Liberty Safe Confirms They Gave Feds Access Code to Gun Safe During Raid on January 6 Protester - Liberty Safe have universal codes to their safes

https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2023/09/06/liberty-safe-caved-gave-fbi-access-code-january-6-n2163468

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/SKRYJ

Liberty Safe, "America's #1 heavy-duty home and gun safe manufacturer," according to their website, issued a statement late Tuesday night confirming that they'd given the FBI an access code to a customer's gun safe in response to a request on August 30, 2023. That request came during a raid on the home of a man who'd attended a protest on January 6.

The statement reads:

On August 30, 2023, Liberty Safe was contacted by the FBI requesting the access code to the safe of an individual for whom they had a warrant to search their property. Our company protocol is to provide access codes to law enforcement if a warrant grants them access to a property. After receiving the request, we received proof of the valid warrant, and only then did we provide them with an access code. Liberty Safe had no knowledge of any of the details surrounding the investigation at the time.
Liberty Safe is devoted to protecting the personal property and 2nd amendment rights of our customers and has repeatedly denied requests for access codes without a warrant in the past. We do not give out combinations without proper legal documentation being provided by authorities.
We regularly update our policies to ensure both compliance with federal and state law and reasonable consumer privacy protections within the law. First and foremost, Liberty Safe is committed to preserving our customers’ rights, and we will remain unwavering in those values.

The incident they're referring to is the arrest of Nathan Hughes in Arkansas on August 30, 2023, after an FBI raid related to Hughes' attendance at the January 6 protests. On Monday evening the Hodgetwins tweeted out Hughes' story, including that "the feds called the manufacturer of his Liberty Gun Safe and got the passcode to get into it too."

The full tweet shares more disturbing information, including that the FBI turned off his security cameras and held his girlfriend at gunpoint and put her in handcuffs.

Last week, a friend of ours was raided by the feds over J6, his name is Nathan Hughes and he’s from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Nate was raided by the FBI and arrested at gun point. His girlfriend (who just had a miscarriage) was held at gun point and put in handcuffs. The FBI turned off his security cameras, unplugged his internet, and flipped his house upside down in a search. The feds called the manufacturer of his Liberty Gun Safe and got the passcode to get into it too. All for protesting at the Capitol over 2 1/2 years ago.
He is being charged with crimes related to January 6th. He didn’t assault anyone and he didn’t vandalize anything. He is being labeled a domestic terrorist and a traitor to his country by woke leftists and the media.
Nate is just like us…he’s an outspoken American Patriot…he loves freedom, loves his country, and would do anything to preserve our rights. He’s been fighting to save our country for years now.
He’s also a small business owner with a family that relies on him.
We all know how heated this political climate is getting, but they’ve pushed too far and it’s time for people to speak up for people getting screwed by the system. BLM and Antifa can go burn down our cities and get off the hook, but Trump supporters get raided and rounded up for protesting.
Nate’s legal bills to fight these charges will be over $100,000, so we’re donating $5,000 to Nathan’s defense fund to start it out, and hope you can donate something too. Link in next tweet.

Obviously, that tweet set off a flurry of social media activity and speculation about Liberty Safe, leading to the company's acknowledgement that they had given the FBI "the access code" to Nathan Hughes' gun safe. While it could be tempting to at least give them credit for coming clean, they were simply trying to get slightly ahead of the s**t storm - once court filings related to the raid and search are made public, they'll clearly show that the feds made contact with Liberty and were given the/an access code. It's not really clear whether this is an access code only for that safe or is some kind of universal backdoor access that all Liberty safes have.

Regardless, the assertion that they are committed to protecting the personal property and 2nd Amendment rights of their customers and preserving their rights is a joke. Even if there's a valid warrant for law enforcement to search the premises, if there was no backdoor access available the feds would have had to find another way into Hughes' safe and perhaps he would have had the opportunity to have his attorney challenge the search warrant. It's not up to Liberty to decide whether or not a warrant being served on one of their customers is valid. If they're so committed to their customers' privacy and protecting their fundamental rights, they could at least go through the motions of having their own legal team fight requests for access. Even better, they can ensure that there's no backdoor access available, period.

 

[BobbyBriggs69420]

There is certainly a vocal minority on the right that are flat out boot-lickers. Lots of 'they had a warrant, what's the problem' crap. I don't know how these guys can witness current events or history and realize that it's mostly the police force that comes after political enemies. It's rarely ever the military.

This is probably the weirdest internal contradiction of the right. Sometimes you'll see the right protest law enforcement a bit more when a Democrat is president, like that really matters.

There's certainly a vocal minority on the right that are flat out only interested in being or only capable of being a guy that's exactly 180 contrary all the time on all the most popular leftist opinions on he screenz.

ps. are nations heroe cop's can do no wrong.

 

[General Emílio Médici]

It's literally worse than useless as a safe. Amazing.

 

[Ghostse]

There's certainly no radios in the ones I know of. I don't know if we'll ever get the full story. My best bet is there's some long ass code that series of the safes all share that only 'those in the know' are supposed to know about. It wouldn't make sense really to go by serial number, because I'm pretty sure all serials on major safe brands are only printed on the inside. I know my older one basically said you lose the combo, get a safe cracker, there's no backup. But I doubt you can trust it.

ETA there are small electronic safes with bluetooth though that are relatively new,

If done correctly, for personal safes to prevent a "Grandpa forgot the code" moment, there is unique manufacturer's code for each serial number that you can call the manufacturer, have them get it from secure retreival, and prove ownership to get. There was some company I worked with (and I can't remember if it was the safe maker, the lock maker, or just the service) where we had to call a special number. We had to provide serial number and call from a yellow/white-pages listed number. After they were satisfied, they hung up and called us back in like 30 minutes because someone had to go into their archives for the hardcopy.

The best you can usually hope for its a universal code that works on ~1,000-10,000 safes and is rotated for serial batches.

But usually its just going to be one code for anything these niggas make.

This isn't great, but I'm going to hold rage for what the warrant covered.
If the FBI had a warrant for any locked safes on the premises, they were just speeding up the inevitable and that's more of a shrug and "LOL electronic locks" for my perspect. If it was just a general search warrant and they gave the FBI the code and there by let them search something they wouldn't have been allowed to search otherwise, fuck these guys.

 

[Desu Mountain]

 

[mlanguishi]

If done correctly, for personal safes to prevent a "Grandpa forgot the code" moment, there is unique manufacturer's code for each serial number that you can call the manufacturer, have them get it from secure retreival, and prove ownership to get. There was some company I worked with (and I can't remember if it was the safe maker, the lock maker, or just the service) where we had to call a special number. We had to provide serial number and call from a yellow/white-pages listed number. After they were satisfied, they hung up and called us back in like 30 minutes because someone had to go into their archives for the hardcopy.

Yeah, I've had safes come with a number that you could send away and get a replacement key for. That's not the issue that bugs me about this really. At least any key replacement should only work on that one lock. I'm moderately pissed about this, but if it turns out that there's universal backdoors, that'll really suck. I think you should have the option to disable all codes except for one in any electronic lock.

It's not like you can't get someone to open a safe without a key, it's just usually incredibly expensive for locksmiths. I'd at least prefer some transparency but I have basically zero hope on that.

 

[Hiphopopotamus]

https://www.wyff4.com/amp/article/girl-stuck-in-gun-safe-north-carolina/44465211

Save a young girl's life? No.
Voluntarily comply with a meaningless warrant, which isn't a court order? Yes.

 

[BikeLock]

The idea of an electronic safe lock having a backdoor seems like common sense. The same kinds of boomer who are throwing a fit over this are the ones forgetting their passwords.

With that said, most commercial safes won't stop determined and skilled thieves, it might just take them longer to break in. Your $1000 liberty safe you bought at bass pro certainly won't stop the feds regardless of whether or not the company lets them in.

The whole point is to FORCE them to go and get the power tools. If your safe has a universal backdoor code, its not a safe, its just a locked box, if anything I thank Liberty Safes for fucking up and admitting this so I don't spend my hard earned money on one, and give the heads up to my family who has.

 

[Morethanabitfoolish]

https://www.wyff4.com/amp/article/girl-stuck-in-gun-safe-north-carolina/44465211

View attachment 5320442
Save a young girl's life? No.
Voluntarily comply with a meaningless warrant, which isn't a court order? Yes.

Yep, mad on the internet now.
Believe it or not Last Week Tonight kind of touched on this when defending Apple's unwillingness to write override access for their devices so the Feds could go poking around whenever they wanted. Somehow I doubt that shrieking turd Oliver will be so willing to do a piece on this.

 

[Ghostse]

The whole point is to FORCE them to go and get the power tools. If your safe has a universal backdoor code, its not a safe, its just a locked box, if anything I thank Liberty Safes for fucking up and admitting this so I don't spend my hard earned money on one, and give the heads up to my family who has.

Anything with an electronic lock is pretty much a lockbox/firebox unless it is... fuck I forget the designation but "people storing real corpo ammounts of money/jewels and will sue us into oblivion if a thief gets it". IF the electronics for the lock are not buried in the door behind hardened pannel. Because you can just smash out the control pad and send voltage to the motor.
And even then, you are running wires through your safe. Your shit is already breached, someone with a drill already has a starting point.

 

[Falcos_Commisar]

The whole point is to FORCE them to go and get the power tools. If your safe has a universal backdoor code, its not a safe, its just a locked box, if anything I thank Liberty Safes for fucking up and admitting this so I don't spend my hard earned money on one, and give the heads up to my family who has.

Goddamn now I need to find a better safe supplier

 

[likeacrackado]

The whole point is to FORCE them to go and get the power tools. If your safe has a universal backdoor code, its not a safe, its just a locked box, if anything I thank Liberty Safes for fucking up and admitting this so I don't spend my hard earned money on one, and give the heads up to my family who has.

I'm genuinely surprised that people are shocked at this. Don't buy a safe with an electronic lock if it concerns you that the manufacturer keeps a code. Modern vehicle manufacturers also keep records of your ignition keys on file if you need something similar to freak out about.

The problem here, to my understanding, is that Liberty gave up the combo without much of a fight or a specific warrant for the contents of the safe.

 

[That_Guy]

The whole point is to FORCE them to go and get the power tools. If your safe has a universal backdoor code, its not a safe, its just a locked box, if anything I thank Liberty Safes for fucking up and admitting this so I don't spend my hard earned money on one, and give the heads up to my family who has.

Not even always a lockbox VS safe thing, If they have to cut it open it's usually pretty clear you didn't let them in. Then if there was something was in there they really need that warrant to be solid.

 

[Go Lift Some Bitches]

Who tf makes a safe that has preset codes, and more importantly who are the schmucks buying such a safe?
They didn't have to respond to the warrant, they shouldn't have the ability to have the codes to a safe owned by a private citizen. Their business should rot

 

[Meat Target]

Yep, mad on the internet now.
Believe it or not Last Week Tonight kind of touched on this when defending Apple's unwillingness to write override access for their devices so the Feds could go poking around whenever they wanted. Somehow I doubt that shrieking turd Oliver will be so willing to do a piece on this.

I'm genuinely surprised that people are shocked at this. Don't buy a safe with an electronic lock if it concerns you that the manufacturer keeps a code. Modern vehicle manufacturers also keep records of your ignition keys on file if you need something similar to freak out about.

The problem here, to my understanding, is that Liberty gave up the combo without much of a fight or a specific warrant for the contents of the safe.

A company like Apple is much bigger than Liberty Safes, and has the means to contest such things.

I'm not defending Liberty Safes's cowardice, but I doubt they're willing to catch an obstruction charge or get shut down to protect a customer. Most companies are gonna do what is expedient for themselves.

 

[Sexy Peach Emoji]

A company like Apple is much bigger than Liberty Safes, and has the means to contest such things.

I'm not defending Liberty Safes's cowardice, but I doubt they're willing to catch an obstruction charge or get shut down to protect a customer. Most companies are gonna do what is expedient for themselves.

This is a fair point, but it is still fair for us to take them over the coals for it, while raking the feds over the coals for their political thuggery.

 

[xXx: State of the Union]

Never buy a safe with an electric lock.

I know that's probably easier said than done these days, but it's something that was drilled into my head by all my criminal relatives.

 

[Nopenopenope]

Isn't this the exact sort of thing most Western nations are shitting their pants over the Chinese potentially doing with their electronics? Hence why Huawei are banned etc? Or is it just they are worried the chinks will tell the feds to fuck off in situations like this?

 

[Ghostse]

View attachment 5320432

Devil's advocate here:
There are a finite number of locksmiths (and cops), and Liberty probably has a relationship with all of them. The Locksmith is just acting as a validation mechanism. (and the fact they'll only tell the universal code to the locksmith makes me think that its a truly universal code). Locksmiths usually need to have their finger prints on file so if they do something utter retarded they are not long for getting caught.

There are a limited number of police agencies, and validation of a warrant is pretty much built-in.

Basically if you call up, Liberty has no idea who you are or what you are. The locksmith is just there to put his professional credibility on the line to say "yeah, this nigga owns the safe."

But yeah, Liberty should have made the FBI get a locksmith.

I'm genuinely surprised that people are shocked at this. Don't buy a safe with an electronic lock if it concerns you that the manufacturer keeps a code. Modern vehicle manufacturers also keep records of your ignition keys on file if you need something similar to freak out about.

The problem here, to my understanding, is that Liberty gave up the combo without much of a fight or a specific warrant for the contents of the safe.

I would need to see the warrant but my assumption is the Feds aren't complete morons (and neither is Liberty Safe) and the warrant included verbage about gun safes or something similar. All speculation until the actual text of the warrant comes out.

A company like Apple is much bigger than Liberty Safes, and has the means to contest such things.

I'm not defending Liberty Safes's cowardice, but I doubt they're willing to catch an obstruction charge or get shut down to protect a customer. Most companies are gonna do what is expedient for themselves.

They wouldn't catch an obstruction. The Feds might threaten it, but it'd never go anywhere in this case.
Most likely its a company cooperating with law enforcement.

Not even always a lockbox VS safe thing, If they have to cut it open it's usually pretty clear you didn't let them in. Then if there was something was in there they really need that warrant to be solid.

Most warrants only cover what is in plain view. They are allowed to open drawers, but you could have a shitty steamer trunk secured with with a 25 cent lock and as far as 90% of all warrants and the Badgies serving them, its an impenetrable vault in fort fucking knox. The warrant can be ammended to include these thing but unless the judge is friendly or new evidence is uncovered that can be a tough ask.

again, it wouldn't have changed anything but Liberty should have - at bare minimum - made the feds go get a locksmith. Ideally they have have told the Feds to eat cock until they have a court order.

 

[Corpun]

At this point I am glad I was no where close to DC that day, because I feel like the feds will soon be coming for anyone who might have been remotely close to the area looking for people to prosecute.

 

[mlanguishi]

At this point I am glad I was no where close to DC that day, because I feel like the feds will soon be coming for anyone who might have been remotely close to the area looking for people to prosecute.

Apparently there's some sort of legal defense fund setup for this guy that's up to $20k last I checked. I imagine that's going to get a lot of eyes on those donors.