Which Neighbors Have Concealed Weapons Permits? (Redwood City, Ca. publishes list)

[ToolMaker]

256. I'm a bit confused...

in post #35 by you, you claim that a public benefit is created by publishing the list, then in response to my post you state that there is no public benefit. Did you change your mind based on further examination?

As for public benefit from having permits available, I have not ever indicated that I thought this was the case. The purpose of concealed carry permits, as far as I am concerned is not about public benefit, but rather private benefit. I suppose one could make the argument that the existence and availability of permits could cause some criminals to rethink the idea of assaulting someone based on the fact that they may be armed, and that the public then sees some benefit, but I think it would be quite difficult to prove.

As for the constitution slapping itself in the face, I could not disagree more. It seems to me that the constitution was engineered to protect the rights and freedoms of the individual, so long as this does not cause unjust harm to another. By protecting every individual equally (granted, this was not always the case), the whole of society is also protected. While publishing this list could be viewed as exercising one's right to free speech, it does indeed, pose the serious possibility of injury to others.

Other posters have focused on such maters as inviting attack or theft by those who disregard the law in their personal pursuits. While this is a risk, I think there are other risks that are just as damaging and much more likely. I was once fired for not abiding by a company policy with regard to firearms that was contrary to state law. I could easily see an employer that was not friendly to second amendment rights, using such a list to cull employees from the ranks. The only thing that protected me was that state law was on my side. I was able to sue, regaining my job, as well as a significant settlement and court ordered protection from retribution from my employer. This is less of a second amendment issue than it is a privacy issue. Making private information public that has the potential to cause harm is not beneficial to anyone, and certainly not to the public as a whole. In this instance, it is permit holder's info, what might it be next time?