From the Winston-Salem Journal (2/14/13): State legislators began debating Thursday whether there's a legitimate interest in the public having access to names, addresses and other identifying information of people purchasing pistols or who've obtained concealed weapons permits.
A bill filed by more than a dozen Senate Republicans would make identifying information about people who have obtained the permits confidential unless the records are opened through a court order. The records are currently public records, meaning anyone can access them.
“Are we going to protect the private information of people who are law-abiding citizens who have chosen to buy a handgun?” asked Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, a co-sponsor of the bill. The measure wasn’t voted upon after state newspapers and Democrats raised objections, saying the bill was a solution searching for a problem that doesn’t exist.
“I’m just trying to figure what we’re trying to resolve,” said Sen. Malcolm Graham, D-Mecklenburg. “I just don’t know what we’re trying to fix.”