By now, I don't imagine that there are many in the gun rights community (or in the gun rights suppression lobby, for that matter) who are unaware of Christian Trejbal's editorial in the Roanoke Times. To make his "point" about open government, his editorial linked to a searchable database of every concealed carry licensee in the state.
Trejbal and the Roanoke Times were apparently unprepared for the groundswell of righteous indignation over the publication of what is, after all, quite personal information. Within a day, the database was removed. Soon afterward, the announcement was made that there were no plans to bring it back.
Although the legal concerns stated by the newspaper as the reason for removing the names no longer seem to apply, Roanoke Times president and publisher Debbie Meade said Tuesday that there are no plans to put the information back online.Trejbal even faced the terror of mailing labels being shipped to his house. I trust that I am not the only one awed by this journalist's courage.
"The list was put up as an example of a public record," Meade said. "It was never intended for that information to be housed indefinitely on our site."
Anyway, I bring all this up now, after most of the excitement seems to be over, because it's starting to look as if ol' Christian has triggered some real reform, after all--although I can't help but wonder if it's what he had in mind. There seems to be real legislative interest in closing these records. At one point in the Trejbal editorial that started all this, he justified the publication of the information this way:
I can hear the shocked indignation of gun-toters already: It's nobody's business but mine if I want to pack heat.According to the new article, there is consideration being given to addressing that very issue, Christian.
Au contraire. Because the government handles the permitting, it is everyone's business.
One proposal is that Virginia follow the lead of Vermont, the only state that does not require its residents to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun. [Note: Alaska does not require a government issued permission slip to exercise this right, either, although permits are offered]Simple--no government involvement, no "everyone's business."
I think the solution has been found.
Stumble it!
6 comments:
Dear Lord, hear my prayer. Let logic sink in for once so that our misrepresentatives do the right thing. And ye, though I live in the Gunshine state, allow such logic to flow freely across the borders and let me taste the fruit of freedom once again.
Amen.
By the way, I didn't mean to imply that I believe it's very likely that Virginia will go to a Vermont style carry law any time soon--I would be quite surprised if that happened (quite pleasantly surprised).
Still, it's certainly gratifying to see legislators even discussing the possibility.
"Because the government handles the permitting, it is everyone's business."
That remark of his is absolutely idiotic. According to his reasoning, Social Security Numbers should be published, since they are government business.
According to his reasoning, Social Security Numbers should be published, since they are government business.
I wish I had thought of saying that. Very good point, Bob.
Well, we could try to get his and publish it.
Lord help us from Bozos like him after the State adopts for our drivers licenses, as required, the federal "Real ID Act of 2005": name; home address; possibly Social Security number; and photo. Boy ... our IDs will sure be safe then, eh? (Why don't we just turn over our credit cards to the mob and be done with it?)
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