Concealed handgun database

Date published: 1/26/2008

By CHELYEN DAVIS

RICHMOND--A state police database of concealed weapons permit holders would no longer be public record under a bill passed yesterday by a House of Delegates committee.

But police could sell the list of permit-holders to gun advocacy groups for educational purposes.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, is a reaction to outcry from permit holders and gun groups over the Roanoke Times publishing an interactive online list last year. The Free Lance-Star periodically publishes a list of new permit holders from court documents.

Currently, anyone who receives a permit to carry a concealed weapon must provide their name, address and other information, which is then stored in court records and provided to the state police.

If the bill passes, anyone could still access the information on permit holders by going to individual courthouses. Supporters say, though, that keeping the database from public eyes would make it a lot harder on anyone seeking the information for nefarious purposes, such as stalking.

The Freedom of Information Advisory Council, meeting last year, endorsed legislation to put the database off-limits to public scrutiny, although it did not endorse selling the list to gun groups.

Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania County, has a Senate version of the bill that doesn't include that exemption for sales of the list.

Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, questioned the need for the exemption in yesterday's House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee meeting.

Nutter told him that groups--such as the National Rifle Association, or the Virginia Citizens Defense League--use the list to send educational or advocacy materials to permit-holders. Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, also noted that under that exemption, the police can sell the list to both pro-gun and anti-gun advocacy groups.

Griffith said it's similar to the law allowing the Board of Elections to sell voter lists to candidates.

Moran, however, wanted to know what would happen if one of those advocacy groups resold the list to someone else. He also questioned the definition of issue advocacy.

A group could republish the list, Moran said, by claiming "you're educating them as to who owns a concealed weapons permit."

The bill will come before the full House next week, and Houck's bill is due for a subcommittee hearing next week as well.

Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com

Date published: 1/26/2008