On Tuesday, the Legislature passed an emergency bill to temporarily block the release of the names, addresses and dates of birth of Maine residents who hold concealed firearms permits.
Before this emergency legislation passed, permit holders’ names and addresses were public information. Now, until April 30, they’re not.
The controversy over concealed-carry permit records arose last week after the Bangor Daily News sent a sweeping request to police departments throughout the state, seeking the identities of all of Maine’s concealed-carry permit holders.
It’s public information, and their request shouldn’t have been an issue, but such a furor arose that it prompted the paper to withdraw its request ”“ even as they publicly stated that they never intended to publish the names.
The BDN was pursuing the list as part of a long-term reporting effort on domestic violence, sexual assault and drug abuse in Maine, its editors said, and they expedited their request when they heard about Rep. Corey Wilson’s pending bill, LD 345, which would make this information permanently private.
The BDN’s request would have allowed them to determine the number of concealed-carry permit holders in Maine. The permits are currently issued town by town, or by state police in those towns without police departments, and there is no central database, so there’s no total figure available from the state. (It’s worth noting that another bill has been proposed this session to create a central database.) Municipal leaders often take a look at the applications to raise any concerns they may have with the applicant, but do not have authority to grant or deny.
With the information they requested, BDN reporters would have had pertinent information about where concealed carry is most popular and whether or not those with permits have a propensity to commit crimes ”“ and that information would have led to good, informative journalism.
The paper’s request wouldn’t have ruffled feathers so much if not for the irresponsible actions of The Journal News of New York this past December, which published the names of handgun permit holders there, along with maps showing where they live.
That newspaper’s actions were what prompted the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to push for legislation that would keep that from happening in Maine ”“ hence Wilson’s bill.
We believe The Journal News’ actions were in violation of the public’s trust and did a disservice to freedom of access advocates everywhere. While the paper was certainly within its rights to publish the information, even in map form, we feel they crossed the line. It is the media’s responsibility to use public information with care. There is a big difference between having to go to your town office or police department to see the list of concealed-carry permit holders and publishing a map in a major circulation newspaper of where they all live.
Who would want to see their name and address published in a map of any public records list to which they belong? Think of other types of public information: Imagine if a newspaper published a map of everyone in York County who is divorced; who has a hunting or fishing license; who is licensed as a contractor, massage therapist or teacher; or who’s behind on their taxes. Worse, what if they went through the marriage licenses, picked out all the same-sex couples and posted a map of where they all live?
Yes, it’s all public information, but law-abiding citizens should have some protection against having their information and residence broadcast by the news media. It’s an expectation that your name will appear in print if you are charged with or convicted of a crime, but other public information is typically not listed ”“ and certainly not mapped ”“ without the person’s prior notice.
Even publication of birth and death records nowadays are largely up to the family’s discretion, as most papers only print the obituaries and birth announcements that are sent to them.
We understand Gov. Paul LePage’s concerns, as gun ownership is a private topic and often concealed-carry permit holders will not even tell their own family and friends that they are armed. Outing them in such a public way puts them at greater risk not only for theft, but also for ridicule and possibly even violence as the gun control debate becomes ever more contentious.
That said, however, we don’t believe that Rep. Wilson’s bill should pass and find it disconcerting that the Legislature has been able to so easily end access to these public records, even temporarily, without any public input. The BDN did not do anything to violate the public’s trust, and yet this preemptive action was taken.
Restricting access to public records is a troublesome proposition. The government should be striving for more openness and accessibility, not less. No other permit issued by state or local governments is protected information, and while there are some concerns, we do not believe they rise to the level that would warrant exempting concealed-carry permits from public record.
Gov. LePage has said he does not see any reason why these records should be public, but it’s tough to argue that the public should not have the right to know how many Mainers are carrying concealed, as it is a public safety issue that is pertinent to every citizen. If the state is in the business of granting or denying these permits, the public should be able to see them if for no other reason than to gauge the efficacy of the state’s process. Should the state decide one day to allow concealed carry without a permit, as is proposed in a bill being put forth by Rep. Aaron Libby, R-Waterboro, the information of who is carrying would then be private. But as long as the state is issuing, the public should have access to this information ”“ and handle it with care.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
