BANGOR — The Bangor Daily News' Freedom of Access Act request late Wednesday seeking names, addresses and dates of births of all concealed weapon permit holders in the state is causing strong reaction from police chiefs and others, according to the BDN newspaper's director of news and new media, Anthony Ronzio.

"It's a s---storm right now," said Ronzio. "But we had no intention to publish the data."

The BDN filed the FOAA asking all Maine police departments for the information, which for now, by law, is available to the public on request. It is not typically information that is searchable online, but anyone can walk in to any police department in Maine and legally ask for and obtain that town's registration information, which includes each permit holder's name, address and date of birth.

Penobscot Bay Pilot went to the Camden Police Department Thursday and requested its list of concealed weapons permit holders. The list was handed over without hesitation and includes 80 names, with addresses and DOBs.

Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne said he's not sure why the BDN is seeking the information from the entire state, but that he will ultimately comply.

"We will comply with their FOAA for the data because they are public records, but I do have reservations about giving addresses out," said Gagne. "Too much information can sometimes be too much information."

Gagne said the BDN's FOAA request had been forwarded to the town's attorney for his opinion, which is normal procedure.

In addition to seeking legal advice, Gagne said he would prefer to wait the five days allowed by law to respond to a FOAA, in case the Maine Legislature makes a decision about the legislation pending before it to block access to the informatoin on concealed weapons permit holders.

An Augusta lawmaker submitted a bill earlier this month that, if passed, LD 345 would make confidential the information contained in concealed weapon permits, including names, addresses and dates of birth. The media and others with access to the information would also be in violation of the law if they disseminated it, according to the wording of the bill.

Of concern is that the information could be used for nefarious purposes, including making it easy for criminals to locate where guns are likely to be found in private residences.

Ronzio said his newspaper's request for the data, statewide, was to head off the potential for losing access should a law pass in the near future putting it behind closed doors.

"We have reporting projects to use it for down the line, and this request is in case it goes private," said Ronzio. "It is just a collection of data for us, not to publish."

In addition to playing down the reason for the request in an interview Thursday, Ronzio issued an "Editor's Note" public statement on the BDN's website at 1:31 p.m., which was then modified at least once at 2:48 p.m.

Anthony Ronzio's "Editor's Note," as of 2:48 p.m., follows.

On Wednesday, the Bangor Daily News requested data from Maine police agencies regarding concealed weapons permits in Maine. I'd like to explain our thinking, and clarify our intent.

The BDN requested the records of concealed weapons permits as part of long-term reporting projects on domestic violence, sexual assault and drug abuse.

It always had been the BDN's intent to request this information to support our reporting projects. However, the introduction of legislation to remove these permits from public records accelerated our timeline in doing so.

The BDN has never had any intention to release identifying information about permit holders, and said so in our request. We recognize how sensitive this information is, and made sure police agencies knew of this intent.

We believe the wholesale publication of permit holder information, as was done recently by a newspaper in New York, is irresponsible.

We intend to use this information about permits, along with other information sets we are gathering, to analyze possible correlations relevant to our reporting projects.

I regret the confusion our request has caused. We had hoped that by stating our intent right in our letters, we could have assuaged any concerns it could have caused.

Again, no identifying information about permit holders will be published, and no stories specifically about permit holders are planned.

Sincerely,

Anthony Ronzio
Director of News and New Media
Bangor Daily News
aronzio@bangordailynews.com

The FOIA, as sent to Maine State Police and county and municipal police departments statewide, follows.

Feb. 13, 2013

Col. Robert Williams, Chief
Maine State Police
42 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333­0042

Dear Col. Williams,

The Bangor Daily News respectfully requests that the Maine State Police makes available for inspection and copying, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 408, the records of concealed weapons permits, including the names, addresses and dates of birth of permit holders, that are maintained by the State Police and kept in accordance with and made available to the public in 25 M.R.S.A. § 2006.

The Bangor Daily News does not intend to publish wholesale identifying information included in that list.

The Bangor Daily News requests that the records be made available in electronic form as an Excel spreadsheet, CSV file or form of database, or else as a Word or text document, either stored or on disc or forwarded directly to the Bangor Daily News by email, and will certainly pay any reasonable copying expense for recrods, but requests an estimate before copies are made.

If the Maine State Police objects to the provision of any of these public records on the basis that they are not subject to the FOAA or otherwise not subject to disclosure, please specifiy in writing the nature of the materials which the Maine State Police refuse to provide and the legal basis for that denial within five (5) days, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 409.

Thank you in advance for your prompt response. Please contact me at your first convenience to arrange a reasonable time and place for inspection and copying.

Sincerely,

Susan Young, Managing Editor
Bangor Daily News
491 Main St.
Bangor, ME 04402
Tel: 990­-8203
syoung@bangordailynews.com

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