Two Democrat-led states made moves this week to set up taxpayer-funded tip lines for individuals to anonymously report perceived firearms violations.

The lines, in Hawaii and Michigan, are ostensibly aimed at lawbreakers, but Second Amendment groups worry they could easily be abused.

In Hawaii on Thursday, Gov. Josh Green (D) announced the state Department of Law Enforcement has established a confidential “Gun Tip Line for people to make anonymous reports of illegal gun ownership and gun crimes.” Tipsters seeking to “drop a dime” can do so either via a call or text to a phone number or via the DLE’s website. Further, there is a downloadable app where tipsters can go so far as to submit photographs and videos to back up their report.

Going into greater detail, the Governor’s office stressed, “People reporting tips are encouraged to leave detailed information including the names of those in possession of illegal guns or committing gun crimes, a location where those people may be found, and a description of the guns.”

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed House Bill 5503 this week. The measure, an education funding bill, allocated $1 million in School Aid Funding to support a tip line for students to anonymously report “improperly stored firearms.”

The bill also mandates the state’s Department of Education will develop educational materials related to improperly stored firearms, including the use of the tip line to report them, and distribute the materials to school districts statewide.

The NRA-ILA stresses the tip line language was added to the spending bill as an amendment that was swiftly passed through the Democrat-controlled state legislature within hours.

“The expedited pace and the silencing of opposition when the bill came up for a floor vote underscores the reality that this was a political move and another attack on gun owners,” says the group. Going further, the organization contends, “This ‘tip line’ could result in unwarranted interactions with law enforcement and unfettered searches of homes, business, and other places where firearms could be stored.”