Special Prosecutor Appointed to Investigate Release of Protected Records

Ohioans For Concealed Carry today announced that it is calling upon the Ohio General Assembly to remove the flawed media access loophole from the new concealed handgun license law.

The move is being made following the announcement by Shelby County Prosecutor Jim Stevenson that, in response to his request, Court of Common Pleas Judge John D. Schmitt has appointed a special prosecutor (Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal) to look into possible criminal violations by Shelby Co. Sheriff Kevin O'Leary and Sidney Daily News editor Jeffrey Billiel, a Brown Publishing Co. employee.

At least ten Ohio Concealed Handgun License-holders have contacted OFCC's Office of General Counsel for advice on seeking legal recourse for damages related to the release of their private, protected information. These people were referred to Attorney Ken Hanson with the firm of Firestone and Brehm, Ltd., for legal help.

Seems that some Ohio sherriffs released their list of concealed-carry-permit holders to the media, and the media decided to print the list, as many had threatened to do. While printing a list of names and addresses for people known to carry firearms is a royally stupid thing to do, no doubt, there are free-speech implications here, especially as the penalties available under the law for this act appear to be felonies. This will likely ruin the sheriff and his pet newspaper if the charges stand, along with all of the innocent people whose personal information has now been publically disclosed. It would have been much more proper for forbid the release of the information at all; as it is, the permit holders have already been harmed, and that harm cannot be undone. All we can do is punish those who harmed them.