By: Robert J. Harris
If you have an Oregon concealed handgun permit, you should be aware that based on a ruling in a case stemming from a lawsuit by a Medford Oregon teacher, your status as a license holder may be considered a public record subject to disclosure under the Oregon public records laws. The Court held open the possibility that the record is NOT subject to disclosure if the permit was obtained for legitimate security purposes.
In response to this Court ruling, the Washington County's sheriff will ask 10,000 holders of concealed handgun licenses whether they want their names disclosed if the information is requested as an Oregon public record. Letters will go out to all Washington County license holders asking them if they obtained the license for security reasons and whether they want their information kept confidential. In addition the current application is being modified to ask the same question.
Washington County hopes that by having documentation of license holders' wishes Oregon law will allow the sheriff to reject a request for names.
If you live in Multnomah County, the process will be different. The Multnomah county Sheriff's office will confirm that a person has a concealed handgun license on a case by case basis if someone calls with a name, there is a valid public information request. However they determine that, we don't really know. In Clackamas County, the sheriff's office will release the information for "properly made requests." Whatever that means.
Both Clackamas and Multnomah counties are considering Washington County's process.
The Medford case is under appeal and could be reversed of modified. However until concealed and carry licensees would be wise to inform their local sheriff that they did obtain their permit for security reasons, if indeed that is the case, and if they wish to have thier status protected from public scrutiny.
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