Va State Police Suspends Access to CCW info
From NRA ILA
Virginia State Police Suspends Public Access To
Concealed Carry Permit Holder Database!
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.
Virginia State Police Suspends Public Access To
Concealed Carry Permit Holder Database!
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.
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I was just getting ready to post this myself. I hope that reporter and the roanoke times get sued over this. 0 -
The good guys won one for a change. 0
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