Post by: KillzElk on March 02, 2009, 11:39:36 PM
This from KTHV, "An Arkansas lawmaker wants to make the list of people with concealed handgun permits a secret, and punish those who publish the information.
Rep. Randy Stewart, D-Kirby, on Wednesday filed legislation that would make information on concealed-gun permit holders confidential and exempt from the state's open records law. Stewart, a former Olympic shooter who also is a concealed-carry permit instructor, proposed in the legislation that knowingly publishing the list be a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.
Twenty-six states currently keep concealed-carry permit records confidential, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence."
Brummett pulls one of his usual contradictory editorials on the matter. I like how Max says he feels he did the right thing and would do it again but still admits that he took it down out of some legitimate safety concerns. Huh? Doesn't that kind of make our case for us?
Hey Brummett - you don't have "a right" to know who's carrying a concealed firearm. Period.
The whole purpose behind conceaeld carry is the fact that in a society in which the criminals dont know who's armed everyone benefits. The list was published by an irresponsible publication who's sole intent was to intimidate and harrass, with no consideration given to anyone on the list who might face retribution by criminals, employers or neighbors nor was any consideration given to people who have a need to remain secret such as private detectives, security personel, retired police officers, and battered women who have orders of protection against an abusive ex or boyfriend. This list was not published to illustrate a larger point about revocation rates, inconsistancies, or as a public vetting of the information contained therein. There can be no legitimate reason as far as the ARCCA see's it to publishing en mass the full names and addresses of permit holders.
In addition to that recently the Arkansas House killed a bill in committee that would have made the criminal records of public officials available to the public, I find it incomprehensible that our government officials would seek to hide the records of criminals but allow a far more law abiding segment of Arkansas society to be treated like registered sex offenders.