Well, they've already moved this to the NY forum, and I suppose rightly so.
However, FYI, there is no "yet" for Virginia, at least under current State law, the only central database of CHP holders is specifically protected from public disclosure, under the CHP statute 18.2-308.
Buried in Paragraph K, it says: "The State Police shall withhold from public disclosure permittee information submitted to the State Police for purposes of entry into the Virginia Criminal Information Network..."
The information is still available from the Court Clerk of each jurisdiction. Closing this gaping whole in personal privacy is one of the next big legislative goals in Virginia.
TFred
Was that a list only, or searchable site like this? Was it on the Roanoke Times page or its own domain dedicated solely for it?Yet? It already happened, doesn't anyone remember the Roanoke Times putting it online? Luckily it got taken down quickly, but certainly exposed a few people in the interim.
Theoretically, yes, but practically, no. Each jurisdiction would have their own policy and format for providing this information. There are around 123 different Circuit Courts in the state of Virginia. It would cost a small fortune to collect, computerize and set up a method to disseminate this information in its entirety. I have not heard anyone report on how successful attempts are to go to a clerk and request their whole database. That might be interesting to try in various jurisdictions, just to know for future lobbying use.If there is a possibility that a person, or group of persons, may gather info on CHP holders on a locality by locality basis then there is still a possibility that said information could be compiled into a searchable database.
There is still a "yet."
State Police already have the list. In most Courts all you would need to do is to go the counter and ask to see the file, as it is public record. Now publication of the file or list is another thing totally.Curtis wrote:Theoretically, yes, but practically, no. Each jurisdiction would have their own policy and format for providing this information. There are around 123 different Circuit Courts in the state of Virginia. It would cost a small fortune to collect, computerize and set up a method to disseminate this information in its entirety. I have not heard anyone report on how successful attempts are to go to a clerk and request their whole database. That might be interesting to try in various jurisdictions, just to know for future lobbying use.If there is a possibility that a person, or group of persons, may gather info on CHP holders on a locality by locality basis then there is still a possibility that said information could be compiled into a searchable database.
There is still a "yet."
The General Assembly made it very clear in 2009 (unanimous votes in both houses) that they were not in favor of mass publication of the information, and we came the closest yet this year to closing the rest of that gaping hole. You can thank Senator Marsh and his Death Committee who saw the writing (votes) on the wall, and had to cheat as his only way to stop it this year.
TFred
Actuall, no it isn't. There is nothing in Virginia law which prohibits publication of at least some of the information about CHP holders. That's the whole point of the problem. Several newspapers used to routinely publish names and streets of new CHP recipients, and there have been recent reports tht one is still doing it. Nothing in the law has changed recently concerning this practice.TFred wrote:State Police already have the list. In most Courts all you would need to do is to go the counter and ask to see the file, as it is public record. Now publication of the file or list is another thing totally.Curtis wrote:Theoretically, yes, but practically, no. Each jurisdiction would have their own policy and format for providing this information. There are around 123 different Circuit Courts in the state of Virginia. It would cost a small fortune to collect, computerize and set up a method to disseminate this information in its entirety. I have not heard anyone report on how successful attempts are to go to a clerk and request their whole database. That might be interesting to try in various jurisdictions, just to know for future lobbying use.If there is a possibility that a person, or group of persons, may gather info on CHP holders on a locality by locality basis then there is still a possibility that said information could be compiled into a searchable database.
There is still a "yet."
The General Assembly made it very clear in 2009 (unanimous votes in both houses) that they were not in favor of mass publication of the information, and we came the closest yet this year to closing the rest of that gaping hole. You can thank Senator Marsh and his Death Committee who saw the writing (votes) on the wall, and had to cheat as his only way to stop it this year.
TFred
I suspect it's the same thing that the anti-gun press here in Virginia thinks they are accomplishing. And they are somewhat successful at it too. By regularly publishing the names and addresses of permit holders, they do in fact, dissuade some people from getting a permit.This person finally posted an email contact, but dismissively says "don't expect a response."
I emailed them anyway, asking "why not post the names and addresses of violent released felons because they are the real danger."
Yes, under New York State Law license holder information is a public record, but what does this person think they're accomplishing?