Knimrod
05-17-2006, 12:32 AM
Gun records: Bill to make CCW documents secret is a non-starter
May 16, 2006
A Lansing State Journal editorial
The Michigan House now has a bill that would hide another government function from public scrutiny, a bill that would make public officials less accountable.
And all, we are told, in the name of personal privacy.
Don't buy it, Michigan.
House Bill 5217 would seal away records on concealed weapons permits - make such records immune from the state's ever-besieged Freedom of Information Act.
Under a court decision, such records now can be withheld by government officials on privacy grounds. Michigan courts have said the names and addresses of those who apply for permits are personal and private.
HB 5217 goes one step beyond that stand, though, by saying such records must be withheld from the public. As usual when government bids for secrecy, this is dangerous stuff for the public.
Back in 2000, the Michigan Legislature was pushed to "reform" concealed weapons law by limiting the discretion of county permit boards.
Then, the argument was that these local boards were inconsistent and even played favorites with permits - issuing them to only those favored few. Under the new law, county boards "must issue" permits to all qualifying applicants.
If you buy the logic of that law, the local boards - on which the county prosecutor and county sheriff sit - can't be trusted to act on their own discretion.
Yet, if HB 5217 becomes law, how would the public know if the county boards were acting appropriately?
Key application information - who is getting a permit and who isn't - would be secret.
Officials have to comply with court decisions, even those that could restrict the flow of important public information. But lawmakers do not have to add to the problem by making secrecy mandatory, making public knowledge and oversight less complete.
There may be some folks out there who would prefer secret gun records. Most Michiganians, we suspect, would prefer open government.
Link to article (http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/OPINION01/605160309&SearchID=73244784314837)
May 16, 2006
A Lansing State Journal editorial
The Michigan House now has a bill that would hide another government function from public scrutiny, a bill that would make public officials less accountable.
And all, we are told, in the name of personal privacy.
Don't buy it, Michigan.
House Bill 5217 would seal away records on concealed weapons permits - make such records immune from the state's ever-besieged Freedom of Information Act.
Under a court decision, such records now can be withheld by government officials on privacy grounds. Michigan courts have said the names and addresses of those who apply for permits are personal and private.
HB 5217 goes one step beyond that stand, though, by saying such records must be withheld from the public. As usual when government bids for secrecy, this is dangerous stuff for the public.
Back in 2000, the Michigan Legislature was pushed to "reform" concealed weapons law by limiting the discretion of county permit boards.
Then, the argument was that these local boards were inconsistent and even played favorites with permits - issuing them to only those favored few. Under the new law, county boards "must issue" permits to all qualifying applicants.
If you buy the logic of that law, the local boards - on which the county prosecutor and county sheriff sit - can't be trusted to act on their own discretion.
Yet, if HB 5217 becomes law, how would the public know if the county boards were acting appropriately?
Key application information - who is getting a permit and who isn't - would be secret.
Officials have to comply with court decisions, even those that could restrict the flow of important public information. But lawmakers do not have to add to the problem by making secrecy mandatory, making public knowledge and oversight less complete.
There may be some folks out there who would prefer secret gun records. Most Michiganians, we suspect, would prefer open government.
Link to article (http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/OPINION01/605160309&SearchID=73244784314837)