Assembly OKs sealed records on weapons

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:47 a.m.

Senate Bill 128, approved Wednesday, would change Nevada law to seal the permit information, which was determined in an attorney general's opinion earlier this year to be public.

The version of the bill passed by the Senate allowed the names of concealed weapon permit holders to be public but kept secret other information. The Assembly version makes confidential the names as well.

The Senate must now concur in the amendment. If it does, the bill will go to Gov. Bob Miller for his signature. The bill would become effective immediately.

Assembly Judiciary Chairman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said law enforcement officials requested the amendment to keep names of permit-holders confidential.

Kent Lauer of the Nevada Press Association said there will be no public accountability of the concealed weapons permit process if the bill becomes law.

"The public will have no idea whether a permit has been issued to a person who is not eligible to have one," he said. "That certainly could pose a threat to public safety."

The measure would supplant an attorney general's opinion issued Feb. 11 that was requested by the Lander County district attorney's office. The county agency asked if concealed weapons permits were public records after a newspaper, the Battle Mountain Bugle, sought the information and was denied.

The attorney general found that because the Legislature didn't specify that such information was confidential, then it was public and should be made available to the newspaper.

Only statistical information, such as the number of applications received and permits issued, would be released by law enforcement agencies under the Assembly version of SB 128.