CA Gun Owners Personal Info Leaked In Mass Data Breach

CALIFORNIA — Every person with a California permit to carry a concealed weapon has been exposed in a data breach, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

The state's Department of Justice suffered a massive breach as it was working to launch a 2022 Firearms Dashboard Portal, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office reported.

The breach affects all concealed weapons permit holders across the state, officials said. The justice department shut the dashboard down and all relevant links after learning about the breach.

“This public site allows access to certain information, however, personal information of concealed carry weapon permit holders is not supposed to be visible,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote on social media.

The personal information included, but was not limited to, a person's name, age, address, Criminal Identification Index number and license type, the sheriff's office said.

The Sheriff's office said it was unknown how much time the information was available. Anyone who learns their information was leaked was urged to make a report online.

California Atty. Gen Rob Bonta confirmed that law enforcement was working with "urgency" to investigate the scope of the breach. He said his office will contact permit holders to advise them, Bonta said in a statement.

"We are investigating an exposure of individuals’ personal information connected to the DOJ Firearms Dashboard," Bonta said. "Any unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable. We are working swiftly to address this situation and will provide additional information as soon as possible."

The firearms portal was intended to " improve transparency and information sharing for firearms-related data and includes broad enhancements to the platform to help the public access data on firearms in California," according to Bonta's office.

The dashboard was intended to include data from the past decade when available on the following subjects.

• Dealer Record of Sales
• Gun Violence Restraining Orders
• Carry Concealed Weapons Permits
• Firearms Safety Certificates
• Assault Weapons
• Roster of Certified Handguns

The news comes as the state passes more legislation on restricting guns following the deadliest shooting on an elementary school campus in a decade.

READ MORE: 3 CA Laws That Take Effect July 1