Associated Press & Tove Tupper
 
March 12, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - A new bill before the Oregon Legislature would prevent the public release of information about concealed weapons permit holders.
 
A slew of Southern Oregon representatives are co-sponsoring the bill, including Sal Esquivel, Dennis Richardson and Jason Atkinson.
 
Earlier this week, gun owners packed a hearing room in Salem to urge Oregon lawmakers to pass the legislation. Those testifying said releasing the information would jeopardize their personal security. Others said there's no compelling reason to make the records public.
 
Sponsors of the legislation say it's needed because newspapers and others have been trying to get lists of people who have concealed handgun permits.
 
In 2007, the Mail Tribune requested that the Jackson County Sheriff's Office release permit records for a story. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said ‘no', and the paper took the issue to court. The case is currently pending in the state appeals court.
 
"It's not about the concealed weapon's permit, or people's right to carry weapons, their 2nd Amendment rights, that's not the issue. It's really been a public records issue all along," says Mail Tribune Editor Bob Hunter.
 
"I feel that there's safety and security concerns. I don't think it should be public out there for anyone to see, and I think when you're still giving out information here and there then you have to do that across the board," says Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters.
 
In Jackson County, more than 6,500 people have a concealed weapon permit.
 
According to Esquivel, the bill will be re-worked before it is sent to the House floor.
 
Meanwhile, Hunter says he does not oppose the latest bill, but would like to see an agency outside the sheriff's office help oversee the permit requests process.