Government Blacklist?

[aka.decoy]

Can anyone verify the existence/non-existence of a federal/state blacklist? There used to be a "spy-tech" store in my area, and I could purchase lockpicks as long as they weren't automotive. The clerk also had other items (weapons, scanners, fake-i.d. how-to's) and stated that if purchased, he required my personal information, and would be put on a "government blacklist".

Is this real? If so, do the websites we purchase from release our information upon making a purchase? I'm just worried about those of us with federal jobs. I know my local purchasing and possesion laws, but I've personally seen the federal government fire people for very obscure reasons.

Any information on this topic is greatly appreciated!

[Legion303]

Sounds like he was making it up. If you have a clearance, though, you should avoid buying anything "questionable" from the web unless you're comfortable explaining the situation to your boss.

-steve

[aka.decoy]

Yeah. Too bad I don't have any nearby friends into lockpicking. I could send it to their house. Speaking of which, is there a post that you can search for lockpicking-event-type-stuff/people in your area?

[Eyes_Only]

There is a "Locksport Local" forum under the advanced section for that.

[raimundo]

there are lots of government blacklists, people who cant fly on commercial airlines because they have names like james robinson, writers who cant work in hollywood for political views, lawyers who arent allowed jobs at the just us department because they aren't corrupt enough, people who don't support the war for oil, or won't stop protesting death squads, The post office is now watching all the various correspondence, so that they have records of everyone you communticate with,
but don't worry if your on one of these lists, just ignore it, most of the enforcement is left to simpleminded lazy minimum wage time servers who are mostly retired on the job.

[MacGnG1]

i think you have to ask MBI

[MBI]

i think you have to ask MBI

lol.

I do not currently, nor have I ever, worked for a U.S. Federal Government law enforcement or intelligence agency. Oh, and I'm not a lawyer so this is not intended to be legal advice, merely some anecdotal information from my own experience, for those who are curious.

Ok, now that my disclaimer is out of the way...

The closest thing I've ever seen to a situation like you mention, is when a store ends up selling items which are legally restricted from sale to the public. Or in the case of certain electronic surveillance/counter-surveillance items, items which some alphabet soup agencies wish weren't sold to the general public. I've heard of cases like this where sales records were requested or subpoenaed and customers were contacted later on, and requested to "voluntarily" relinquish the items.

I doubt it's a common occurrence, but I've known it to happen. When it does take place it always seems to happen after the fact, once it filters back to an agency that such sales are being made. There is no "active" list where retailers are required to send in sales records on an ongoing basis, except in the case of sales of certain explosives (or components), and certain types of firearm sales. Some states have registration of all firearms sales at the state level, but most regular firearm sales are not subject to any sort of centralized federal registry. Although FFL holders are required to maintain copies of all paperwork from gun sales at their business in case a firearm is used in a crime and needs to be traced afterwards.

Possibly the most annoying situation like this which I've seen is when the government retroactively reclassifies firearms or even just certain components, and the owners are contacted and ordered to surrender the items. What I see as unfair here, is that no compensation is given to the property owner, the items were completely legal at the time of purchase, and the reclassification was done at an administrative level as opposed to a legislative level.

If you don't understand this significance of this distinction (administrative vs legislative), do some research on the Rule of Man vs the Rule of Law. It's the difference between a dictatorship and a democracy. That's all I'll say on that subject because this is a lockpicking forum and I don't want this to degenerate into a political argument.

International sales of certain electronic components, devices and software are subject to governmental regulations, but that's a whole different ballpark than domestic sales.

[MacGnG1]

i didnt think about guns when i first read that thread tho. but lots of electronics are "export only" like some fm transmitters and some high end radios that can monitor analog cell signals

[Squelchtone]

i didnt think about guns when i first read that thread tho. but lots of electronics are "export only" like some fm transmitters and some high end radios that can monitor analog cell signals

certain encryption algorithms and devices are also on the list. and other countries around the world, receivers can listen to cell phones all you want, its just the USA that has a law against it, so manufacture or import into the US is prohibited, not the export as far as I know.

Squelchtone

[MBI]

certain encryption algorithms and devices are also on the list. and other countries around the world, receivers can listen to cell phones all you want, its just the USA that has a law against it, so manufacture or import into the US is prohibited, not the export as far as I know.

Squelchtone

Yes, some encryption software cannot be legally exported out of the US. In addition to certain types of software, there's actually a LOT of hardware (electronic devices and components) that cannot be exported out of the US (Canada is often exempted).

I'm not just referring to the obvious stuff, such as classified surplus military parts, like the infamous F-14 spare parts scandal, but also a large number of consumer products. This includes certain computer chips and processors, GPS devices, night vision gear, thermal imagers, many types of computers, various computer components, and more. Even a lot of online PC retailers (Dell for example), require you to electronically "sign" a statement that the computer will not be taken outside the borders of the USA, before you can complete the order for certain laptop models. A large part of the reason for this is to help prevent certain foreign countries from closing the technology gap between the US military and theirs.

It may sound like a futile effort, but they do put a lot of work into enforcing it, and they do prosecute violators. They've especially had a large number of people from the Middle East and Southeast Asia who are in the US on student visas who have been caught trying to smuggle suitcases full of restricted items out of the US. Commonly, it's high-end CPUs (possibly for making poor-man's supercomputers), night vision gear, and US military surplus equipment and uniforms.

[unjust]

black list of persons... not that i'm aware of aside from selling certain weapons in certain localities to felons, and the do-not-fly list of small unfortunately named children.

individual stores will refuse to sell to persons outside of trades/unions/departments/w/o documentation/because you look shifty, however that's a store policy and (generally) well within their rights.

[dougfarre]

I know how to get on the governments blacklist. Start buying huge amounts of psudophedrine, make posts on weird chemistry forums, spill HCL all over your front lawn, and kill some type of large animal and let it decompose in your backyard for that unique smell.

[6174]

Yes, some encryption software cannot be legally exported out of the US.

That is only sorta true. The regulations are currently controlled by Bureau of Industry and Security (part of the Department of Commerce). Their regulations are mostly permissive with restrictions realistically being limited to rouge states (North Korea, Iran, etc...). If you want the full gory details on what exactly is allowed, take a look at the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). For crypto the relevant portion is Category 5 Part 2.

[aka.decoy]

I know how to get on the governments blacklist. Start buying huge amounts of psudophedrine, make posts on weird chemistry forums, spill HCL all over your front lawn, and kill some type of large animal and let it decompose in your backyard for that unique smell.

Hey. That sounds like a friday night to me!

I was reading your signature, and I have read the FAQ's on the Locksport Int. Page. Would you prefer a pm or email for further questions?

[Scott_93]

This all sounds abit communist to me, not being allowed to export certain goods and "Goverment Blacklists". I know for a fact that it illegal to export the Motorola DVP-XL radio encryption program without prior consent from the US Goverment.

Scott.