Thread: Trade me has firearms database

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Do what you will with the following information, but trade-me does not have access to the register. What they have is a Program that verifies against a register, you type in your name and firearms number and it reports a simple yes or no.

At no point can a trademe staff member jump on and start mining firearms register data. As long as it is done with a decent level of security the service itself should be reasonably robust. Banks, insurance companies and fintech firms use similar stuff all over the world.

Now, the issue arises with what trademe does with the information you input, is it logged?, and is it accessible to the service staff? This could be an issue however this is actually no worse than what is already possible. They already have your name, address and if you have ever bought a firearm, your license number. If they wanted to compile a list of people to rob they could do so right now, very effectively.

Like it or not checks like this are the future, and given that trademe cant request your information if you don't have faith in the service, don't use it, and you wont be at risk.

Personally I think it is a reasonably robust way of raising security around dodgy firearms trades, and a decent way for trademe to ensure those using its service are doing so legally. The Mail order form is great but is only as good as the people volunteering to use it, and TBH could be relatively easily exploited with this new email service by anyone with half a brain and a computer.

If you feel it is a breach of your privacy then thats fine, but lets at least have a look at the actual facts before we get the pitchforks out. Sensationalism helps noone

I understand what you're saying and you're right. However the issue I have is that only Trademe has this access. What does that cost tax payers to give them that access? Why does only trademe get that access and not all firearm dealers, or the likes of gunstuff, firearmtrader etc etc.

Are trademe paying for it? Doubt it.