Ebbtide
Member
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/news/stories/20040111/localnews/208555.html
"I guess I should feel special. If I want to know whether my neighbor, or your neighbor for that matter, has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, I'll be able to find out. You, on the other hand, will not.
Under the bill signed by Gov. Bob Taft allowing Ohioans to carry concealed weapons, only journalists will have access to the names, birthdates and county residence of those who choose to get a permit to carry.
While it's nice that these government documents aren't closed off completely, few reporters are satisfied with their special access. As the Dayton Daily News recently wrote: "Government isn't entitled to decide who has a good reason to see basic government documents and who doesn't. And that's what it will be doing here."
Reporters may have access, but apparently they have to be careful how they use their special privilege, or the big bad legislature is going to take that access away.
Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, spent two days warning reporters that if they dare step out of line and abuse their access to the lists of concealed permit owners, he will work to change the law and close off all records.
He said papers should not run the lists of permit holders just for the sake of running them. While that can be a pure judgment call based on newsworthiness, it will be worth watching how closely lawmakers, angry that reporters can access the gun permits will scour for excuses to close off those records.
Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, was "disturbed" by Aslanides' warning.
"His remark gets very close to the fine line between journalists' responsibilities and censorship," he said. "That's not for Jim Aslanides to decide."
It already appears newspapers are firing back.
The state's largest newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, said bluntly, " ... it is this newspaper's intention to obtain this information and publish it. Our readers deserve to know the identities of those who obtain permits, to carry their guns in public. We hope other news organizations will do the same in their communities."
Any threats to further close off the public from knowing who might be carrying a concealed handgun likely will ring hollow, at least until Taft is out of office -- and possibly beyond. If Taft had his way, the records would be open to everyone.
Two Republicans running in 2006 to replace Taft also favor more openness for concealed handgun records, not less.
"I think the limitation to have these records available only to journalists is unduly restrictive. I think it should be open records, like anything else," said Attorney General Jim Petro.
Petro also disagreed with the argument that records should be sealed so criminals can't find out who is carrying, and then go after people who are unarmed.
"That's a stretch," he said. "I don't really buy into that very much."
Auditor Betty Montgomery agreed, saying she would have vetoed this gun bill over public records. "This bill desperately needs openness, and we should not be creating a separate class of those who have the ability to see public records."
***
As a side note, if you're wondering just how crazy this whole concealed carry issue has been, consider this: the Ohio Senate actually passed a gun bill three times in the last 13 months.
***
Jim Siegel is the Gannett Columbus Bureau chief. "
"I guess I should feel special. If I want to know whether my neighbor, or your neighbor for that matter, has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, I'll be able to find out. You, on the other hand, will not.
Under the bill signed by Gov. Bob Taft allowing Ohioans to carry concealed weapons, only journalists will have access to the names, birthdates and county residence of those who choose to get a permit to carry.
While it's nice that these government documents aren't closed off completely, few reporters are satisfied with their special access. As the Dayton Daily News recently wrote: "Government isn't entitled to decide who has a good reason to see basic government documents and who doesn't. And that's what it will be doing here."
Reporters may have access, but apparently they have to be careful how they use their special privilege, or the big bad legislature is going to take that access away.
Rep. Jim Aslanides, R-Coshocton, spent two days warning reporters that if they dare step out of line and abuse their access to the lists of concealed permit owners, he will work to change the law and close off all records.
He said papers should not run the lists of permit holders just for the sake of running them. While that can be a pure judgment call based on newsworthiness, it will be worth watching how closely lawmakers, angry that reporters can access the gun permits will scour for excuses to close off those records.
Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, was "disturbed" by Aslanides' warning.
"His remark gets very close to the fine line between journalists' responsibilities and censorship," he said. "That's not for Jim Aslanides to decide."
It already appears newspapers are firing back.
The state's largest newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, said bluntly, " ... it is this newspaper's intention to obtain this information and publish it. Our readers deserve to know the identities of those who obtain permits, to carry their guns in public. We hope other news organizations will do the same in their communities."
Any threats to further close off the public from knowing who might be carrying a concealed handgun likely will ring hollow, at least until Taft is out of office -- and possibly beyond. If Taft had his way, the records would be open to everyone.
Two Republicans running in 2006 to replace Taft also favor more openness for concealed handgun records, not less.
"I think the limitation to have these records available only to journalists is unduly restrictive. I think it should be open records, like anything else," said Attorney General Jim Petro.
Petro also disagreed with the argument that records should be sealed so criminals can't find out who is carrying, and then go after people who are unarmed.
"That's a stretch," he said. "I don't really buy into that very much."
Auditor Betty Montgomery agreed, saying she would have vetoed this gun bill over public records. "This bill desperately needs openness, and we should not be creating a separate class of those who have the ability to see public records."
***
As a side note, if you're wondering just how crazy this whole concealed carry issue has been, consider this: the Ohio Senate actually passed a gun bill three times in the last 13 months.
***
Jim Siegel is the Gannett Columbus Bureau chief. "
