Virginia State Police Suspends Public Access To Concealed Carry Permit Holder Databas

[GlenJ]

On the NRA/ILA web site

Following the release of an advisory opinion by Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell(R),

the Virginia State Police is suspending public access to its concealed carry permit database. In response to a request from Delegate Dave Nutter (R-7), Attorney General McDonnell issued an opinion that the concealed carry database was assembled solely for investigative purposes and, therefore, it is exempted from the Commonwealth’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that requires public access to certain documents.



The on-going debate over public access to the concealed carry permit database was heightened last month when The Roanoke Times newspaper posted to its website a searchable database containing the names and addresses of more than 135,000 concealed weapon permit holders. Attorney General McDonnell’s opinion states, “The release of such personal information of a crime victim or witness potentially jeopardizes his safety and privacy, as well as the safety of the community in which he lives.” While the advisory opinion does not have the weight and effect of law, the VA State Police are considering it as advice from the state’s chief law enforcement officer.



Meanwhile, the state’s Freedom on Information Advisory Council is continuing its study of the issue, and Delegate Nutter is already planning on introducing legislation for the 2008 General Assembly session that will effectively convert the Attorney General’s opinion into law.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Good move. I have to applaud AG McDonnell.

 

[tinygnat219]

Doop thread

I posted the article and the AG opinion here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=268124 earlier today.

 

[Soybomb]

I'm seldom one to cheer for information being made less free, but the general media has shown ttime and time again that they won't use access to permit holder infromation for real journalism or investigation but will abuse that access for harassment and intimidation. This move was needed.

 

[ServiceSoon]

The only information that should be available to the public is information that could protect somebody from harm. CCW is the opposite of this.

 

[Soybomb]

The only information that should be available to the public is information that could protect somebody from harm. CCW is the opposite of this.

I'm not sure that I agree, I could certainly see a journalist investigating to see if the local issuing authority is doing a good job and making sure the people who don't qualify for carry aren't getting licenses. I think you could actually use the information for oversight to be sure the people in charge of issuing permits are issuing them properly. Similarly in states like CA and HI where it seems like often only the elite are given licenses it might be good for a journalist to be able to report that a sheriff is giving his friends and the elite licenses but denied the woman who took out a restraining order recently.

Ideally I'd like to see no licensing at all, but working within the system that most states have I think an accessible database could in theory be used responsibly by journalists to help keep those in charge honest and efficient.

 

[Geister]

Soybomb, unfortunately it's pretty obvious that most journalists have no interest in that approach when it comes to Second Amendment issues.

Doesn't Florida already have a similar statue in place?

 

[FRIENDLY]

information release

I would only approve of the release of this information(IF) the journalist and editors release THEIR personal information at the same time.They want free and open I would like to see just HOW free and open they would be if it is their lives on the line.