Ohio pro gun group shoots down concealed carry permit national database

How quickly things change! Fox News put up this post Newspaper chain plans 'state-by-state' concealed weapon databases detailing how Civitas Media which operates newspapers in 12 states including 38 in Ohio was going to compile a national database of concealed carry permit holders. The database would be compiled from state databases which are accessible through Freedom of Information Act requests.
In an email to the Buckeye Firearms Association Civitas Media's director of content Jim Lawitz downplayed the significance of his "big brother" journalistic undertaking, comparing it to his company's investigation of increased heroin use. One doubts if lawful gun permit holders will be flattered by that comparison.

Civitas Media editorial report – Jan. 13- Jan. 17
From Jim Lawitz
We are launching two enterprise projects across our newsrooms this month. The first will deal with the creeping influence of heroin in our communities. The deadly drug has quietly taken over, reaching across all age groups and eclipsing meth as the recreational drug of choice. The second project examines the explosion of "conceal and carry" gun permits across the U.S. Through public records act requests, we will attempt to build state-by-state databases that list those who have the right to carry a concealed weapon.

As news of the database was spread through Fox News, The Daily Caller, Ammoland, and the Drudge Report, Civitas Media, probably contemplating a deluge of cancelled subscriptions, relented. On the homepage of its web site appeared this "Letter from the president"

Statement from the CEO
Civitas Media never had any plans or intentions of publishing in print or online lists of holders of “conceal and carry” permits. Nor will Civitas Media develop databases of permit holders. A poorly crafted internal memo meant to highlight editorial discussions and planning incorrectly indicated that such a database was being planned; it has been considered and rejected.

See, nothing to the story. It just was a poorly crafted internal memo which was somehow confirmed in an email to the Buckeye Firearms people but their director of content doesn't know what he's talking about. Hats off the the Buckeye Firearms Association!