More than 18,000 Fresno concealed weapons permit holders impacted by data breach

The California Department of Justice on Wednesday reported that driver’s license numbers, addresses, and any criminal history of more than 18,000 concealed weapons permit holders in the Fresno area were disclosed by mistake in a massive data breach.

Those impacted include both applicants who were granted the permits and those who were denied from 2011 to 2021, according to a department press release. The data breach was disclosed Tuesday. Social Security numbers were not released. Additionally, disclosed data also included information from the state’s Assault Weapons Registry.

Tony Botti, of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, said his agency has about 15,000 active permits. Diana Trueba-Vega, of the Fresno Police Department, said about 3,000 CCWs have been issued by her agency.

Also impacted, according to the the press release, was information about firearm sales records, firearm safety certificates, and gun violence restraining orders. The department said it was investigating how much information was disclosed from those databases.

Said Attorney General Rob Bonta:

“This unauthorized release of personal information is unacceptable and falls far short of my expectations for this department. I immediately launched an investigation into how this occurred.”

Second Amendment advocates said the data breach was potentially a public safety issue. Sam Paredes of Gun Owners of California said it endangered the lives of “hundreds of judges, retired police officers, as well as district attorneys.

“It gives thieves a road map and it gives information to anyone who wants to be vindictive in a judicial ruling.”

Parades said he believed there would be a lawsuit over the breach. Matthew Larosiere, of the Firearms Policy Coalition, said there would be a “lot of research before any legal action,” But he added:

“This is why you can’t trust the government.”

Bonta said his department learned of the breach Monday afternoon and took steps to shut down a spreadsheet containing the data on the DOJ website. He said the data was available for less than 24 hours.

He said the department will notify those whose data was exposed and “provide additional information and resources, as required by California law.”

Those potentially affected were urged to monitor their credit, consider placing a freeze on it, and contact police or sheriff’s offices if they believe they are a victim of identity theft.