Restrictions on Gun Sales
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Although the text of your article on the proposed Alameda County gun-control ordinance was accurate, the sub-headline “NRA and ACLU object to the legislation” was incorrect.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California does not oppose the legislation but we are concerned about possible misuse by government authorities of the photographs and fingerprints required by the proposed ordinance.
From our experience, we have good reason to be concerned. Just a few months ago we filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Vietnamese-American contractor in San Jose who was falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned for three months simply because his photo was found in an “Asian mug book” compiled by the San Jose Police Department. Although that police department has agreed to stop using the Asian mug book, this case was not the first and certainly will not be the last to challenge law enforcement officials’ misuse of photographs and other identifying information of completely innocent people.
The ACLU does not oppose gun control, but we do oppose the over-broad and unnecessary collection and dissemination of personal information about innocent persons in permanent police files and records.
DOROTHY EHRLICH
Executive Director
ACLU of Northern California
San Francisco
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