Somebody out there in Big Sky country should buy this dude a steak and a beer:
Montana’s Attorney General Tim Fox has taken a stand against revealing the identities of concealed weapon permit holders.
All 50 states now have laws permitting qualified individuals to own and carry concealed firearms. But emotions have flared over identifying all those as a class.
A firestorm of controversy erupted last winter when a suburban New York newspaper, citing the public’s right to know, published the names and addresses of all licensed handgun owners in Rockland and Westchester counties.
Its coverage, in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn. school shootings, included an interactive map allowing online readers to zoom in and see each individual holder and their address.
“One of our roles,” said Janet Hasson, president of the Journal News Media Group, “is to report publicly available information on timely issues, even when unpopular.”
Gun rights advocates oppose such publication, alleging it treats law-abiding citizens as criminals, much like convicted sex offenders whose addresses are widely published. In light of the New York case, in fact, the Louisiana legislature earlier this summer enacted legislation making it a crime to publish the name of a concealed weapon permitee.
And, they claim, listing those with legal possession of firearms aids criminals by identifying those with weapons — and, by omission, those without such self-defense protection.
Montana’s AG Fox, a Republican, said he had received numerous requests recently, mainly from media, for the names and addresses of those legally authorized to carry concealed weapons in that vast Western state. The requests sought all available information on the permit holder, including date of birth, employer, Social Security and state driver’s license number.
In a legal memo, Fox came down on the side of denying all those requests, ruling “that the privacy of permit holders exceeds the public’s right to know.”
“After careful consideration and research of the requests,” Fox’s memo said, “it is the opinion of this Office that broad dissemination of CWP (Concealed Weapon Permit) status and application information would unnecessarily invade the privacy of individuals in violation of the Montana Constitution.”
“When a Montanan fills out a Concealed Weapons Permit application,” Fox elaborated in an email, “he or she has an expectation that the information on that application is confidential. Moreover, whether it’s a battered woman trying to protect herself, or someone who wants to defend his family and home from intruders, releasing their identities would be both irresponsible and incongruous with protecting public safety.
“These are law-abiding citizens exercising an extension of their rights under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and under the Montana Constitution.”
[…]
Rules regarding carrying concealed weapons vary by state. But Fox’s decision is in line with most. The only state that specifically makes concealed weapons information public knowledge is believed to be Nevada. […].
And with this, a litmus test for state Attorneys General should be born.
Kind of like the super-dooper precedent for conservative SCOTUS nominees, if you will. Only, without the intentional killing of babies to add some spice to the sauce.
AP is behind this and I expect they are working to get this in every State that has CCW.
For doing his job?
Not to belittle Mr. Fox in any way, but I think his telling the AP to go pound sand is seen as a big deal does not reflect well on the future of the republic…
Seems like buying Mr. Fox a steak and beer is a coals to Newcastle kind of endeavor? Maybe fly him in some fresh oysters or blue crab, and a cold bottle of good aquavit?
How about a list of everyone who has no firearm records at all?
In a true America that would be everyone, armed or not.
Since when are Social Security numbers public information?
Good point, Charles.
Wikipedia sez:
So.
Oh. Also:
Bold added by me.
So if a person’s name is “personally identifiable information”, doesn’t that imply that a person’s name cannot be released, even including such things as news reports or arrests?
““One of our roles,” said Janet Hasson, president of the Journal News Media Group, “is to report publicly available information on timely issues, even when unpopular.”
Great! Let’s start with posting information on her and her paper’s editors, including name, address, salary, social media accounts, address, etc. Also, do any of them own guns?
I think we should encourage the AP reporters to go around to everybody’s houses and ask them in person how many firearms they have. Make ’em burn a little shoe leather for a change.
Great! Let’s start with posting information on her and her paper’s editors, including name, address, salary, social media accounts, address, etc. Also, do any of them own guns?
While we’re at it, let’s do a hard-hitting story about public education, and get a list of where all their children attend school, and where their bus stops are, and what time the buses come around to pick them up and drop them off. I mean, people gotta right to know!
Libby, I believe Mzzz. Hasson’s info was put out there right after she made her foolish statement.
Blogger Christopher Fountain published her info at the site For What It’s Worth back in December, plus the info for others involved in the story.
Janet Hasson, 3 Gate House Lane, Mamaroneck, NY 10534.
Phone number: (914) 694-5204
http://christopherfountain.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/sauce-for-the-goose/
Ah! I remember that – after the interactive map of gun owners fiasco.
The country’s in the best of hands.
Be sure to read the comments on the judge’s performance. Keep a roll of duct-tape handy.
Then there was this: James O’Keefe goofs on gun-grabbers
Re: dicentra@ 3:43pm
Some commentary.
They’re not trying to report timely information to the public, they’re singling out political enemies for harassment.
When’t the last time the MFM published lists and addresses of gay people who are married or women who have had abortions?
Her appeal to journalistic principles is a sickening lie. Journalistic principles are also a sickening lie.