State senators hear testimony on concealed carry permit info sharing

More than 60 people on Friday attended a public hearing conducted by the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee to share concerns about storing and sharing Missourians' private information by the Department of Revenue.

A panel consisting of Sens. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, and Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, took questions from the audience, with Schaefer, who also is chairman of the appropriations committee, primarily answering the questions as Wallingford and Libla took notes on concerns and suggestions.

Those in attendance at the Cape Girardeau Public Library were encouraged to approach a microphone, then put their comments in writing on a witness appearance form handed out at the hearing. The forms will be used to create a documented record of the opinions before any laws are changed or further action is taken, Schaefer said.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer holds up a Senate Witness Appearance Form at a public hearing at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. (Samantha Rinehart)

"We want to get public input and let the people know we care," he said. "We want to hear from them and know if they support what's going on. So far, everywhere we've been, no one seems to like this."

The senators already visited Springfield and had planned to make another stop in St. Charles County on Saturday, Schaefer said.

Many of those who stepped up to the microphone told the panel they believed laws had been broken when private documents, including Social Security numbers and concealed-carry permits, were scanned and retained, and hoped to see those responsible prosecuted. Although the Senate has no power to prosecute, Schaefer said, they were finding other ways to handle the matter.

"There is a powers of prosecution process. It's just not in our control," he said. "What we can do, and what we have done, is cut funding. We took the Department of Revenue budget down to zero."

Schaefer also said the Senate on Friday served a subpoena to Special Agent Keith Schilb of the Office of Inspector General in the Social Security Administration, the federal investigator who originally requested a list of concealed-gun permit holders.

The senator said after the hearing that he was unsure if Schilb had received the notice, which asks him to give testimony before the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

"This is where the whole thing started," Schaefer said. "We just want answers. Why did he do it? What did he see and who else saw this information?"

When one audience member asked Schaefer if he believed Gov. Jay Nixon had broken the law, he said that still remains unclear.

"I do believe the Department of Revenue has broken the law and they work under the governor," he said. "But whether they did these things without him knowing or if he had prior knowledge, I don't know."

After one concealed-carry permit holder expressed concern about sharing his private information to obtain and renew his permit, another audience member suggested Schaefer consider the possibility of Constitutional Carry, which would legalize the carrying of concealed firearms without the requirement of a permit or license. The senator said he would be in support of such a measure, which would eliminate the information-sharing problem from again surfacing.

Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, also voiced his support of Constitutional Carry on Monday at a public forum held at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

Schaefer said he was pleased with the interest the community has taken in the issue and encourages the public to continue reaching out to local representatives.

"I've gotten more calls and emails on this issue than I've ever gotten in my five years serving in the Senate, which is great," he said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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711 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.