DOJ has 466 pages of documents that refer to "me!"

[oaklander]

So a couple of weeks ago, I did a PRAR (Public Records Act Request) to the DOJ to see if they had any documents that "referred or related" to me.

Well, I hit the jackpot. According to a Alison Merrilees, there are 466 pages of documents that fit that description. . .

:D

Needless to say, I sent them some money for postage and copying, and in a few days I will be getting the docs.

I'll be sure to post anything interesting when I get the docs. . . (if it's about me and not someone who has the same name as me).

EDIT: here's the request that I emailed on June 6:

Dear Ms. Merrilees,

I hope this email finds you well, and I wish to thank you for the recent detailed response to my previous request for California machine gun registrations. Although you did not substantively respond to my request, the lengthy legal memo that you wrote instead was most elucidating.

I have another Public Records Act Request, pursuant to Govt. Code §§ 6250 - 6276.48.

As per the code, I am seeking all records, including all forms of communication "regardless of physical form or characteristics, including any writing, picture, sound, or symbol, whether paper, fiber, magnetic, or other media." (§ 6252(e)) that concern, refer or relate to [my name]," etc..

The time period for this request is "all documents dating back three years from today's date."

I am seeking all records that are in the Department of Justice, and/or the Bureau of Firearms, custody or control.

This request would obviously cover all communications from "me" to the DOJ/BOF, all communications from the DOJ/BOF to "me" and all internal communications that refer or relate to "me."

Per the Code, I will expect a response in 10 days.

Please do not hesitate to contact me, should I be of any assistance.

[signature redacted]

EDIT: it's possible that there's another California gun owner with my full name - but not likely. . .

[ke6guj]

I think I'll break out the :popcorn: . This looks like its gonna be fun.

[Knight]

*tag* This should be good . . .

[leelaw]

EDIT: here's the request that I emailed on June 6:

Glorious. :D

[Eric_Oh]

watching....

[saigon1965]

All aboard.

[workinwifdakids]

:lurk5:

[Glock30]

lolz, in.

[DesertGunner]

Doesn't anybody know how to subscribe to a thread? Sorry, but it gets annoying trying to read a thread that consists of 10 pages worth of "im getting my popcorn!" and "sweet!"

[DrunkSkunk]

Doesn't anybody know how to subscribe to a thread? Sorry, but it gets annoying trying to read a thread that consists of 10 pages worth of "im getting my popcorn!" and "sweet!"

Sweet! I'm getting my popcorn!

:lurk5:

[gcvt]

Sweet! I'm getting my popcorn!

:lurk5:

Hey DS, can I have some of your popcorn? Sweet! :D

[aileron]

I'm out of popcorn.

[RW Dunn]

oh so sweet and popcorn to boot

[ZombieKiller]

tag.........

[caduckgunner]

old school tag

[Rumpled]

Your letter seems to reference a PRAR for machind gun registrations.
Care to fill us in on that?

[RomanDad]

So a couple of weeks ago, I did a PRAR (Public Records Act Request) to the DOJ to see if they had any documents that "referred or related" to me.

Well, I hit the jackpot. According to a Alison Merrilees, there are 466 pages of documents that fit that description. . .

:D

Needless to say, I sent them some money for postage and copying, and in a few days I will be getting the docs.

I'll be sure to post anything interesting when I get the docs. . . (if it's about me and not someone who has the same name as me).

EDIT: here's the request that I emailed on June 6:



EDIT: it's possible that there's another California gun owner with my full name - but not likely. . .

Youre an attorney and gun owner... So you've been fingerprinted/had background checked a few times.... I think each time they do it, it produces another stack of paper.

And its a pretty common name. My best friend in elementary school had the same name (and Im assuming hes not you, because Im pretty sure hes not a lawyer ;) ).

[workinwifdakids]

Doesn't anybody know how to subscribe to a thread? Sorry, but it gets annoying trying to read a thread that consists of 10 pages worth of "im getting my popcorn!" and "sweet!"

If I had kettle corn, could I say -- wait for it --

sweet popcorn?
:hide:

[Librarian]

Your letter seems to reference a PRAR for machind gun registrations.
Care to fill us in on that?

I'm sure he'd be interested in such, but what in post #1 leads you to believe that?

ETA - Oops ... more coffee. It's right there.

[saigon1965]

Doesn't anybody know how to subscribe to a thread? Sorry, but it gets annoying trying to read a thread that consists of 10 pages worth of "im getting my popcorn!" and "sweet!"


Go to OP, hit thread tool, there you can subscribe to a thread.

[vandal]

The reason they only have 466 is they are backlogged and cannot catch up to your post count.

[ivanimal]

Again, its all about you isnt it!:p

[NSR500]

OMGWTFSWEETPOPCORN!!!
:hide:

[saigon1965]

Popcorn is out, I am moving to nuts.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Popcorn is out, I am moving to nuts.

See everyone?? I told you.... they get the right to marry and then society itself starts to crumble! ;)

[oaklander]

I did a PRAR to get certain information related to registered machine guns in California.

Alison ended up mailing me a detailed legal memo purporting to explain why she wouldn't give this information to me. I was busy with other stuff, so I chose not to pursue a writ of mandamus at that time.

:D

Your letter seems to reference a PRAR for machind gun registrations.
Care to fill us in on that?

[1064chubbs]

Popcorn is out, I am moving to nuts.

Man you just threw up a beach ball and I was tempted to hit a homerun but EPU ran with it already.

[daves100]

why did you only request to go back 3 years? what is the address so i can send a letter requesting the info on myself

[Rumpled]

I did a PRAR to get certain information related to registered machine guns in California.

Alison ended up mailing me a detailed legal memo purporting to explain why she wouldn't give this information to me. I was busy with other stuff, so I chose not to pursue a writ of mandamus at that time.

:D

OK, cool thanks for that update.
I'm sure if you want to tell us this tale, we'll all get our kettle korn and listen in.

[saigon1965]

Man you just threw up a beach ball and I was tempted to hit a homerun but EPU ran with it already.


He's been on my tail.

[oaklander]

LOL, some stuff is better not posted in a public forum.

The only reason I started this thread was to let people know that the DOJ does appear to keep quit a bit of information on certain people.

I will know more when I get the documents.

Just for the record - I don't have any particular beef with the DOJ. They have been cooperative with me so far. There are some things I would like to see changed, but those are being worked on.

:)

OK, cool thanks for that update.
I'm sure if you want to tell us this tale, we'll all get our kettle korn and listen in.

[Charliegone]

I'm out of popcorn.

Man, **** popcorn get a beer and chips.:cool2:

[Pthfndr]

The only reason I started this thread was to let people know that the DOJ does appear to keep quit a bit of information on certain people.

I will know more when I get the documents.

:)

They are going to send you copies/transcripts of every post you ever made on any firearm forum.

[tenpercentfirearms]

They are going to send you copies/transcripts of every post you ever made on any firearm forum.

LOL. Man that would freak some people out.

[tgriffin]

LOL. Man that would freak some people out.

BIG +1.

Thats not too far fetched either.

But, knowing Oak, thats a whole hell of alot more than 466 pages

[motorhead]

only worry if files contain wiretap/suveillance footage.

[AJAX22]

I'm just curious why you didn't include the alias oaklander in the request?

Do they always reference proper names in doccuments? or do they occasionally refer to us by our internet handle?

either way, I want to send in one now :D

[ChibiPaw]

I can imagine background check entries.
But wouldn't it be funny if it's somebody else with the same name?

[12voltguy]

Doesn't anybody know how to subscribe to a thread? Sorry, but it gets annoying trying to read a thread that consists of 10 pages worth of "im getting my popcorn!" and "sweet!"


no, likely same people that say "PM SENT"
if someone wants to get PMs that have that feature tirned on, I know sites that will kick you for posting PM sent, PM replied, damn it's a private message, no need to post in public you sent it, we don't care:rolleyes: but there post count won't go up if they don't:kest:

[shonc99]

TAGGED

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/119693609_9214103275.jpg?v=0

[artherd]

only worry if files contain wiretap/suveillance footage.

I'd be celebrating (and filing...)

[ptoguy2002]

Not forgetting about this in the wake of Heller.
Eagerly await the results.

[oaklander]

OK - so I got the PRAR a couple of days ago - it's now up to 677 pages!

I still have not had time to look through all of it - but it looks like what she did was to take my previous PRAR that netted about 600 docs, and simply give that to me again, then added some of my emails to them and their letters to me.

I suspect that if there are any smoking guns, they will be buried.

I am going to take all the docs into the office on Sunday, and if there's anything interesting - I will scan it and post it at my law firm website.

[packnrat]

i would hate to see how thick of a file they have on me.:eek:


:TFH:


.

[oaklander]

i would hate to see how thick of a file they have on me.:eek:


:TFH:


.

I have a bunch of letters from various Calgunners, asking about a lot of different things. . .

:D

[spsellars]

I still have not had time to look through all of it - but it looks like what she did was to take my previous PRAR that netted about 600 docs, and simply give that to me again, then added some of my emails to them and their letters to me.

How did the previous one even get up to 600 docs? If you don't mind answering, what does the bulk seem to consist of? (is work related stuff in there, online postings, or is it 600 pages of you and the DOJ going back and forth?)

[oaklander]

It's about 20 pages of correspondence between me and the DOJ, and 640 pages of the following:

1) people asking about their milpitas lowers (and DOJ replies)
2) people asking questions about specific lowers (i.e. is this legal in Cali?) (and DOJ replies)
3) some internal memoranda regarding the "important memo" that was pulled from the DOJ website.
4) some powerpoint presentations
5) responses to questions submitted to the DOJ website. (and DOJ replies)
5) a couple of documents were draft and have Alison Merrilees' notes scrawled on the margins.

In retrospect, I do not think that I got all of these docs first time I asked. I am going to be giving them to The Right People for perusal.

How did the previous one even get up to 600 docs? If you don't mind answering, what does the bulk seem to consist of? (is work related stuff in there, online postings, or is it 600 pages of you and the DOJ going back and forth?)

[spsellars]

5) a couple of documents were draft and has Alison Merrilees' notes scrawled on the margins.

Hopefully something fun pops up with those. :D

Good luck man!

[1lostinspace]

wow tonight we will dine in hell

:devil2:

[mattmcg]

I have a bunch of letters from various Calgunners, asking about a lot of different things. . .

:D

Were these questions that were posted on this forum that they then archived and put into your file?

So is the bottom line that the DOJ is collecting info off this website on a regular basis?

[oaklander]

Nothing from this website - they were questions that had been submitted via email and postal mail to the DOJ.

Were these questions that were posted on this forum that they then archived and put into your file?

So is the bottom line that the DOJ is collecting info off this website on a regular basis?

[H Paul Payne]

Were these questions that were posted on this forum that they then archived and put into your file?

So is the bottom line that the DOJ is collecting info off this website on a regular basis?


I have personally attended meetings with DOJ staff, where Alison Merrilees has voiced negative comments about messages/comments posted on Calguns.net AND displayed printed copies of some of those postings from this web site. Of course there have also been the complaints regarding NRA alerts/updates (both internal and external) that I have distributed.

Oh well, maybe I'll lose sleep about it someday, but today is not that day. ;)

Paul

[GuyW]

I have personally attended meetings with DOJ staff, where Alison Merrilees has voiced negative comments about messages/comments posted on Calguns.net AND displayed printed copies of some of those postings from this web site. Of course there have also been the complaints regarding NRA alerts/updates (both internal and external) that I have distributed.

Oh well, maybe I'll lose sleep about it someday, but today is not that day. ;)

Paul

Gee - that kinda encourages me to post something that (rightfully so) kicks the DOJ in their collectives *****es...