By Chelyen Davis

RICHMOND—The names and addresses of concealed-weapons permit holders would no longer be public information under a bill due for a vote in the House of Delegates Wednesday.
The bill from Del. Mark Cole, R–Spotsylvania, says that court clerks shall withhold the name and any other information on a concealed-carry permit application.
Currently that information is public record.
“I think it’s reasonable to protect that information  [to] protect the privacy of people who are exercising their constitutional right,” Cole said in a House floor debate on the bill Tuesday.

Opponents asked how a concealed-weapons permit is different from all of  the other permits that are public information—everything from a parade permit to a home-occupation permit.
“What is so sacrosanct about a concealed-gun permit when all those other permits are also available to the public?” asked Del. Joe Morrissey, D–Richmond. “What other permits are protected and privileged and not open to the public?”
Del. Todd Gilbert, R–Shenandoah, said that some newspapers have published names of people applying for permits.
“This is an issue of public safety.  When you advertise in a newspaper all these folks own a firearm, you’re making them targets for burglary, theft,” Gilbert said.

Del. Jennifer McClellan, D–Richmond, noted that concealed weapons are allowed in the state Capitol and in local-government meetings. She said there are legitimate reasons why people would want to know who has a concealed weapon and a permit.
“As we are all aware there are times when those constitutionally protected rights push up against the public safety of a community,” McClellan said.

Chelyen Davis:  804/343-2245
cdavis@freelancestar.com