Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
An attorney representing a gun rights group suing Harrisburg wants the city to hand over the names, addresses and phone numbers of every donor who contributed to its legal defense fund.
Joshua Prince, who filed a lawsuit against the city in January over its gun ordinances, requested the list of donors in late February, one week after city officials announced they had started a "Protect Harrisburg" fund to help them fight gun ordinance lawsuits.
As of Friday, the legal defense fund had collected about $5,000.
Prince also asked the city in his request, under the state's Right to Know Law, for information concerning any associated financial accounts and legal work "and any other record in any way relating to the current litigation."
The city provided some records and the donor list, but the names, addresses, check numbers and phone numbers had been redacted. City officials justified the redactions by citing an exemption under the Right to Know Law for individuals who make donations to an agency.
But Prince appealed the redactions to the state's Office of Open Records, arguing that the exemption did not apply, because the donors were giving money to benefit a public official.
An appeals officer this week agreed with Prince and ordered Harrisburg to hand over the information within 30 days.
City Solicitor Neil Grover said they were considering their appeal options.
Prince said he sought the information because it is public and the public has a right to know.
Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse described Prince's efforts as bullying.
"I think the request for donor names is a disgraceful attempt at intimidation," Papenfuse said. "The city won't be bullied."
Prince has also requested donor information from the city of Lancaster, which also has a legal defense fund. Lancaster also denied the information and Prince has appealed.
"We anticipate a similar ruling from OOR in relation to that appeal," Prince said Friday.
Harrisburg and Lancaster are both facing lawsuits made possible under a recent change in state law known as Act 192. The law allows any legal gun owner to sue any municipality to challenge gun ordinances and seek repayment for legal expenses.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/05/harrisburg_gun_defense_donors.html#incart_river