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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.