CCW permit holders targeted

[El Zombedente]

Dear Friends,

WRAL TV in Raleigh, NC has posted an article on their website that hosts a search engine that identifies CCW permit holders by street, county, city and zip code. When first posted, it even included the house number, but that was subsequently dropped.

The article is here:

Rural areas lead in concealed weapons permit rates :: WRAL.com

Local citizens have responded unanimously negative to the search capability posted. They recognize the danger posed by such information being made available to criminals.

While CCW permit information is public record in NC, it was intended to be accessible only via written request to the SBI of NC, creating a paper trail documenting the request. WRAL TV has circumvented this safeguard by making the entire database available to anyone with access to their site.

Please join us in sending a message to WRAL TV that they have compromising the safety of law abiding permit holders, their families and the community at large. You can write, email or phone them. All the information is available at WRALTV.com. They also have a Facebook page which I have been using like a hammer.

 

[bluegrassarms]

OMG, what are they thinking? For that matter what is the NC legislature thinking to allow it to be public?

In Kentucky those records are confidential. No one can have that kind of access to them. You can request aggregate data but that's it. This may spur NC to adopt similar laws.

I'm speechless they would do this, and that it is legal to do this esp with the house number on it. Are they insane?

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I can't imagine living in a state where you have to deal with this............stuff. It must drive you folks crazy.

 

[chief38]

JUST MAKE SURE ALL THE POLITICIANS, CITIZENS, OFFICIALS WHO HELP PASS THIS GET THEIR NAME IN LIGHTS AS WELL!!

STUPIDITY AT IT'S BEST.........

 

[grnranger]

There is also a public petition to garner more support against what WRAL has posted. Here's the link to sign and share (please)

https://www.change.org/petitions/wr...-rape-victims-and-others-with-handgun-permits

 

[oldafsp]

We have to live with the same thing in Tn also.

Why the media believes this is a good thing, is beyond me. There have numerous attempts to stop this practice here, but without success to this
point.

Tennessee Handgun Carry Permits Information & News from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

 

[El Zombedente]

Four state senators introduced a bill to make CCW records not public in 2009. It got referred to committee and never got a vote.

The NRA has issued a letter asking that NC make these records confidential.

 

[Kelly Green]

That is absolutely ludicrous. It puts all N. Carolina CCW holders at risk.

In Texas, private parties and news organizations can’t obtain information on an individuals CHL status...period. Even companies in Texas can’t obtain that information about new hires or current employees.

 

[McBear]

I don't want to point out the obvious but two posters complaining about media putting up a web site that lists CC holders put up the website that lists CC holders themselves.

It is the problem with public records and if a law is not crafted explicitly we find the Laws of Unintended Consequence are never wavering.

 

[Kelly Green]

Local citizens have responded unanimously negative to the search capability posted. They recognize the danger posed by such information being made available to criminals.

It’s not limited to the criminal element. With the information available to anyone it can lead to discrimination in hiring, acquiring insurance—you may be deemed a risk, renting a home or apartment and the list goes on and on.

That was one of the lines of reasoning behind passage of the Texas bill. The CHL would be confidential so as not to discriminate against an individual based on the fact that the individual has accepted the responsibility of self-defense.

 

[spirit4earth]

I live in one of the western counties where people are "fiercely independent". Sounds about right!

 

[El Zombedente]

I don't want to point out the obvious but two posters complaining about media putting up a web site that lists CC holders put up the website that lists CC holders themselves.

It is the problem with public records and if a law is not crafted explicitly we find the Laws of Unintended Consequence are never wavering.

If you are referring to the link to the article, I wanted responsible gun owners on this forum to see for themselves what was released. Hopefully, when sponsors and advertisers begin to weigh in with the station, it will come down.

Anyone here could have simply Googled the station or the article. I was trying to save forum readers the trouble.

 

[oldafsp]

Same here. If you go to the TN Dept of Public Safety webpage it is available there also.

I wonder how many other states do not protect this information in any manner.

 

[StatesRightist]

I just let the GM of WRAL know what I think. Anybody in the Raleigh area should know the Leith Auto Group, one of their bigger sponsors pulled their business from them today. Needless to say, if you are looking for a car.......

 

[thndrchiken]

This is most definitely a dangerous thing. Just think about it, publicly available information on CCW holders. Why don't they just put a sign out welcoming criminals on the front yards of firearm owners.

 

[bluegrassarms]

I just let the GM of WRAL know what I think. Anybody in the Raleigh area should know the Leith Auto Group, one of their bigger sponsors pulled their business from them today. Needless to say, if you are looking for a car.......

That's always the best way to deal with such things, by complaining to the advertisers. Sounds like one of them took the initiative. When those guys talk the papers listen.

 

[nipster]

In my state (Florida) it is written into the statute that CWP holders info is not subject to public records searches and they cannot divulge it.

 

[McBear]

If you are referring to the link to the article, I wanted responsible gun owners on this forum to see for themselves what was released. Hopefully, when sponsors and advertisers begin to weigh in with the station, it will come down.

Anyone here could have simply Googled the station or the article. I was trying to save forum readers the trouble.

Same here. If you go to the TN Dept of Public Safety webpage it is available there also.

I wonder how many other states do not protect this information in any manner.

I understood the reason you did it, just found it interesting that you did it. I could see the media folks using much the same rational, "well, we just saved the reader from having to google the state to find the database"...

It is a conundrum.

 

[McBear]

In my state (Florida) it is written into the statute that CWP holders info is not subject to public records searches and they cannot divulge it.

This is the ONLY way to solve the problem. Until then, it is public record.

 

[MP22]

This is nuts....