Texas - Wants to make CCW holders public.

[Saiga39]

I just saw the end of a Fox News report that highlighted attempts in Texas to make public who has Concealed Carry Permits in Texas. They said it's going to the Texas State Senate.

How stupid can politicans be!!!! :banghead:

 

[Jimmie]

What I read is the opposite.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB00991E.pdf

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=270757&highlight=gender

House votes to shield handgun owners' names 12:28 PM CDT
12:28 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 18, 2007
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News

[email protected]

AUSTIN - The House overwhelmingly endorsed legislation to shield the identities of concealed-carry license owners Wednesday, with supporters saying concealed handgun owners deserve their privacy.

The bill, pushed by the National Rifle Association, was approved on a vote of 135-7 and expected to pass a final procedural vote Thursday and be sent to the Senate.

"These Texans have taken extraordinary steps to protect themselves and their families, and their privacy should be respected,” said Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, the bill’s sponsor.

Supporters also say that the element of surprise in the “concealed” part of the law is lost if anyone can find out who has a license.

Open-records advocates argue that the concealed-handgun license will become the only license in Texas that is exempt from public information laws.

“Why would we treat this particular license as a particularly protected class?” said Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth.

Currently, the Texas Department of Public Safety will respond to written, name-specific requests for whether an individual is licensed to carry but also gives the licensee the name of the person asking about them. Opponents of the new bill say that offers protection to license holders by giving them a heads-up if the knowledge of their license would be used by a potential attacker.

The legislation is being pushed nationwide by the National Rifle Association, which counts Texas among its friendlier states, and opposed by open-government advocates, such as news organizations.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/analysis/pdf/HB00991H.pdf

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) must disclose whether an individual holds a concealed handgun license to any person submitting a written request and paying a required fee. This disclosure of information presents a potential violation of the personal privacy of concealed handgun license holders. H.B. 991 removes the requirement that DPS disclose to any person, other than state and local law enforcement agencies, whether an individual holds a concealed handgun license.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 411.192, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 411.192. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. (a) Deletes existing text requiring the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to disclose to any other individual whether a certain individual is registered to carry a concealed handgun.

(b) Authorizes an applicant for a concealed handgun license or a license holder to be furnished with a copy of disclosable records regarding the applicant or license holder on request and payment of a fee. (c) and (d) Creates these subsections from existing text and makes a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.

EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on
September 1, 2007.

 

[dejr2000]

Correct Jimmie, this has already passed the house and is headed to the Senate. CCW holders info will only be available to LEO's and not the public. I am a CCW holder and think this is a wise move.
BW

 

[MechAg94]

Yeah, find that link for us. TSRA has been pushing this bill to make the information private.

I believe the Texas DPS and attorney general have been resisting attempts to make the whole database public. This law would back them up.

 

[Saiga39]

Okay well they didn't seem to be focusing on that.

Sorry!!

 

[helpless]

How stupid can politicans be!!!!

ahh...