OLYMPIA, Wash. — A cyberbreach of a state computer network could get Washington state sued by a gun advocacy organization.
The state shut down the courts’ computer systems Nov. 2 after “unauthorized activity” on the network, according to a spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the Courts.
No personal or confidential data was obtained, according to spokesperson Wendy Ferrell.
The shutdown has caused delays in court proceedings and background checks for potential foster parents. Background checks have not been completed for firearms purchases since Nov. 1, according to the Washington State Patrol.
WSP spokesperson Chris Loftis said before the shutdown, the state was processing approximately 700 background checks of gun buyers every day.
The process that typically takes 10 business days, could take weeks.
“This is simply unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it,” said Second Amendment Foundation founder and executive vice president Alan M. Gottlieb.
“Washington state citizens have had their rights under the federal and state constitutions suspended, and we will take legal action if this isn’t solved immediately,” said Gottlieb.
Loftis said there is no workaround, especially in a system that is supposed to ensure guns don’t end up in the wrong hands.
”I use the analogy of the bridge being out. If the bridge is out, the bridge is out. You just have to pull over and wait,” said Loftis. “We can't do something that's unsafe when it comes to making sure that the people that are able to legally possess, carry, and have firearms."
Loftis said the state expects the system to be running again next week.
Second Amendment Foundation spokesperson Dave Workman said the state needs to come up with a backup background check system to prepare for future hackings.
”While they've assured everybody that nobody's records had been tampered with, their rights have been tampered with," said Workman.