Gov. Nixon: state no longer scanning concealed gun permits

On Tuesday, Gov. Nixon said the Department of Revenue will stop scanning concealed gun permits.

“It has been determined that the scanning and retention of concealed carry certificates are not essential to the integrity of the license issuance process,” Nixon said in a press release.

Missouri Department of Revenue Director Brian Long resigned Monday over the controversy surrounding the agency’s handling of concealed gun permit documents.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced Long’s resignation Monday and said it was effective immediately. The governor’s statement did not say why Long resigned or whether he was asked to do so.

Long was appointed to the job by Nixon on Dec. 13.

That came shortly after the Department of Revenue had launched a new process for issuing driver’s licenses in which clerks are making electronic copies of applicants’ personal documents, such as concealed carry permits.

Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential for people’s privacy rights to be violated.

During a Senate committee hearing last week, Long had declined to stop scanning the documents.