TNGA HB0053: Bass Bill To Gun Down Freedom of the Press

[doeriver]

Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect, has filed legislation that aims to protect the privacy of criminals buying firearms in Tennessee and attacks the U.S. Constitution 'Freedom of the Press" right:

*HB0053 by *Bass.
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/asp/webbillinfo/BillCompanionInfo.aspx?BillNumber=HB0053



Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect

Handgun Permits - As introduced, makes information contained in handgun carry permit applications and renewals, information provided to agencies to investigate applicant, and records maintained relative to the permit application confidential and creates Class E felony of unauthorized publication of permit information or records. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.



Adobe Acrobat .pdf file
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB0053.pdf

This information pertaining to Tennessee handgun applications and renewals should be public record information for some rather obvious reasons, such as:

Virginia Tech massacre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre

[quidam56]

1. Tennessee sure has some strange way of looking at things...

http://www.wisecountyissues.com Horrifying Health Care in East TN = THE acceptable standards of health care. Go figure ?

[Kalyke]

2. I would hope some news organization challenges this in federal court.

If not, my opinion that all our media in Tennessee are as right-wing as the nutbars in our state General Assembly will be vilified.

[Bish40]

3. Are you kidding me?

You need HCP information to stop future crime? Your own reason for posting isn't correct - Seung-Hui Cho DIDN'T HAVE A HANDGUN CARRY PERMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HCP holders aren't allowed to carry firearms on school properties! The school system has disarmed every student and teacher who could have stopped that psychotic madman!

Do you recommend everybody check nightly to see if anybody they work with, go to school with, are neighbors with, etc just bought a firearm or registered for a HCP yesterday? If they find somebody who did what do you do - run away when you see them?

Tell the students at Pearl Junior High in Mississippi that their principal Joel Myrick is a dangerous man that everybody needs to know about his personal information.
http://www.davekopel.org/2A/OpEds/HeroesOutlawed.htm

Joel Myrick embodies what all HCP holders want - to lawfully protect themselves, their families, and even sometimes a 3rd party who only knows how to call 911 and wait while a crime continues.

[doeriver]

4. Tennessean.com Feb. 25, 2009

House-Judiciary-Criminal Procedure & Practice Feb 25, 2009 February 25, 2009 - 12:00 PM
Streaming Video
http://wapp.legislature.state.tn.us/apps/videowrapper/default.aspx?CommID=36

Latest bill would fine those who publish data
http://tennessean.com/article/20090225/NEWS0201/902250403/0/NLETTER01

By Juanita Cousins • ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 25, 2009

Tennessee lawmakers are ready again to try to muzzle state records that list who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun, and this time they are considering making it a crime to publish information about gun ownership.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect, would make information on gun permit holders confidential and exempt from the state's open records law. The bill is scheduled for a hearing today by the House Criminal Practice Subcommittee.



Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect
District 65 — Giles and Marshall Counties
District 65 Map

For 12 years, similar legislation has failed to make it to a floor vote, but this year's version has a new twist and a better chance of passage now that Democrats who previously blocked the bill, including former Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, no longer control the House.

The new bill would make unauthorized publication of the information a misdemeanor that could be punished with a maximum fine of $2,500.

Bass, who represents Giles and Marshall counties in southern Middle Tennessee, said letting the public see the gun permit database is an invasion of privacy and empowers criminals, making permit holders easy targets for burglaries and endangering women protecting themselves from their abusers.

The fine is necessary to deter publication of the information, Bass said.

Open records advocates are concerned that closing the records will stifle efforts to monitor whether the government is issuing the permits properly and contend the fine would amount to an unconstitutional prior restraint on publishing information about gun ownership.

"This bill will make it a criminal offense for the press to do its job," said Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. The Associated Press, The Tennessean and other news organizations are members of TCOG, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Tennessee is among 19 states that allows the public to access gun permit information, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. At least 21 states keep the information confidential.

(...)

Ineligible People Get Permits

Over the past few years, news outlets in the state have used the database for stories that reported ineligible people were getting permits issued and renewed because courts were not reporting protective orders to the state and that criminal background checks were not being performed because Tennessee lost access to the federal criminal database for over a year.

"Without the press reporting it, this would have gone unnoticed," Gibson said. "There are 6 million Tennesseans, and those citizens have a right to know whether the government is protecting them by not issuing a gun permit to people who should not have them."

Bass said it is the responsibility of the Safety Department, and not the news media, to monitor who receives gun permits.

A Department of Safety report shows 627 permits were "revoked or suspended" in 2008 for felony convictions and alleged domestic violence.

[doeriver]

5. House Subcommittee-Criminal Practice & Procedure members

House Subcommittee
Criminal Practice & Procedure
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/sub-crimprocedure.html

Committee Officers
Eric Watson, Chair
Janis Sontany, Vice-Chair

Members
Eddie Bass
Karen Camper
Chad Faulkner
Judd Matheny