From: jim@bilbo.suite.com (Jim Miller)
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 18:34:17 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Brady Bill and Instant Check system
Message-ID: <9311120231.AA06445@bilbo.suite.com>
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I think I heard on CNN last night the the Brady Bill passed the House and is on  
its way to the Senate.  I think part of the Brady Bill calls for the  
development within 5 years of a nationwide computer system for performing  
"instant" checks on people attempting to purchase handguns.

Without getting into a discussion on the issues of gun ownership (I'm *very* in  
favour of it), how do you suppose this Instant Check system will work?  How  
will they index into the database? SSN?  Health Security ID number?  


Fingerprints?

I know TRW has developed a pilot fingerprint identification system for the San  
Jose Police Department.  It's called C.O.N.F.I.R.M.  (COunty-wide Networked  
Fingerprint Identification Remote Match.

I'm not suggesting that CONFIRM was designed for the Instant Check system, just  
that the technology to create a nationwide fingerprints database exists, if the  
Gov'mnt were to decide that was a good thing.

What can be done to insure that this Instant Check database idea doesn't get  
out of hand?  (If it's not already too late.)

Can personal cryptography prevent the accumulation of information on people who  
are arrested (regardless of whether or not they are convicted)?  I doubt it.   
Only the elimination of the function of a police force would achieve that!

A related, and more philosophical question is:  Is there any room in  
Cypher-topia for databases containing information that can be used to identify  
convicted "rights-violators"?

Jim_Miller@suite.com


P.S. let me know if none of this is appropriate for the Cypherpunks list.  I'm  
still new to this list.