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11.17.08 BATTLE FOR CHL HOLDERS' PRIVACY HEATS UP |
"It's
not something you are entitled to keep confidential," Orchard
said. "No one forced you to acquire a handgun."
With those twisted words, the attorney
for the Oregon
Newspaper Publishers Association explained why every media
outlet in the state and country, as well as every anti-gun extremist
organization, should have the names and addresses of every Oregonian
who has a concealed handgun license.
The Oregonian, in their infinite stupidity said "We've
always appreciated the fact that you could check whether your
road-raging next-door neighbor also had the sheriff's permission
to pack heat in an ankle holster."
As if that neighbor would be any less dangerous if he did not
have the sheriff's permission "pack heat in an ankle holster."
As you know, the Medford
Mail Tribune, in an effort to "out" CHL holders,
demanded that the Sheriff
of Jackson County turn over the personal information of
every license holder there.
Their hope was to continue the attack on teachers in the area
who had licenses and owned guns for the defense of themselves
and others. The Mail Tribune has consistently attacked the Medford
teacher who went to court (with our support) to force the Medford
School District to stop harassing and threatening her because
she was exercising her right to have a concealed handgun license.
The Jackson County Sheriff stood up to the newspaper and its
editor Bob
Hunter, and refused to turn over the names. Hunter, of course,
sued.
The local courts agreed that Hunter and the Tribune had the
right to have the names, addresses and phone numbers of every
CHL holder in Jackson County. Hunter would then be free to publish
all of this information.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters fought back and appealed
the decision. The Appeals Court has not yet rendered a verdict,
but to protect CHL holders, several other sheriffs have taken
steps to keep this info private.
In Washington,
Marion,
Benton*,
Josephine,
Linn
and Columbia
Counties, the sheriffs are working to give license holders the
option to keep their personal information private, no matter
what the Appeals Court decides. Other sheriffs are reported
to be considering it, but many are still making this info available
to any individual or group, no matter what their position on
gun rights is.(Currently,the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
web
page is saying they will NOT disclose this information.)
Clackamas County's Sheriff Craig Roberts, on the other hand,
has stated that he plans to continue
to release this information and has made no effort whatsoever
to protect the privacy of CHL holders.
*The law firm discussed in this story has revealed
that they are in fact seeking CHL holders' names in all 36 counties.
In the new political climate we face, it is more important
than ever that gun owners in general, and CHL holders in particular,protect
their personal information and privacy.
We applaud the sheriffs who have stepped up to confront the
media and any other anti-gun organizations that seek to use
this information to harass and intimidate gun owners as the
Medford Mail Tribune has attempted to do.
It is our hope that legislation to address this issue can pass
in the upcoming legislative session, but we expect that to be
an uphill fight. In the meantime, we need to strongly urge every
sheriff to follow the lead of the Jackson and Washington County
Sheriffs and take whatever steps they can to protect the personal
information of CHL holders from people like the lawyers for
the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.
Your can use this link
to find and contact most Oregon sheriffs. If you discover broken
or outdated links, please let us know and we will update them
as quickly as possible. A sample message to your sheriff
follows. Please cut and paste it into an e-mail or modify to
suit your personal style. And thank you for your activism.
____________________________________
Dear Sheriff,
As you know, media outlets and other organizations are asking
sheriffs to reveal personal information about concealed handgun
license holders.
These requests expose CHL holders to harassment, abuse and criminal
activity.
Persons who apply for, and receive, CHL's are not looking to
make a public statement and in many cases have reason to want
to keep their status as license holders private. I urge
you to do everything you can to protect this information from
people who have no legitimate reason for having it.
Very truly yours.
______________________________
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