CWP fingerprints on file

rkammer · March 25, 2011, 10:33 AM

I live in Florida and have been informed by a friend who is an attorney that my fingerprints that are on file with the State when I obtained my CWP many years ago can be accessed by anyone wishing to do so.

I could understand that law enforcement might have the right to do that but, would anyone else also be able to do it?

Uncle Buck · March 26, 2011, 08:03 AM

What are your concerns regarding your finger prints?

I have finger prints on file from:

when I joined the military,
from when I received my security clearance, and updated it (x3),
from when I applied for a job with the State of Missouri (I was working with kids and then the mentally handicapped) (x3),
from when I applied for my first pistol in Rhode Island and Missouri,
From a few arrest when I was a minor.

There are probably a few other finger prints out there I have forgotten about.

Different government agencies could request the print cards and I do believe most of them have been recorded in national data bases. But just accessing the finger prints does not allow anyone to do anything with them unless they have something to match them against.

(I am not trying to be sarcastic, I am just trying to understand your concern.)

rkammer · March 26, 2011, 08:13 AM

Fair question - I also have had prints done numerous times over the years. Air Force enlistment, security clearance, NASA employment, Carry Permit, etc.

My concern isn't whether a gov't agency or law enforcement can access them, it's whether a private individual can access them and perhaps use them for less than legal purposes. It doesn't seem likely that that could happen but, I was curious to know for sure.

**Spats McGee** · March 26, 2011, 08:30 AM

Caveat: I am not a Florida lawyer, nor even a resident of Florida. Accordingly, my knowledge of Florida law is limited.

With that out of the way, I would agree that government agencies could access them, particularly law enforcement agencies. However, I'd be fairly surprised if "anyone wishing to do so" could access your fingerprints. If you want to test it, see if your attorney friend can get a set of your prints. If there's anyone who can figure out the regulations and jump through all the proper hoops, it ought to be an attorney, or a criminal.

CWKahrFan · March 26, 2011, 10:36 AM

"My concern isn't whether a gov't agency or law enforcement can access them, it's whether a private individual can access them and perhaps use them for less than legal purposes."

I haven't put A LOT of brainpower into thinking about this but I'm kinda curious as to what your concerns are... What could anyone actually DO with my fingerprints that would be problematic for me? What's the perceived threat?

4runnerman · March 26, 2011, 11:13 AM

I don't think i would worry about it at all.If you want to worry then just think
DL #
Social Sec #
PIN #
Those will cause you twice as much headache as finger prints.

m.p.driver · March 26, 2011, 11:32 AM

I wouldn't worry about everyday individuals accessing them,they'd have to have the ability to go into federal government and local law enforcement data bases.A friend years ago in the army was worried when they started taking blood samples for dna identification storage,in the event that they'd have to identify your remains. I told him that they had taken our blood from day one and would be surprised that it wasn't already on file.

Kreyzhorse · March 26, 2011, 05:49 PM

Fingerprint theft doesn't really seem to be sweeping the nation right now.

I'd be more worried about my CCW license being public record than my fingerprints being available.

**44 AMP** · March 26, 2011, 07:36 PM

What could anyone do with your fingerprint files? Create fake fingerprints (yours), and plant them as crime scene evidence? That seems like the only thing to me, and I seriously doubt that anyone beyond a TV show lab or some super secret govt agency would be able to do it.

And if they could, you couldn't do anything about it anyway!

FrankenMauser · March 27, 2011, 12:39 AM

Like Uncle Buck, I have fingerprints on file from:

Stupid choice I made as a juvenile.
FBI background check for bonded employment.
Military enlistment application process. (4 separate sets of prints taken)
Security clearance (and updates) - x3.
Non-disclosure agreements (including physical property - hence the fingerprints) - x4.

In addition, I have DNA on file with 3 different government agencies, and one private company.

Even if some one can access it, current technology makes it extremely difficult for all but a sophisticated lab to do anything with it. I'm not worried.

March 25, 2011, 10:33 AM	#1
rkammer Member Join Date: February 10, 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 66	CWP fingerprints on file I live in Florida and have been informed by a friend who is an attorney that my fingerprints that are on file with the State when I obtained my CWP many years ago can be accessed by anyone wishing to do so. I could understand that law enforcement might have the right to do that but, would anyone else also be able to do it?

March 26, 2011, 08:03 AM	#2
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	What are your concerns regarding your finger prints? I have finger prints on file from: when I joined the military, from when I received my security clearance, and updated it (x3), from when I applied for a job with the State of Missouri (I was working with kids and then the mentally handicapped) (x3), from when I applied for my first pistol in Rhode Island and Missouri, From a few arrest when I was a minor. There are probably a few other finger prints out there I have forgotten about. Different government agencies could request the print cards and I do believe most of them have been recorded in national data bases. But just accessing the finger prints does not allow anyone to do anything with them unless they have something to match them against. (I am not trying to be sarcastic, I am just trying to understand your concern.) __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

March 26, 2011, 10:36 AM	#5
CWKahrFan Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2010 Posts: 2,016	"My concern isn't whether a gov't agency or law enforcement can access them, it's whether a private individual can access them and perhaps use them for less than legal purposes." I haven't put A LOT of brainpower into thinking about this but I'm kinda curious as to what your concerns are... What could anyone actually DO with my fingerprints that would be problematic for me? What's the perceived threat? __________________ What did Mrs. Bullet say to Mr. Bullet? ... "We're having a BeeBee!"... IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!... IF THE GUN FITS, SHOOT IT! "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

March 26, 2011, 11:13 AM	#6
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	I don't think i would worry about it at all.If you want to worry then just think DL # Social Sec # PIN # Those will cause you twice as much headache as finger prints. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

March 26, 2011, 05:49 PM	#8
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Fingerprint theft doesn't really seem to be sweeping the nation right now. I'd be more worried about my CCW license being public record than my fingerprints being available. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 26, 2011, 08:13 AM	#3
rkammer Member Join Date: February 10, 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 66	Fair question - I also have had prints done numerous times over the years. Air Force enlistment, security clearance, NASA employment, Carry Permit, etc. My concern isn't whether a gov't agency or law enforcement can access them, it's whether a private individual can access them and perhaps use them for less than legal purposes. It doesn't seem likely that that could happen but, I was curious to know for sure.

March 26, 2011, 08:30 AM	#4
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	Caveat: I am not a Florida lawyer, nor even a resident of Florida. Accordingly, my knowledge of Florida law is limited. With that out of the way, I would agree that government agencies could access them, particularly law enforcement agencies. However, I'd be fairly surprised if "anyone wishing to do so" could access your fingerprints. If you want to test it, see if your attorney friend can get a set of your prints. If there's anyone who can figure out the regulations and jump through all the proper hoops, it ought to be an attorney, or a criminal.

March 26, 2011, 11:32 AM	#7
m.p.driver Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 552	I wouldn't worry about everyday individuals accessing them,they'd have to have the ability to go into federal government and local law enforcement data bases.A friend years ago in the army was worried when they started taking blood samples for dna identification storage,in the event that they'd have to identify your remains. I told him that they had taken our blood from day one and would be surprised that it wasn't already on file.

March 26, 2011, 07:36 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	What could anyone do with your fingerprint files? Create fake fingerprints (yours), and plant them as crime scene evidence? That seems like the only thing to me, and I seriously doubt that anyone beyond a TV show lab or some super secret govt agency would be able to do it. And if they could, you couldn't do anything about it anyway! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 27, 2011, 12:39 AM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Like Uncle Buck, I have fingerprints on file from: Stupid choice I made as a juvenile. FBI background check for bonded employment. Military enlistment application process. (4 separate sets of prints taken) Security clearance (and updates) - x3. Non-disclosure agreements (including physical property - hence the fingerprints) - x4. In addition, I have DNA on file with 3 different government agencies, and one private company. Even if some one can access it, current technology makes it extremely difficult for all but a sophisticated lab to do anything with it. I'm not worried. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.