BANGOR — Less than 24 hours after the Bangor Daily News organization made headlines across the state for its Freedom of Access Act request seeking detailed data on the names, addresses and birthdates of all Maine citizens holding concealed weapons permits — the newspaper Friday morning rescinded its request.

"We are disappointed with the reaction to our request, which we felt was with the best intentions to help study issues affecting Maine through an analysis of publicly available data. We will continue our reporting, but will use other sources of information to do so," said Anthony Ronzio, the BDN's director of news and new media, in an Editor's Note posted online Friday at 9:29 a.m. "The BDN regrets that its request for information may have been taken as a personal attack on concealed carry permit holders, some of whom work at the BDN."

The BDN's FOAA requests landed on the desks of all state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies in Maine Feb. 14, seeking data that by state law, is public records. In the FOAA to the Maine State Police, a copy of which was posted on the BDN's website yesterday, the newspaper said, "The Bangor Daily News does not intend to publish wholesale identifying information included in that list."

The FOAA did not specify the intention behind the request, but Maine's FOA law does not require a requesting party declare one (The state's FOAA FAQ can be found here.)

"The FOAA does not specifically prohibit agencies or officials from asking why an individual is requesting a public record. However, if asked, the individual is not required to provide a reason for seeking a record, and the agency cannot deny an individual's request based solely on either the individual's refusal to provide a reason or the reason itself. An agency or official may request clarification concerning which public record or public records are being requested," 1 M.R.S.A. § 408-A(3)

On the phone to PenBayPilot Thursday, Ronzio said the BDN requested the records of concealed weapons permits as part of long-term reporting projects on domestic violence, sexual assault and drug abuse.

Some police chiefs, including Camden Chief Randy Gagne said that while they intended to comply with the BDN's FOAA request, the release of addresses and other personal information made them "uncomfortable."

PenBayPilot made a request to the Camden Police Department Thursday afternoon for the town's list of concealed weapons permit holders, and was handed the list without hesitation. Camden currently has 80 permit holders. The oldest is 90 and the youngest is .

Anthony Ronzio's Feb. 15 "Editor's Note," as of 9:29 a.m., follows.

Editor's Note: BDN rescinds request for records of concealed weapon permit holders

The Bangor Daily News has rescinded its request for records about concealed weapon permit holders in the state of Maine. We have informed the agencies who received our request to disregard it. We've informed the agencies who have responded that their records will be destroyed.

We are disappointed with the reaction to our request, which we felt was with the best intentions to help study issues affecting Maine through an analysis of publicly available data. We will continue our reporting, but will use other sources of information to do so.

The BDN regrets that its request for information may have been taken as a personal attack on concealed carry permit holders, some of whom work at the BDN.

What has been heartening, however, are the dozens of calls and emails from readers about this issue. We've had many good conversations about our request, our intentions, and our commitment to privacy and security of the data.

Unfortunately, these conversations have been trumped by rampant misinformation about our request, as well as swift political opportunism. It's clear that as a state, and as a nation, we still have much to do to generate light in this debate, instead of heat.

What also has become clear are concerns about the concealed weapons permits process. Some callers to the BDN spoke of long delays in the review of applications; the fact these records also are spread across multiple agencies around the state also should be a concern.

We urge lawmakers in Maine, as they debate the privacy of permit data, to also closely scrutinize the process by which these permits are reviewed and whether the permit-holder information is secure.

The BDN never would have published personally identifying information of any permit holder in Maine, as a newspaper in New York had done. To have done so would have been irresponsible to our readers and our communities.

Nevertheless, our reporting will continue on issues facing Mainers. Although we regret causing this controversy, it has not dulled our will to ask difficult questions to keep our governments accountable and help make Maine a better place.

Related story:

• Bangor newspaper seeks names, addresses, birthdates of Maine concealed weapons permit holders

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.