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Saturday, September 20, 2008

States block or limit access to concealed-weapons permit records after newspapers put them online

"A growing number of state governments are tightening the reins on databases involving concealed weapon permits, making it nearly impossible for reporters to uncover information potentially vital to the public’s interest," Breanne Coates reports for Quill magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists.

"Experts say the media is partially to blame for the closing of these records," Coates writes. "While some journalists have used the information in the records to produce investigative work, others have chosen to publish complete databases online, which can include what many consider to be private information of law-abiding citizens. The public’s outrage at having this information revealed for no apparent reason has resulted in public support for many states’ legislation aimed at closing these records." She cites the example of The Roanoke Times and Virginia, reported here previously.

Aimee Edmondson, a doctoral student in journalism at the University of Missouri, studied the issue in all 50 states in 2007. At the time, "28 states explicitly stated that concealed carry permit databases were closed, and only five explicitly stated that they were open," Coates reports. "Edmondson said she found that the courts 'were all over the place' on this topic, but the legislatures have been the driving force behind these changes."

In Florida, the St. Petersburg Times used the state database to reveal problems with administration of the cocealed-weapon law, including issuance of permits to criminals, but didn't post the database on its Web site. John Maines, the paper's computer-assisted reporting editor and co-author of the series, told Coates, “The latest craze is just posting databases online. If there is no journalistic element to it, you have to wonder if you are doing your job.” (Read more)

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