is out to get you doesn't mean they're not.

Packing a 45

Keep your House Keys and Car Keys seperate. Front and Back door Locked. Gate locked. Do not carry SS Card with you. Keep all SN's and other personal info. close to your chest. Be proud but do not show off. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN MY ROOM. I'm not going to hang a target on my family.
Packing

"I will not run. I will keep my head down but stand my ground with family."
it is what it is

Warlokke

IMHO, some things we now may see as Paranoia may be viewed in the future as an uncanny ability to predict the future. It is interesting how the perspective changes once the situation changes. Go ask some of the Bosnians living in Sarajevo before the war broke out, if they had it to do all over again whether they would worry about being called paranoid. Just a thought.

Pro_USA1776

Track down? Then that would infer that the "They" assumes they can take away what lawfully belongs to me....I don't apologize for being free!

Seventh Fleet

Some people call it paranoia, I call it being prudent to cover the bases on your personal security when at all possible. Concealing the serial number IMNSHO, as a retired cop is a good idea. I've taken hundreds if not thousands of police incident offences reports during my career. One of the things we ask for when taking police incident reports is the serial number of the weapons stolen. There's a whole list of things that must be on the report if the weapon is to be entered into the NCIC machine, the main ones being the make, model, serial number, finish, barrel, length, any identifying marks, etc.

There are some really loony people in this world. It wouldn't be such a giant leap for one of them to get your serial number, plus other information and file a false police report, using the information they've gleaned from something they've seen posted on the web.

Sure you may be able to produce a bill of sale and other documentation in your defence... But why not avoid the potential legal pissing contest in the first place and obscure or delete the last number of the serial numbers you're posting on public forums. At times an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

7th

Rawnerves

I am constantly being asked for the serial number to my M14. I think it because of the secret police state that exist under ground, you know the KPIF stuff. Little tiny government trained tattle tales with infared camera's and cling free BDU's. They think they are getting to me but I've got something for them, just wait and see!

Get my serial number, I don't believe in that scenario, pass me the cabbage and stand back while I cover the last 3 digits. Those little carpet beaters may think they are omni present but I can see them everywhere, see through 'YES' but a little reflective bascular fision dust will cure that and fast. Come on, bring it to me you little serial stealing munchkins. My serial number is 4461876, ah ha...........I lied.