Gun Owners for Safety, a firearms advocacy group, has urged three federal agencies to examine the gun industry’s primary lobbying organization’s covert use of gun buyers’ personal data for political purposes. The group referenced a ProPublica investigation that exposed how the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) shared sensitive customer information with political operatives while advocating for firearms owners’ privacy. Their letter to the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives described this practice as deceitful.
Malcolm Smith, a member of Gun Owners for Safety, emphasized that gun owners’ privacy transcends partisan or ideological boundaries, criticizing the exploitation of customer data in secretive schemes. Since 2019, Gun Owners for Safety has been affiliated with Giffords, an organization focused on gun violence prevention co-founded by Gabby Giffords.
The ATF confirmed receipt of this letter but offered no further comment. Meanwhile, the FBI, FTC, and NSSF did not respond to inquiries from ProPublica. The NSSF defended its data practices as legal and compliant with agreements with manufacturers and data brokers, representing numerous entities within the firearms industry.
Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed support for the investigation, having previously sought information from the NSSF about the customer data shared with their database. He cited privacy concerns connected to the NSSF’s data collection practices and called for transparency.
The ProPublica investigation revealed that the NSSF amassed a database from at least ten gun industry businesses without customers’ consent. This database was subsequently used to garner electoral support for industry-preferred political candidates.
Privacy experts suggested that companies sharing information with the NSSF might have breached federal and state laws regarding deceptive business practices. A review by ProPublica found that warranty cards from these companies did not disclose the political use of customer information.
In 2016, the NSSF collaborated with Cambridge Analytica to enhance its voter data by integrating it with additional personal details obtained from other sources. This information spanned a wide range, including financial data and consumer preferences.
ProPublica accessed part of the NSSF database and contacted individuals listed within it, many of whom were surprised or displeased by their inclusion.
Smith’s call for investigation highlighted the importance of safeguarding gun owners’ privacy, referring specifically to statements by FBI Director Kash Patel emphasizing privacy rights.
Smith, a retired executive and gun enthusiast, recounted his long-standing interest in firearms and his recent discomfort with extremist views in gun rights advocacy. He joined Giffords after similar concerns arose over data collection efforts by other government agencies, which prompted his appeal for government intervention. Smith criticized the NSSF and other entities for disregarding privacy expectations.
