E-mail From Senator Southerland's Office on HGC permits

[Guest mrnord]

This is the actual E_mail I recieved from Senator Southerland's Office. My contact info has been edited for privacy.

Mr. Nordman, as you will see from the below e-mail correspondence, the

public does not have access to the handgun permit holders' database.

According to Ms. Merkel who is the public information officer for the

Department of Safety, the Tennessean received complaints about the list

being published on their website and have removed it.

Sometimes public disclosure is not the best way to go especially in

cases such as these. It's my understanding that the Department of

Safety was required to give the Tennessean the information due to the

Freedom of Information Act. It hasn't been long since the Tennessee

published the salaries of every legislative state employee and kept it

on their website for weeks. That was quite enlightening.

Thank you for your e-mail. I hope this helps to allay some of your

concerns.

Carolyn Newman, AA to Senator Steve Southerland

-----Original Message-----

From: Elizabeth Merkel [mailto:Elizabeth.Merkel@state.tn.us]

Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:53 AM

To: Steve Southerland

Subject: Re: Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit database: Revision

No

-----Original Message-----

From: "Steve Southerland"

<SEN.STEVE.SOUTHERLAND@LEGISLATURE.STATE.TN.US>

To: Merkel, Elizabeth <ELIZABETH.MERKEL@STATE.TN.US>Creation Date: 5/9

11:29 am

Subject: RE: Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit database: Revision

Can the public access your database by internet or otherwise?

-----Original Message-----

From: Elizabeth Merkel [mailto:Elizabeth.Merkel@state.tn.us]

Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:21 AM

To: Steve Southerland

Subject: Re: Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit database: Revision

We have gotten a number of calls on this.

Under Freedom of Information Act rules, we had to provide our database

of permit holders to the Tennessean.

The Tennessean posted everyone on their website yesterday, but have

removed it, likely due to the number of complaints.

-----Original Message-----

From: "Steve Southerland"

<SEN.STEVE.SOUTHERLAND@LEGISLATURE.STATE.TN.US>

To: Merkel, Elizabeth <ELIZABETH.MERKEL@STATE.TN.US>Creation Date: 5/9

11:07 am

Subject: FW: Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit database: Revision

Elizabeth, have others had concerns about this?

________________________________

From: Carl Nordman

Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 8:56 AM

To: Steve Southerland

Subject: Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit database: Revision

Dear Senator Southerland,

In an earlier message to you I made the statement that it was my

understanding that Tennessee police were not privy to Handgun Carry

Permit status. I have since learned that I was wrong. Police DO have

access to that information, and I believe that is a good policy. I do

however still believe that the Tennessee Handgun Carry database should

be restricted from the public.

Sincerely,

Carl

[saintsfanbrian]

That is a crock, Freedom of Information Act. Well, maybe medical records should fall under this freedom. After all, I don't want to be driving down the road with some one who is on anti-depressants. What if they forgot to take them that day? They could get depressed and decide to commit suicide while driving and take out a bunch of people.