The Sheriff Says No

[hammAR]

http://www.localnewscomesfirst.com/index.p...60&Itemid=2

The Sheriff Says No To Paper Request

The Medford Mail Tribune and the Jackson County sheriff are gearing up for a showdown in court. The issue gets down to the rule of law.

Should concealed weapons permits be open according to the public records law or should the sheriff be able to say no he holds those records to privacy standards.

The Mail Tribune wants to know who in Jackson County is authorized to carry a concealed weapon.

But Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters, doesn't feel that information should be released.

The request stems from the highly publicized case involving South Medford High School teacher Shirley Katz who wants to bring her legally permitted concealed weapon on campus.

The editors of the Mail Tribune are interested in finding out if there are other teachers in Jackson County who have concealed weapons permits.

But sheriff Winters says such information jeopardizes public safety.

" The main point here is this is a public records issue, not a handgun or Second Amendment issue, this is about public records."

"I'm prepared to fight it in the end, I truly believe that people's information in that area should be protected and I'm willing to take a stand."

In the end a judge will decide what will happen. A court date has not been set. Records show that sixty-five hundred residents in Jackson County hold concealed weapon permits.

[DeanC]

I thought the Strib already tried this stunt a couple times.

[DeanC]

Just read this story at another forum. I see it is Medford, Oregon. (The link here doesn't work)

I was thinking it was Medford, MN. The Jackson County reference didn't throw me because I was thinking Medford, MN & Jackson Co are both down south in the state. Whew!

[Aquaholic]

Yep, Oregon:

http://www.localnewscomesfirst.com/

Go there, and you might even want to answer their Poll: Should teachers be allowed to carry on campus?

[hammAR]

THX for fixing the link.................

[GregM]

If I were the Medford Mail Tribune (clunky name) I would be more interested in which teachers had criminal records.

Oh that's right ... criminal records are not public information.