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TV program on FLA law
With regard the Florida TV broadcast mentioned below ... the version of the story online reportedly started out with a link to a list of names and addresses of Floridians who hold CCW permits. That'd be consistent with the story's lead ... why, anyone around you might have a CCW permit, so be scared! Here's a discussion on radio host Pat Campbell's blog. Needless to say, CCW holders are quite sensitive to this sort of thing... apart from the broad invasion of privacy, a thieves interested in firearms would be handed the equivalent of a shopping list. It's as welcome as, oh, the media releasing names, addresses, and value of jewelry in each home.
It turns out that the names and addresses are available online, at a Florida government website! I won't link to it -- no sense increasing the risk. I think Floridians might start looking into statutes along the lines of other states, which secure the privacy of CCW lists.
Some local bloggers are contending the State action is a violation of a 2005 Florida law. I haven't had time to track all that the statute's exemptions and provisions. It does look like (3)(o), which exempts records under sec. 790.06, the CCW permit statute, covers it, so that it's not a violation. The 2005 statute is aimed at prohibiting lists of firearms and firearms owners, not at ensuring that such lists as allowed are kept private.
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As a Florida CCW holder, this information disturbed me, so I spent some time trying to find this database of CCW licensees online. The only Florida government site I could find that was close is a list of "Statewide Firearms Licensees" which sounds right. You can search by county or name or license number. However, this database only includes "G" license holders; individuals who require a firearm in the performance of their professional duties, i.e., security guards. These are not private citizens carrying concealed. Search as I might, I could not find myself (by name or license number or in any other way) on the Florida government online databases.
Posted by: Jeff White at November 11, 2005 11:35 AM
That list must not be difficult to find. I'm on it and have occasionally received mailings from companies selling holsters and the like, and once or twice from the NRA before elections.
Posted by: Anon at November 12, 2005 08:21 AM