Background check question - SSN optional?

[johnydoe]

I think the Social Security Number was optional on the federal form but I'm not sure about the VA state form. Is it still optional or do you have to give your number?

[king-of-typos-91]

I believe a SS number is necessary now in all states. What's the problem with giving your SS#?

[nick__45]

I believe a SS number is necessary now in all states. What's the problem with giving your SS#?

what's your SSN and name and address and all the goodies?




THAT'S THE PROBLEM. ID THEFT.

[Wolfgang]

it is optional, but I believe the form states it will help in proper identification and less mistakes.

If you can't trust ya gun dealer, who can you trust?

[johnydoe]

I believe a SS number is necessary now in all states. What's the problem with giving your SS#?

Because I'm going to a gun show and someone said not to give your SSN at gun shows.

[alien-Glocker]

Giving your SSN is optional. I have never had a problem when I opted out.

The newer VA DL has a non-SSN driver ID. We need to have this information made optional too, just another way to track your firearms purchase.

[glockpacker]

I haven't given my SSAN in years. And I buy a lot of guns.

But it doesn't help with identity theft. That happened to me AGAIN yesterday. Someone charged $195 of sports stuff, $3,000 of something in the UK, and $625 of ammo from an apparently bogus outfit... ammosource.com .

Bummer.

[RandySmith]

Write "not disclosed" in the SSN box. It is not required.

Why not put your SSN on the paperwork? Think about who might have access to it.

Randy

[Carlitos]

What's the problem with giving your SS#?


First off: identity theft. You want to trust your gun dealer - right? -what if his laptop is stolen as happens SO often these days. Plus, you are trusting every person involved - including the civilian employees of the state police who handle your info.

What's more, those forms contain a WEALTH of info that is an identity thieve's DREAM. One slip up and your identity is TOAST for years to come.

Besides - the S.S. number has ONE purpose: tracking whenever I am paid and owe social security taxes.

-if I am not paying/receiving anything, then I will NOT give my S.S. number (nor should you).

Regards,

-anon

[bulwaagh]

The last several guns I bought from a dealer, I did not disclose my SSN. However, I went to a new place I havent been to before and picked up 2 pistols in 12 hours (well, I couldnt decide on the 2nd at the time).

The dealer made me provide my ssn in both cases, and since I really didnt want to make a big fuss, he initiated a compromise. I write down my ssn on a scrap of paper, he read it off to the VA SP and handed back the scrap of paper.

I never ran into that before, but the deals were too good to pass up. Yeah, I might be a little tin-foil, but DANGITT, the form says OPTIONAL. I don't care if it "Might prevent misidentification" thats what I got my CHP for. Those 2 minute transactions absolutely rock.

FWIW it was B&R Grocery over in Sherando VA who wanted the SSN. He does have some nice prices on the used guns, at least, the ones I bought.

[RandySmith]

The notion that your SSN helps prevent "misidentification", whether it does or not, makes no difference in the end.

The police can obtain your SSN, if they need it, by using your name, address, and date of birth.

I have been delayed on handgun purchases since 1996. Long gun purchases go right through. No one could ever tell me why I was being delayed and I provided my SSN on firearm transactions at that time.

I joined a police department as a reserve officer in 2002. After they performed their background investigation, I found out why I had been delayed on handgun purchases. There is a person with the exact same name as me in Arizona or Arkansas, I forget which one now, who shares a SSN that differs only by a couple of digits, and who has a DUI and some other misdemeanor convictions.

So, it has mattered not, at least in my case, that I have provided my SSN. I have to wait the same amount of time whether I provide it or not. I stopped giving them my SSN around 2000 or so, after realizing the type of people that would have access to the records at the stores where I purchased firearms.

When it is time to buy a handgun from a dealer, I just plan on waiting the 50 minutes while the state police go through their motions to determine it is OK to sell me one.

I also called the state police to find out if there was some way they could make a notation in their records that I was a 'good guy'. Nope - the very nice lady, read: female officer, explained the way the system is set up and there's just nothing they can do about it. She didn't like the fact that they waste so much time either. She also encouraged me to continue leaving my SSN off of the federal and state firearm transaction forms, quoting "identity theft" as the primary reason. It was also mentioned that, "we don't need your social security number to conduct our background check."

Randy

[TheReeves]

I don't give mine anymore for a different reason. My check was always delayed and this usually meant an hour to and hour and a half wait for me. My last two checks were done using my drivers license number, and the wait was 15 minutes or less.

[Carlitos]

So, it has mattered not, at least in my case, that I have provided my SSN. I have to wait the same amount of time whether I provide it or not. I stopped giving them my SSN around 2000 or so, after realizing the type of people that would have access to the records at the stores where I purchased firearms.

She also encouraged me to continue leaving my SSN off of the federal and state firearm transaction forms, quoting "identity theft" as the primary reason. It was also mentioned that, "we don't need your social security number to conduct our background check."
Randy

Thank you so much for this Randy!

Everyone: The police are right: STOP SPREADING YOUR S.S. NUMBERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. All it does is encourage CRIME. Its like leaving your doors unlocked. YOU lose your property, the police have more work to do AND it benefits criminals.

Look, the S.S. has ONE purpose: the collection of Social Security TAX. That's it. Golck made me provide mine after I won $50 at a GSSF shoot. Why? Because Glock was PAYING ME MONEY. Fair enough.

But then my new dentist tried to get my S.S. number. Said it was "required." Why?

- he wanted to make sure that if I did not pay my bill to him, he could use my S.S. number to report bad dept to a credit reporting agency and ruin my credit. Required my ass. he did not get the number.

Keeping your S.S. number private is not "tinfoil" at all. It IS important to prevent crime. Identity theft is a CRIME and YOU are responsible for helping to stop it by keeping your S.S. number PRIVATE.

Thanks,

C.

[dbrowne1]

While I agree that the SSN has been perverted well beyond its intended use, and that it's generally good practice to not provide unless you must ... it really makes little difference in terms of identity theft. People who can and will steal your identity can find it easily.

[Rabbit994]

While I agree that the SSN has been perverted well beyond its intended use, and that it's generally good practice to not provide unless you must ... it really makes little difference in terms of identity theft. People who can and will steal your identity can find it easily.

In most cases though, it's like outrunning the bear with friends. You don't have you outrun the bear, you just have to be faster then someone else. In most cases, crime is crime of opportunity and I doubt some bad gun store employee is going to go to the trouble of stealing your identify by looking up your SSN when there is 5 other people who DID provide their SSNs and it's much easier to steal their identity.