Missouri sheriffs, conceal and carry weapons permit holders voice concerns

News of a public database is making those who applied for a conceal and carry weapons permit in the state Missouri uneasy.

It was confirmed Thursday the Department of Revenue released personal information from more than 160,000 permit-holders in the state to the highway patrol who then sent it to the federal government.

Local sheriffs have the responsibility of processing applications and background checks to issue conceal and carry weapons licenses.

They also have the duty to protect that information.

So when this private information was shared by the Missouri Highway Patrol, Cole County Sheriff Greg White said something needed to change.

“We’re very careful not to open those records and we would hope that this would never happen again at the state level,” White told ABC 17 News.

As for permit-holders, they are concerned about what could happen if thisinformation gets passed on even further.

“I’m afraid it’s going to have the same effect like it did in New York, where a newspaper got a hold of that information and put all the little points on the map to state where conceal carry holders are,” Ammo Alley shop owner Doug Alley told ABC 17 News.

Alley said he thinks this not only puts permit-holders at risk, but also sheds light on those who wouldn’t necessarily have guns in their homes.

Sheriff White and Alley both said this raises legal questions.

“It truly violates what has been written in Missouri’s statute,” Alley explained.

“I think it the simplicity of it any closed record needs to remain a closed record,” White said.

On Thursdaysenators called for Col. RonReplogle to step down following the backlash on this issue.

White insisted Replogle is an honorable man and believes he had no part in the sharing of this restricted information.