Not the government
If you bought a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson Sigma series pistol in 2004 or 2005, Daytona Beach police want your personal information. They think it could help them catch a serial killer. Daytona Beach police Chief Michael J. Chitwood sent letters to gun shops across Central Florida asking for the names, addresses and phone numbers of customers who purchased that type of gun during that time frame. … The problem is that Florida law prohibits law enforcement or any other government agency from requesting and compiling the personal information of gun buyers.
If you bought a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson Sigma series pistol in 2004 or 2005, Daytona Beach police want your personal information.
They think it could help them catch a serial killer.
Daytona Beach police Chief Michael J. Chitwood sent letters to gun shops across Central Florida asking for the names, addresses and phone numbers of customers who purchased that type of gun during that time frame.
…
The problem is that Florida law prohibits law enforcement or any other government agency from requesting and compiling the personal information of gun buyers.
Now, I'm sure the anti's will take my umbrage against the police for breaking the law as some sort of sign that I support people who kill prostitutes, but as usual, they'd be wrong.
The problem is that I'm not trying to protect that scum, I'm trying to protect the law abiding who can be harassed by the government. Sure, this is one case where, if the perp happened to have purchased the gun at a gun store, this would be effective, but it's illegal for a reason.
The government is getting too omniscient as it is. It is not in our best interest to give them more power over our information. The loss of liberty far outweighs any 'safety' we are told we will gain.
Yes, I hope they catch this criminal. And I also hope every cop trying to obtain this information is also prosecuted for breaking the law.