Targeting law-abiding gun owners again

By Michelle Malkin  •  November 11, 2008 11:13 AM

Look at what they’re doing in Oregon to licensed concealed weapons owners (hat tip – Orbusmax)

Washington County’s sheriff is asking 10,000 people who hold concealed handgun licenses whether they want their names made public if it is requested as an Oregon public record.

Sheriff Rob Gordon said he believes that people obtain these licenses as a security measure, which would exempt the release of their names. But a circuit court in Jackson County ruled in April that people have to document that the license is for security reasons in order to be exempt from public records law.

On Friday, license holders will be mailed letters asking them to say whether they obtained the license for security reasons, and whether they want their information kept confidential.

“Instead of going through the process of saying that it’s implied, we’re going though the process of getting the documentation that says that it is,” said Sgt. Vance Stimler, public information officer at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

When The Mail Tribune in Medford requested names of concealed handgun license holders as a public record in 2007, the Jackson County Sheriff refused the request based on Oregon law that states records are not public if they could reveal a person’s security measures or weaknesses. But Jackson County’s Circuit Court ruled that each individual must specify that he or she doesn’t want any personal information released. If not, their names are public record.

The ruling is now in front of the Oregon Court of Appeals. No court date is set.

If each applicant requests to keep their information private, then Oregon law will allow the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to reject a request for names of license holders, Stimler said.

“Essentially we follow the law and the law stated that people had personal protection reasons for getting them,” Stimler said. “We’re just trying to follow the interpretation.”

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office will confirm that a person has a concealed handgun license if someone calls with a name, said Deputy Paul McRedmond, public information officer. They approve public record requests for general release of names on a case-by-case basis.

In Clackamas County, the sheriff’s office will release the information for properly made requests, said Det. Jim Strovink, public information officer.

We live in a country where convicted illegal alien felons have more privacy rights than law-abiding gun owners.

Insane.

***
Previous:

Treating gun owners like sex offenders in the name of “sunshine”
The witch hunt against gun owners
The MSM’s war on gun owners

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Posted in: Guns

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Comments


  1. #101
    On November 11th, 2008 at 7:32 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    The way to stop this is to remind your Congressmen and Senators that you own a gun and will be voting. Then join the NRA.

    Sheesh! My Senators (Boxer and Feinstein) and Rep would just take that as a veiled threat and have the police at my door to arrest me AND take my weapons and use me as an example of why ordinary citizens aren’t responsible enough to own guns!

  2. #102
    On November 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Yes, lets find out how many illegal criminal aliens have guns first.

    Nope, sorry, can’t have that. It would violate their right to privacy. It’s also RAAAAAAAAAAACIST!!!!!

  3. #103
    On November 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    On November 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Yes, lets find out how many illegal criminal aliens have guns first.

    Nope, sorry, can’t have that. It would violate their right to privacy. It’s also RAAAAAAAAAAACIST!!!!!

    that’s a laugh…right to privacy…then why as a legal gun owner do you have to fill out paperwork and have a background check?? and that’s every single time you buy a gun…hmmm now what was the name of that criminal gun check program???

  4. #104
    On November 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Yeah, well Obama’s Aunti has more privacy rights than Joe The Plumber or anyone in Sarah Palin’s family! This is sad, but frankly, not news….

  5. #105
    On November 11th, 2008 at 10:06 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    Washington County’s sheriff is asking 10,000 people who hold concealed handgun licenses whether they want their names made public if it is requested as an Oregon public record.

    Sheriff Rob Gordon said he believes that people obtain these licenses as a security measure, which would exempt the release of their names. But a circuit court in Jackson County ruled in April that people have to document that the license is for security reasons in order to be exempt from public records law.

    On Friday, license holders will be mailed letters asking them to say whether they obtained the license for security reasons, and whether they want their information kept confidential.

    “Instead of going through the process of saying that it’s implied, we’re going though the process of getting the documentation that says that it is,” said Sgt. Vance Stimler, public information officer at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

    Kudos to Sheriff Gordon. A judge makes a stupid ruling contrary to privacy laws, and this law enforcement officer fixes the judge’s little red wagon by being proactive and contacting the people whose identities may be revealed by judicial fiat.

    In Oklahoma the law specifically states that access to the list of Concealed Handgun License holders is restricted to law enforcement only.

    ECS

  6. #106
    On November 11th, 2008 at 10:10 pm, Socratease said:

    a circuit court in Jackson County ruled in April that people have to document that the license is for security reasons in order to be exempt from public records law.

    What does this a**hole think, that people carry a concealed weapon in public for entertainment?

  7. #107
    On November 11th, 2008 at 10:36 pm, garydt said:

    Iam not sure about what kind of laws Mexico has but it sure seems like Mexicans down there have no trouble obtaining guns. Now if the democrats want open borders how in the world are they going to control who has guns and who doesn’t when an unlimited supply crosses the border? Right there are some neighborhoods in our cities that the police are afraid to enter. Their logic amazes me the so called liberals.

  8. #108
    On November 12th, 2008 at 6:07 am, conservative in europe said:

    #101: I concede – don’t call your Congressmen. California is obviously lost..

  9. #109
    On November 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am, GrayLoess said:

    I’ll go along with publishing the list just as soon as everyone who works at that newspaper agrees to post a sign in the front window of their home that says “There are NO guns in this house!” Then we’ll see who gets their home burgled, heh.

    Besides buying a firearm or two with no paperwork, I would also recommend everyone buy reloading equipment and components and LEARN HOW TO USE THEM!

    I think the Libtards will more likely try an end-run, by making ammo illegal or impossibly expensive, rather than trying to go after the 2A straight on.

  10. #110
    On November 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pm, MarkD said:

    Put the names and home addresses of these judges on the web. It’s in the public interest to know where these guys live. Maybe some of the guys they sentenced might want to thank them for setting their lives straight.

    With google caching, the information will still be out there, even if they order it taken down. (Being judges and all, they can do what they want. Who needs laws.)

    Bullies don’t like it when victims hit back.

  11. #111
    On November 12th, 2008 at 8:01 pm, AniMEL said:

    Nobody has any business whatsoever knowing whether I or anyone else has a CCW permit. I will not be hamstrung by a left-wing reporter who’s on a crusade to carry out Dianne Feinstein’s promise to have “Mr. and Mrs. American turn them all in.”

    I’m not in Oregon, but make no mistake, if this continues there, it’ll eventually happen in every other state. Think the Brady Campaign hasn’t caught on yet? All it’ll take is one person in the neighborhood asking for those “public records” on all of his neighbors and pointing them out to everyone to start somethin’.

    If they can keep cops’ personal information out of the public eye, since it’s police departments that dole out CCW’s, they should damn well keep this sealed.

  12. #112
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:20 pm, Jean said:

    The war against law biding gun owners continues…

    When and where will it end.

    I wonder what Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington and the other Founding Fathers would think?

    I can tell you that this poor old slub will give up his Firearm… when its taken from my cold dead hands!

    Proud NRA Member

  13. #113
    On November 14th, 2008 at 10:06 am, FirstSkirt said:

    Just bought a .22 automatic and am going to the firing range over the weekend to take the classes and shoot the thing! I am excited about it. Lots and lots of ladies are getting armed here in Denver–9 bought pistols and rifles in 30 minutes at the ProBass store last Saturday while I was there. We must be prepared when the assault comes against us from the Obama Marxist Regime – I kid you not!!

  14. #114
    On March 18th, 2009 at 7:54 am, tiredofit08 said:

    you can count on all the elites fleeing the country when the the crap hits the fan like rats on a sinking ship…they have the money and means to flee, the rest of us common folk will be left as fodder…

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