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http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/03/18guns.html
House OKs hiding names of gun permit holders
Public should not be able to find out who might be carrying concealed weapon, lawmaker says
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, March 18, 2005
State Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas, doesn't think Texans should have to disclose that they are carrying a concealed handgun.
The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday agreed by a 113-30 vote.
Texans would no longer be able to find out who holds a concealed handgun license under Hupp's House Bill 318.
The bill, similar to one passed by the House in 2003, deletes the requirement that the Texas Department of Public Safety must release the identity of a license holder to the public.
Hupp, whose family was murdered by a gunman in a Luby's restaurant in Killeen more than a decade ago, said the legislation is necessary to protect the privacy of concealed handgun license holders.
She said she's concerned that knowing a license holder's name, date of birth, gender, race and ZIP code is sufficient to locate a person's address. She said a stalker or a burglar could find out whether a potential victim has a gun.
"There's an element of surprise, concealment, that is lost," Hupp said. "When government requests private information, it shouldn't give it out."
The DPS still would provide information on license holders to other criminal justice agencies. Reporters and researchers could continue to collect statistical summaries on the 236,499 Texans who hold licenses.
In 2004, the DPS received 136 requests for the identity of license holders.
Opponents argue that the government should not collect information that no one can see. They also said there is no evidence that burglars or stalkers are researching their victims.
Current law requires the DPS to tell a license holder when someone has requested their personal information.
House OKs hiding names of gun permit holders
Public should not be able to find out who might be carrying concealed weapon, lawmaker says
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, March 18, 2005
State Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas, doesn't think Texans should have to disclose that they are carrying a concealed handgun.
The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday agreed by a 113-30 vote.
Texans would no longer be able to find out who holds a concealed handgun license under Hupp's House Bill 318.
The bill, similar to one passed by the House in 2003, deletes the requirement that the Texas Department of Public Safety must release the identity of a license holder to the public.
Hupp, whose family was murdered by a gunman in a Luby's restaurant in Killeen more than a decade ago, said the legislation is necessary to protect the privacy of concealed handgun license holders.
She said she's concerned that knowing a license holder's name, date of birth, gender, race and ZIP code is sufficient to locate a person's address. She said a stalker or a burglar could find out whether a potential victim has a gun.
"There's an element of surprise, concealment, that is lost," Hupp said. "When government requests private information, it shouldn't give it out."
The DPS still would provide information on license holders to other criminal justice agencies. Reporters and researchers could continue to collect statistical summaries on the 236,499 Texans who hold licenses.
In 2004, the DPS received 136 requests for the identity of license holders.
Opponents argue that the government should not collect information that no one can see. They also said there is no evidence that burglars or stalkers are researching their victims.
Current law requires the DPS to tell a license holder when someone has requested their personal information.
