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Nixon announces DOR won’t scan gun permit documents

By Eli Yokley

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Following weeks of criticism from lawmakers, Gov. Jay Nixon announced Tuesday that the Missouri Department of Revenue would no longer scan or retain copies of Conceal Carry Weapon endorsements.

“It has been determined that the scanning and retention of concealed carry certificates are not essential to the integrity of the license issuance process,” Nixon said. “We will continue to work with policy makers to ensure the security and privacy of our license issuance process.”

Nixon’s announcement comes after the House passed legislation last Thursday banning the scanning of CCW documents.

The announcement follows Nixon’s release from Monday stating that Brian Long, director of the Department of Revenue, had resigned from his position. Nixon’s office said Long’s resignation was voluntary — despite the curious timing — as lawmakers in both chambers have been granted subpoena power to investigate the practice further.

The issue first emerged in February, when Stoddard County resident Eric Griffin, 52, filed suit against his local fee office after they tried to scan his personal documents when he went in to file for a Conceal Carry Endorsement. After a fee office employee attempted to scan some of his documents, Griffin stopped them, and the fee office would not allow him to obtain his license.

The issue has been one that has allowed Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, in the budget process and House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, on the investigative side to criticize Nixon’s administration, for the first real time in his second term.

“The Missouri House has consistently strived for two goals during the pursuit of this issue, truth and a policy solution to the problems we have discovered,” he said. “The full truth of this matter has not been exposed to the light of day. The Nixon administration owes the state a more complete explanation and perhaps even an apology.”

Jones, who last Thursday called on Attorney General Chris Koster to investigate the Department of Revenue’s procedures, said he still wants Koster to act.