Maine Gov. Paul LePage has signed an emergency bill into law to keep personal information from concealed gun permits secret from the public.
The bill was rushed through the legislature after the
Bangor Daily News requested information on permit holders from local law enforcement agencies and municipalities.
While the paper said it wouldn’t publish any personal data, officials all over have been extra sensitive about access to records after The Journal News of White Plains, N.Y. printed the addresses of area gun owners.
Republican lawmakers and gun owners were particularly concerned about possible safety issues.
The emergency bill exempts information about holders of concealed permits from Maine’s Freedom of Access Act.
Lawmakers will now have time to debate another bill to ensure that information stays private.
"I applaud the Legislature for expediting this matter,” LePage said. “Now the debate can continue . . . "
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