CCW Public record!!

[DrLewall]

Heads up people! I took this from another forum, with permission from the OP, and thought I would share it here. Personally, I do not like the fact that those of us with permits here in AR are exposed to the general public via the FOI (Freedom of Information Act)..no one but me needs to know that I carry, except maybe LEO's..I have written letters to both my Rep and my Senator about this..would not hurt for us all to do the same.

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After the thread concerning state's CCW permit holder records being private or public. I decided to do some research as to whether 'public' means for LE purposes, or available to the public at large. This information is available to the public at large folks. I entered an FOI request yesterday, and received a list of over 6,000 permit holders, names and addresses for four counties. Simple as that! If any of us want to change this to private, we need to contact our members in the state legislation, and make a point of it this coming year. As soon as I figure out a way for us to pass around a petition, I'll do it. I think it would be a real good idea. Thank you.

With all due respect, I'd ask that any members who do not hold an Arkansas state CCW permit refrain from posting in this thread.
__________________
RamRod-----sans remords

[Grumpy]

Doc,

May I suggest that you forward that list to the Senator & Rep. in your district whit the explanation that that list contains private information about battered women and women who have been stalked and the information, if it gets into the wrong hands can be life threatening as well as men who have their otherwise unpublished addresses available to everyone. These could be that Representative's political allies and contributors.

Explain that we have no problem with LEO's having access but license holders should be protected from indiscriminate disclosure of this otherwise private information.

I'll do the same at this end. I'll also contact the Arkansas Concealed Carry Assn. and ask them if they can help as well.

[DrLewall]

DONE! I printed out the list for District L (131 pages worth!) and will send a letter with a couple of the pages to my reps here..hopefully others in the state will at least draft a letter to their reps and maybe we can get this fixed.

[DrLewall]

I sent an email to Ms Cora Gentry with the ASP asking if addresses were available and what other info I could have gotten via the FOI..here is her reply back to me.
DrLewall,



Yes, you would have gotten the mailing address(es). You could have gotten generally everything in the file except, criminal history (that includes state, federal and fingerprint card), SSN and DOB. With the upgrade of the CHCL database, we will be able to sort by any selection, such as “list the names of the male CHCL holders over the age of 70 in Washington County”.



Of course numbers should always be subject to release, such as “how many female CHCL holders are there in Pulaski County”. That does not disclose name, address etc but allows statistics to be given.



You might want to have CHCL address release handled in the same way Revenue handles DL address release. I’m not sure how that is so you would need to contact them.



If your legislator needs any help, just have them call or e-mail me.



Here is what Act 419 of 1995 originally stated:

(g) The Arkansas State Police shall maintain an automated listing of license holders and such information shall be available on-line, upon request, at all times, to all law enforcement agencies through the Arkansas Crime Information Center. However, the records of the Department relating to applications for licenses to carry concealed handguns and records relating to license holders shall be exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act for a period of forty-five (45) days from the date of the issuance of the license or the final denial of an application.



Cora Gentry

501-618-8516


So there you go, now lets get those letters to the reps in the mail.

[mustaqbal]

there are obviously pros and cons to this isse. a good burglar or mugger might do a little research via the foia request to find out if there is a possibility that the intended target has a concealed carry permit. hence, in the eyes if the bg, the intended target could more likely be carrying a concealed firearm. that in turn would decrease the liklihood of vicitimization because the risk is higher. the bg just may want to move on to a softer target. or, perhaps burglarize a homeowner that doesn't have a concealed permit. i mean, peoople advertise on the windows of their home that they have the adt security alarm system. i've even seen stickers on the front doors of homeowners that state "smith and wesson armed", or "this house protected by glock", or "this homeowner is armed". right? i've even seen the same stickers and advertisements on the bumbers of vehicles.


just playing the devils advocate here folks. i remember back in the mid 90's, i had an option to have my social security number taken off my drivers license and instead have a random number chosen by the revenue office.

so, the point is, what would the benefit of letting the public know if we have a concealed carry permit or not? what would be the downside? personally, i think it shoud be an option and i have no problem letting the public know that i have a permit. as an option however, if you want your name on the list, then just let them know and they'll put it on there. if not, then you won't be listed.

fellow arkansans, your thoughts?

[Grumpy]

The problem that exists is the fact that there are a lot of x-wives, girlfriends and stalking victims who have gotten the training and the license. Up to that point the man in question does not know where they live and has not been a problem. Now a list of names shows up in the news paper and BINGO(!) he knows where to find her. She only got the training and license to use as a last resort and now it becomes almost a sure thing.

Other cases may include Hoplophobes who hate guns and might be your neighbor, coworker or employer who might try to cause you some grief because of your desire to be able to defend your self should you ever have to.

NO, what they don't know won't hurt them or you for that matter.

[duckcallinfool]

Looks like the phone calls and letters worked. Here is the revised code.


5-73-307. List of license holders.
(a) The Department of Arkansas State Police shall maintain an automated listing of license holders and this information shall be available on-line, upon request, at any time, to any law enforcement agency through the Arkansas Crime Information Center.

(b) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require or allow the registration, documentation, or providing of a serial number with regard to any firearm.

History. Acts 1995, No. 411, § 2; 1995, No. 419, § 2; 1997, No. 1239, § 3; 2007, No. 827, §

[tattedupboy]

Has the public records provision been part of the law since CCW was enacted there, or was that only recently added?

[SubHntr]

My dad sent me this. It was sent to him by a friend.

Arkansas Handgun Permits Search

I found my dad, myself, my brothers and anyone I chose too.

WTFO!?!


Jim

[DrLewall]

yeah it really sux!!