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Senate bill bars copying names on gun permits
If it's approved, journalists would still have access, but would have to bring their pad and pencil.
Friday, December 15, 2006
COLUMBUS —Journalists would be able to view the names of concealed weapons permit holders but would be prohibited from copying the names under the version of a public records bill approved by the Senate.
Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, said Thursday that the provision would be a "better option" for people opposed to current journalists' access to the names. The Senate approved the bill Wednesday.
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"It's an improvement on existing law, but we don't think it's good enough," said Jim Irvine, chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association. Irvine said his group wants the names of permit holders maintained by county sheriffs kept private. Under the concealed weapons law passed in 2004, journalists, but not the public, are allowed access to lists of the names, counties of residence and birth dates of permit holders.
The House last March passed a version of the public records law that would have allowed concealed weapons permit holders to deny journalists access to their names and other information.
The House now is considering the Senate version of the public records bill. The House could approve this version and send it to Gov. Bob Taft for his consideration or reject it and call for a House-Senate conference committee to iron out differences. There is not much time, however, because the House and Senate hope to adjourn for the year next week. They're not scheduled to meet again until Tuesday.
Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, said the provision on journalists' access in the Senate bill represented a compromise that was necessary to win approval of the public records bill.
The bill is aimed at improving access to public records and, among other things, would require the attorney general to develop programs that elected officials or their representatives would be required to attend about Ohio's public records law.
Asked if the Senate version would permit reporters to take notes while viewing the permit holders' names, Harris said he thought that reporters would be "sharp enough to have their pencil there.
"They would not be copying, but they would be taking notes," said Harris.
Tim Smith, a lawyer and journalism professor at Kent State University who specializes in public records issues, said the Senate version represented lawmakers "pandering to gun nuts."
Smith said that the law wouldn't prohibit journalists from reading the names of permit holders into a tape recorder and compiling a list that way.
