By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-947958.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – A Florida Senate committee wants to renew an exemption to the sunshine law for concealed weapons permits. James Call reports the exemption is scheduled to sunset in October.
The Department of Agriculture has issued more than 750 thousand concealed weapons permits to Floridians. And Senator Gregg Evers said those permit holders have a right to privacy. The thinking is, an individual gets a concealed weapons permit because they don't want others to know that they have a gun.
"And, uh, it's like hippa, when it deals with medical records. That is a record that you have of your own. That you have a concealed weapons license. It's actually a private matter unless law enforcement would like to see the license."
The panel approved the proposal with little discussion. The Government Sunset Review Act requires exemptions be renewed every five years, the current exemption was passed by the Legislature in 2006.