http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... ba6d98c845
Response pubished today:
I have to say, the editor, Heber Taylor, is a decent guy. He is single-minded about open records. The paper has taken government agencies to court for trying to hide things many times, and the paper has won awards for it.It's not about open government
The Daily News printed an editorial May 15 deploring the recent Texas law that makes concealed handgun license (CHL) information confidential except for law-enforcement purposes.
I generally applaud the Daily News approach to open government.
The requirements to obtain a CHL are strict. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the law and proficiency with a firearm after passing a course taught by a state-licensed instructor. They must pass state and federal background checks. These standards are similar to those for police officers.
Licenses are not issued to people who have felony or domestic violence convictions or recent misdemeanor convictions, have been treated for mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction, have a restraining order against them, or owe delinquent child support, state taxes, or state loans.
In the 11 years that CHLs have been available, more than a quarter-million Texans have exercised this right. Analysis of arrest records by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows that CHL holders have far fewer run-ins with the law than the general population (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... rt2005.pdf).
In short, CHL holders must be model citizens to begin with and are likely to stay that way.
Newspapers in other states have published lists of names and addresses of license holders. Some abused women who were hiding from their abusers had their addresses revealed by this action, which served no public good.
Most of the publicized cases of people with felony records who obtained licenses in other states were actually people who had been pardoned or acquitted on appeal. In a few cases, ineligible people have obtained licenses. Making a false statement on a license application is itself a crime. For felons, possessing a firearm is a crime, period.
Meanwhile, anyone with bad intentions can carry a concealed weapon anywhere, anytime, unless they are caught. Carrying a handgun is a crime in many circumstances, but that does not stop criminals.
Jim Casey lives in Galveston
Link to the online version: http://blogs.galvnews.com/story.lasso?e ... 29b0d4262b
(They take a couple of days to put letters to the editor online.)
- Jim
