Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Many in Perry County supported their sheriff when he refused to release the names to the county's auditors of those who applied for permits to carry concealed firearms.
And now, Second Amendment rights groups, as well as a number of members of the state Senate and House of Representatives, want to weigh in.
The Pennsylvania Sheriff's Association filed a petition in Perry County Court Friday, supporting Sheriff Carl Nace in the lawsuit filed against him over his refusal to turn over the names of those who applied for permits to carry a concealed firearm.
"We believe the sheriff was correct in his interpretation of what he is and is not allowed to do," Bob Wollyung, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Sheriff's Association, said.
The group filed an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, petition Friday, requesting the judge's permission to participate in the suit in support of Nace.
Click here to read the association's filing.
The situation started when county auditors Brenda Hench, Donna Jones and Kimberly McMullen requested unredacted copies of the applications -- which include the names of the applicants -- for permits to carry concealed firearms, which Nace in April said is illegal for him to provide.
"They want the names of the people who have gun permits, and that's confidential," he said at the time. "The only ones who can get information are law enforcement under official duty."
The auditors argued they needed that information in order to properly complete their audit, noting $19 of the $20 for application fees goes into the county's coffers.
Perry County's commissioners seemed to agree with the sheriff in June when they voted to hire a certified public accountant to complete the audit without the names of permit applicants.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/08/perry_county_gun_lawsuit_1.html