HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-25 13-097 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 13-097
Date: February 25, 2013
Item/Subject: RESOLVE, Establishing a Position in Support of Legislation to Maintain
the Confidentiality of Information of Persons who have Concealed Weapons Permits
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary:
Current Maine law provides that the authority that issues a concealed weapons permit shall
make a permanent record of each permit and that the record must be available for public
inspection. There is currently pending before the Maine legislature a bill to amend 26 M.R.S.A.
§2006, LD 345, "An Act to Ensure the Confidentiality of Concealed Weapons Permit Holder
Information". This bill would amend the current law to require that the record of concealed
weapons permits be kept confidential and not available for public inspection or copying.
Under the current law the record of concealed weapons permit holders must contain the name,
address and physical description of the permit holder. There is no significant public health or
safety interest in making such personal information available to the general public and making
such personal information available to the general public is an undue and unnecessary invasion
of personal privacy creating a potential risk to the permit holder.
If this Resolve is passed the City will take a position in favor of LD 345 and will send a copy of
the Resolve to its delegation and the members of the Legislature's Committee on Judiciary which
will be holding hearings on the bill.
Manager's Comments:
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
Passage
First Reading
Referral
Department Head
Page _of_
City Manager
Finance Director
Solicitor
13-097
FEBRUARY 25, 2013
Assigned to Councilor Nealley
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) Resolve, Establishing a Position in Support of Legislation to Maintain the
Confidentiality of Information of Persons who have Concealed Weapons Permits
WHEREAS, current Maine law, 26 M.R.S.A. §2006, provides that the authority that issues a
concealed weapons permit shall make a permanent record of each permit and that the record
must be available for public inspection; and
WHEREAS, under current Maine law a person seeking a concealed weapons permit is required
to complete an extensive application including questions about his or her criminal record,
mental health and other information to meet statutory requirements before the issuance of a
permit and the issuing authority must be satisfied of the good moral character of the applicant;
and
WHEREAS, there is currently pending before the Maine legislature a bill to amend 26 M.R.S.A.
§2006, LD 345, "An Act to Ensure the Confidentiality of Concealed Weapons Permit Holder
Information"; and
WHEREAS, LD 345 would amend the current law to require that the record of concealed
weapons permits be kept confidential and not available for public inspection or copying; and
WHEREAS, under the current law the record of concealed weapons permit holders must contain
the name, address and physical description of the permit holder; and
WHEREAS, there is no significant public health or safety interest in making such personal
information available to the general public; and
WHEREAS, making such personal information available to the general public is an undue and
unnecessary invasion of personal privacy creating a potential risk to the permit holder.
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR:
BE IT RESOLVED,
That the City of Bangor takes a position in favor of passage of LD 345, "An Act to Ensure the
Confidentiality of Concealed Weapons Permit Holder Information".
IN CITY COUNCIL
February 25, 2013
Motion made and-seconded for Passage
P
CITY CL RK
13-097
FEBRUARY 259 2013
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That a copy of this Resolve shall be sent to the members of the City of Bangor legislative
delegation and the Legislature's Committee on Judiciary.