Lawsuit on gun permit rejected

RENO -- A Washoe District Court judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by a Reno newspaper seeking documents concerning the mishandling of Gov. Jim Gibbons' concealed weapons permit.

Beryl Love, executive editor of the Reno Gazette-Journal, said the newspaper plans to appeal the ruling by Judge Janet Berry.

After a hearing Tuesday, Berry ruled that the Legislature intended to protect the identity of concealed weapon permit holders.

The newspaper sued Sheriff Mike Haley, who has declined to discuss the status of Gibbons' firearms permit.

Gazette-Journal attorney Scott Glogovac argued that the law does not make confidential any documents generated after the application process, including the permit itself or official action taken to revoke or suspend it.

Deputy District Attorney Nathan Edwards, who represented the sheriff, argued that the confidentiality law extended to all information contained in the application, including a permit holder's name.

Berry agreed.

"All of the information provided to a sheriff includes the identity of the permit holder," Berry said. "The legislative intent was to protect the identity of CCW permit holders. The court can't treat the governor any differently."

Gibbons last month acknowledged that he surrendered his gun permit earlier this year after it was discovered he hadn't completed all the legally required training for his nine pistols, though he had signed an application saying he had.

Haley ultimately revoked the certification of the firearms instructor who signed off on the training. The instructor was a campaign donor and friend of the governor.