Paper receives flak for list
Threats of violence, litigation and legislation sprang up after a list of people allowed to carry concealed weapons was released.
By Laurence Hammack
981-3239
Related
Past stories
Roanoke.com drops list of gun owners
The Roanoke Times Removes Database of Handgun Permit Holders
The Roanoke Times will not re-post a list of gun owners on its Web site, even after being told amid continuing public furor that releasing the information does not violate state law.
First published Sunday, the database of more than 135,000 people allowed to carry concealed handguns has become the most controversial content in roanoke.com's history -- sparking threats of violence, litigation and legislation.
One day later, the list was removed from the site because of concerns that state police might have inappropriately included the names of crime victims on a list it provided to the newspaper.
....
One possible irony is that Trejbal's stated intent to trumpet open records could result in their being slammed shut.
"The fear is that this kind of scatter-shot use of public records is going to bolster the position of those who would now want to pull that information from the public domain," Wasserman said.
In fact, Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, said Tuesday that he is seeking an attorney general's opinion on whether state police were within their legal rights in providing the information to the newspaper.
Even if the attorney general finds that police acted correctly, requesting the opinion could be the first step in a move at next year's General Assembly to pass a law exempting concealed-weapon permit information from the Freedom of Information Act.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/108563
Threats of violence, litigation and legislation sprang up after a list of people allowed to carry concealed weapons was released.
By Laurence Hammack
981-3239
Related
Past stories
Roanoke.com drops list of gun owners
The Roanoke Times Removes Database of Handgun Permit Holders
The Roanoke Times will not re-post a list of gun owners on its Web site, even after being told amid continuing public furor that releasing the information does not violate state law.
First published Sunday, the database of more than 135,000 people allowed to carry concealed handguns has become the most controversial content in roanoke.com's history -- sparking threats of violence, litigation and legislation.
One day later, the list was removed from the site because of concerns that state police might have inappropriately included the names of crime victims on a list it provided to the newspaper.
....
One possible irony is that Trejbal's stated intent to trumpet open records could result in their being slammed shut.
"The fear is that this kind of scatter-shot use of public records is going to bolster the position of those who would now want to pull that information from the public domain," Wasserman said.
In fact, Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, said Tuesday that he is seeking an attorney general's opinion on whether state police were within their legal rights in providing the information to the newspaper.
Even if the attorney general finds that police acted correctly, requesting the opinion could be the first step in a move at next year's General Assembly to pass a law exempting concealed-weapon permit information from the Freedom of Information Act.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/108563