Gun permit confidentiality During a recent investigative report by the Journal and 13 other daily newspapers in Iowa, they found some major gaps in the law and how local governments interpreted them. The House is examining changes to our Open Records Law to make gun permit applications confidential. Secrecy is something that government shouldn t allow. If a local sheriff or police department, as per the law of our state or nation, is required to collect permits for guns, then to ensure fairness and equity, there must be access to those records. Anything less opens the door to misconduct.
Sunshine ensures light.
And through light, there s an opportunity for understanding and learning. History is full of examples of keeping the public from having access to information. That policy leads to fanaticism, discrimination and intolerance. Let s ensure Iowa s 2001 legislators don t start us down that slippery slope by arbitrarily changing the public s rules. Now consider putting your thoughts into a letter to the editor for publication.