Gun sales are currently suspended across the state following a hack of Washington’s online legal system earlier this month.
On November 2, several departments of the state’s judicial information systems, court websites and associated networks were taken offline due to “unauthorized activity.”
It affects everything from entrepreneurs to constitutional rights. The freeze also includes the online system used for firearms background checks, which is a direct violation of the Second Amendment.
Washington State Patrol has not had access to the “Secure Automated Firearms E-Check system” since November 1.
That’s the point of sale that oversees mandatory background checks for the purchase and possession of guns. It also means that the power outage directly delayed and prevented the completion of thousands of firearm sales statewide.
All this infringes on civil rights. And people like Melissa Denny and her clients are up in arms.
“There are still many people who don’t know they have to wait two weeks. So when they find out, they grumble,” said Denny, owner of Pistol Annie’s Jewelry and Pawn in Bonney Lake.
“But if you say, ‘It’s just a joke, it’s just a matter of when,’ they shoot the messenger,” she continued. “We are taking the brunt of the frustration.”
As for the hack, court officials do not believe there was a major breach of personal information. They say: “There is no evidence that the court or personal data has been accessed, altered or deleted.”
State Patrol Communications Director Chris Loftis understands the issue. He urged patience as officials try to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“The people working on it know the seriousness of it. They know the interconnectedness we have in these systems,” Loftis claims.
“They know this impacts people, and not just in the arena we’re talking about… gun background checks. But in many other arenas. And in all these cases it is a citizen, a taxpaying citizen, who deserves the very best from us. And that is what we try to bring,” assures Loftis.
In the meantime, the Washington State Patrol continues to receive between 400 and 1,000 background check requests every day. Average about 700.
That includes some from Denny, who is still accepting applications despite the delay. They simply cannot be processed at this time.
For its part, Loftis expects the systems to be back online and operational again next week.
In the meantime, several people seem to be helpless, their hands tied by hackers. And until the problem is resolved, the frustration will continue to grow. Just like the waiting list.
