Lawmakers Support Gun Privacy
Some top republicans in the state are putting their support around a lawsuit filed by a Southeast Missouri prosecuting attorney. The lawsuit alleges the department of revenue is asking for too much information when people apply for conceal and carry permits.A judge in Stoddard County issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Revenue after a man filed a lawsuit their saying his rights to privacy were being violated when it came to getting a conceal and carry permit.The documents detail that the DOR can no longer scan and take private information of people getting conceal and carry permits.”Makes it clear that what is going on here is improper, illegal and is a new illegal impediment to citizens rights to obtain a conceal and carry permit,” said Russell Oliver who is a Stoddard County Prosecutor but acting as an independent attorney in this case.On Monday lawmakers at the Capitol backed the Oliver who issued the civil suit earlier that day. His client was asked to turn over private documents to be scanned by the DOR, and when refused, was not given his conceal and carry permit despite him passing all the legal requirements through the local sheriffs department.Law makers including lt. Governor Peter Kinder said this new process breaks state statutes, and is trying to follow a federal law Missouri opted not to comply with years ago.When ABC 17 News asked how long this has been happening and to whom… Lawmakers speculated its been about a month and did not know how many people its affected.The DOR released this statement in response to the same questions, “We Can’t comment on the litigation. The department’s operations are not inconsistent with the statutory protocols.”ABC 17 News also reached out to Governor Jay Nixon to see if he knew anything about the new process and the new scanning machines. However, his representatives referred our crews back to the DOR.Again, this is a civil case in Stoddard county, but officials hope it motivates other people looking to get conceal and carry permits to understand their state rights.
