Memphis Commercial-Appeal publishes Permit holders database

[David Lewis]

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal has published a searchable database of Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit holders. They cite as the source the TN Department of Safety.

Here's a Link:

This invasion of privacy is why we need to get bills such as SB 0172 / HB 0221 passed!!! This bill will protect the Confidentiality of handgun carry permit applications. Makes confidential information pertaining to handgun carry permits relative to public inspection or publication. Authorizes law enforcement agencies to access such information for investigating or prosecuting purposes. Specifies that publication of such information by anyone other than the permit holder is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by fine only. (S: Ketron; H: Bass)

The reason this isnt' already on the books is Jimmy Naifeh! (Look him up, by the way...)

Contact your legislators about this! Contact the Commercial-Appeal & complain, too. When the Nashville Tennesseean pulled the same stunt a few years ago, the site was pulled due to the volume of complaints received. Let's make it happen again!

This is not just an issue for Memphis--it affects every permit holder in Tennessee, no matter where you are. Information about you is available on the internet, to anyone wishing to obtain it.

David

[1Freeman]

I just checked tge data base, and predictably, it was incomplete. I have a CP, and it did not have me listed. The premise of violating privacy is still valid, and our legs should put a stop to it. But, the fact that these data bases often have incorrect, or incomplete info, makes it even more dangerous.

[redbarron06]

I checked it and I was listed along with 145 other folks listed in my zip code. I did this simply by searching my zip code.

I will be sharing this and sending out multiple emails when I get home.

[David Lewis]

[redbarron06]

[alamogunr]

As others have done, I checked my zip and found 151 holders. I know there are more because some that I know have a permit are not listed.

I checked both my state representative and state senator. Neither showed up. I wonder if they have the option of withholding their names from the database?

Email will be sent to that champion of 1st Amendment rights, the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

[benburke]

Here is my web site email to Pepe the publisher:

Dear Mr. Pepe,

I do not want my name included in your online database of Tennessee handgun permit holders, especially giving my date of birth. Identity thieves can use my DOB for their criminal mischief. Please remove my name from your database immediately. By allowing public access to my date of birth your newspaper can be liable for any fraudulent use of my name.

Thank you,

Ben Burke
Chattanooga, TN

[redbarron06]

Info for the parent company of the Commercial Appeal

http://www.scripps.com/

Corporate Headquarters:
312 Walnut Street
2800 Scripps Center
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: 513-977-3000
Fax: 513-977-3721

E-mail Contacts:
Feedback: corpcomm@scripps.com
Corporate Communications: corpcomm@scripps.com
Human Resources: askHR@scripps.com

I have also sent them emails

[SomeGuy]

I say ignore the MCA. That is right, let it stay published.

And notify our elected officials of it, demanding a change, even penalties for such actions.

[stanhilton]

As an outraged HCP holder, I went to the CA website to test this invasion of privacy. I entered my name and all of my personal data came up. I was so mad that I went to the website contacts page and to my pleasant suprise, a whole list of names and email addresses came up. After some thought, I decided to send the following email to all of the names on the list:

Since your paper has decided to publish a link to my private information because I happen to be a Tennessee HCP holder, I feel it is only fair to reciprocate the gesture. I see your name and the names of several others on your contact page listed on this website. I am going to utilize any and all legal means to uncover all of your personal data, no matter what the cost, and publish it on a very public website for all identity thieves to have access to, just as you have done to me. I will be sending this to all of my friends who are HCP holders as well to be sure they have the opportunity to help me with this task.

I hope you all would do the same. Let's see how they like it!

[austin]

This is ridiculous. I just sent in my permit and background check application yesterday but I'm sure I will be on there if change does not come soon.

I searched my zip code and even found a country star... Trace Adkins.

[redbarron06]

I heard sombody call Ralph Bristol this morning and talk about this. I dont think that Ralph understood the concerns. I am going to send him an email and try to expalin it differently.

[ProguninTN]

I was on it too. Hopefully, the privatization bill will pass this year.

[Tim Nunan]

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/a ... s_st.shtml

NASHVILLE ---Public complaints have recently been directed to the Department of Safety over the release of personal information from a searchable database of handgun permit holders on the Memphis Commercial Appeal website http://www.commercialappeal.com/data/. The searchable database can be found on the newspaper's Data Center webpage and offers users to "find out who in your community is licensed to carry a weapon".

The Department of Safety appreciates the privacy concerns of Tennessee's handgun permit holders; however, Tennessee Code 10-7-503 provides that all state records are open to inspection to any Tennessee citizen and the agency in charge of the records cannot deny access to them unless otherwise provided by state law. Currently, there is no state law which prohibits the disclosure of handgun permit records. Therefore, if a newspaper or other person makes a public records act request, the Department provides the following handgun permit information:

Full Name
DOB
Address
Zip Code
County
Issue Date
Expiration Date

While the Department of Safety Office of Public Affairs complies with state law by providing the handgun information from the handgun database upon request, we do not control whether media outlets such as the Commercial Appeal decide to publish the database on their public websites.

In 2007, the Nashville Tennessean published the handgun permit database on its website before shutting the information down within hours of making it public.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

[SomeGuy]

TDOS is lying through their teeth.

I tried to get the database once (TFA recruitment), and never got a response. They give it out, when they want to give it out.

[PEC-Memphis]

Call, or visit them at home:

Joseph Pepe, President and publisher
3195 Wetherby Cv S
Germantown, TN 38139
901-737-8784


Steve Tomb, VP of Operations
1846 Wildcreek Cv
Collierville, TN 38017
Phone Unpublished


Chris Peck, Editor
21 Belleair Dr
Memphis, TN 38104
901-276-8314


Otis Sanford, Editor/Opinion & Editorials
3396 Park Ave
Memphis, TN 38111
Phone Unpublished
Eric Janssen, VP of Digital Media
8996 Stratfield Cv
Germantown, TN 38139
901-358-7007


Scott Sines, Managing Editor
2136 Wentworth Ln
Germantown, TN 38139
Phone Unpublished


Daniel Moehle, VP/Chief Financial Officer
3172 Devonshire Way
Germantown, TN 38139
901-757-5911


Karl Wurzbach, VP of Sales and Marketing
3098 Bentwood Run Dr
Collierville, TN 38017
Phone Unpublished


Robert Jiranek, VP of New Business Development
175 Waring Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
901-251-1810


Bob Pinarski, Advertising Director
3961 Herons Landing Ln
Arlington, TN 38002
901-867-5294


Denise Holman, Manager of Classified Advertising
720 Litty Ct 103
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone Unpublished


Paul Jewell, Marketing Director
1439 Vance Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
901-272-1458

[redbarron06]

This actually made national news tonight on NRA news. They were talking about it on my way home.

[Tim Nunan]

State senator Steve Southland (who has always supported gun rights) replied with this:

"Tim, I will support SB 172 and appreciate the precarious position that this puts law-abiding citizens in.

"Again, thanks for your e-mail.

"Steve"

[PEC-Memphis]

After an email and three (3) phone calls, I spoke to Chris Peck Today.

He asked me if I had a HCP, I told him that I did - the then asked me if I had a gun - I told him that it was none of his business if I had a gun. He told me that he wouldn't remove my name from the list because "it was the law", I told him that it is not the law that the CA must make the list available.

He said that the need for my neighbors and friends to know if I have a HCP, or not, is more important than the possibility of some (in his words) "some brainiac criminal prouring over the database trying to determine who's house to rob, and most crimianls can't read." I told him that a the criminal doesn't have to be a "brainiac" and that six-year old could look up the HCP holders in a zip code.

He asked me if I had been broken into yet, I told him that I had not but several of my neighbors had been broken into.

I told him that when the CA published the names of the HCP holders in the paper several years ago, I requested in writing that the CA never publish my personal information again, and this time I have reqeusted once in writing and twice verbally and the CA has refused to remove my name from the database. He asked me if my name was published then (years ago) - I said that it had. He said (smugly) "He you been broken into since then?" - I said yes - two larcinies and one home invasion - "He said that's not a good thing is it?" I said no, with four grandkids in the house and my wife and two grandkids in the front yard - he then hung up on me.

[Seminole]

The release of personal information to the public by the CA is unconscionable. I'm posting a list of the editorial board and senior employees of the CA along with contact information including home and cell phone numbers where available. There are also links to personal property tax information for each of the individuals.

I suggest that you contact the individuals (in particular Chris Peck, the editor and Joseph Pepe, President and Publisher), especially at their home or cell numbers so they know people have that information, and tell them that since they believe personal information should be public, you will help to publicize their names, addresses, phone numbers, and tax information, all of which is public record. After all, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? Then proceed to publicize it in any way you can. For example, I'm thinking of printing up a poster with Chris Peck's name, picture, and all of the personal information included here, and posting it near his Midtown home, in Overton Square, and downtown--especially near the CA building. You may find ways to do the same as well as making this as available as possible on the internet.

Joseph Pepe, President and publisher
3195 Wetherby Cv S
Germantown, TN 38139
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3195+Weth ... iwloc=addr
901-737-8784
901-529-2205
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Joseph_Pepe.png

Steve Tomb, VP of Operations
1846 Wildcreek Cv
Collierville, TN 38017
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-529-2446
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Steve_Tomb.png

Chris Peck, Editor
21 Belleair Dr
Memphis, TN 38104
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-276-8314
901-529-2390
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Chris_Peck.png
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Chris_Peck.png
Chris Peck's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Peck/790909991
Wife, Kathleen Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kate-Duignan/789442221
Son Cody Peck's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Cody-Peck/38906854
Daugher Sarah Peck's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-K-Peck/14839

Otis Sanford, Editor/Opinion & Editorials
3396 Park Ave
Memphis, TN 38111
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-529-2447
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Otis_Sanford.png

Eric Janssen, VP of Digital Media
8996 Stratfield Cv
Germantown, TN 38139
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-358-7007
901-212-3597, Cell
901-529-2480
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Eric_Janssen.png

Scott Sines, Managing Editor
2136 Wentworth Ln
Germantown, TN 38139
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-529-5843
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Scott_Sines.png

Daniel Moehle, VP/Chief Financial Officer
3172 Devonshire Way
Germantown, TN 38139
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-757-5911
901-529-2210
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/ ... Moehle.png

Karl Wurzbach, VP of Sales and Marketing
3098 Bentwood Run Dr
Collierville, TN 38017
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-529-2640
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/ ... rzbach.png

Robert Jiranek, VP of New Business Development
175 Waring Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-251-1810
901-529-6525
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/ ... iranek.png

Bob Pinarski, Advertising Director
3961 Herons Landing Ln
Arlington, TN 38002
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-867-5294
901-529-2250
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/Bob_Pinarski.png

Denise Holman, Manager of Classified Advertising
720 Litty Ct 103
Memphis, TN 38103
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-529-2216
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.com/Communist_Appeal/ ... Holman.png

Paul Jewell, Marketing Director
1439 Vance Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... iwloc=addr
901-272-1458
901-529-2219
Property Tax Information: http://www.ampoff.co