Sheriff fights concealed gun permit info release

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Washington County Sheriff Rob Gordon is warning holders of concealed gun permits that he may be forced to release their personal information to the public based on a recent court order.

The order stems from a case out of Medford where teacher Shirley Katz wanted to bring a gun to school. She argued she needed a gun to protect herself from her ex-husband.

Last year a judge ruled against her - saying the school district has the right to forbid employees from having guns on school property.

In April, the Jackson County sheriff was ordered to release a list of all the concealed handgun license holders to a Medford newspaper. The case is now before the Oregon Court of Appeals.

In the meantime, Gordon plans to send letters Friday to about 10,000 concealed handgun license holders in his county. He wants them to respond whether they want their personal information kept confidential and whether they applied for the license to protect their personal safety.

The sheriff believes the license holder information is exempt from the state's public records law if people get the license for safety.

An Oregon court decided that there is no evidence that people get the licenses for security measures, so the sheriff's office is hoping to prove them wrong.

Still, he warns in the letter that a court may order the release of the information regardless. (READ MORE ABOUT THE LETTER)

Gordon said several groups are asking for the information, including the media and "other groups related to sporting and hunting."

"As your sheriff, I refused to disclose that information because I believe many people obtain a concealed handgun license for personal security and would not want that information made public," he writes in the letter. "I also resist disclosing personal information because of the continuing identity theft risks."

David Frazier, owner of Beavercreek Armory, said it is his right to quietly carry a gun and he is upset that it could be released to the public.

"It kind of disturbs me that people are wanting to out people," he said. "It's obvious that it's none of their business. It's a private matter between me and the sheriff's department."