English Pushes to Protect Privacy Rights of Hunters

Representative Phil English ^ | August 22, 2007 | NA

[neverdem]

Representative Phil English

Contact: Julia Wanzco (202) 225-5406

News for immediate release

 

August 22, 2007

	English Pushes to Protect Privacy Rights of Hunters
Bill Will Ease Process in Recreational License Applications

Fairview, Pa.   - Protecting the privacy rights of local hunters is the goal of legislation recently reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.). H.R. 611 would repeal a federal mandate that has been interpreted by Pennsylvania officials to require every applicant for a recreational license, e.g. hunting and fishing, to disclose their Social Security number. “Hunting has long been a family tradition throughout western Pennsylvania, where we have a strong community of sportsmen who take hunting and shooting very seriously,” said English, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue. “Today, I am pleased to announce my proposal which will help keep the hunting tradition alive.  My bill will ease the process of applying for or renewing a recreational license while protecting the privacy rights of our local sportsmen by not requiring them to provide their Social Security number.”   Under current law, all states are required to revoke or deny recreational licenses, including hunting and fishing licenses of parents who are behind on child support payments.  As a result, any individual that applies or renews a driver, occupational or recreational license must include their Social Security number on their application form.  This federal mandate was originally included in the 1996 Welfare Reform as an attempt to improve child support compliance.  “As a strong advocate of the 1996 Welfare Reform bill, I believe this is an important practice that helps to crack down on deadbeat parents and has led to millions of dollars in increased child support,” English said.  “However, much of the success of this law is due to the threat of loosing a driver or professional license.  Requiring sportsmen to release their Social Security number when applying for a hunting or fishing license is unreasonable, burdensome and overall ineffective.” English’s bill would repeal the federal mandate that requires states to collect Social Security numbers for recreational licenses.  The requirement for drivers and professional licenses would remain in place. -###-

Press Release List

[neverdem]

BANG! Unique identifiers for some folks, go figure.

[longtermmemmory]

I think we need a serious debate about what records should and should not be public.

We already allow some records to be sealed as a matter of policy. This include adoption and juvenile records.

Firearm applications and CCW permits should not be public record.

It is one thing for a public officials public hearings and meetings to be public, it is quite another for this stuff to be under such scrutiny..

(I also wonder why would ANYONE need a Social Security Number for a hunting license? Do dead dear issue 1099s to hunters?)

[longtermmemmory]

I think we need a serious debate about what records should and should not be public.

We already allow some records to be sealed as a matter of policy. This include adoption and juvenile records.

Firearm applications and CCW permits should not be public record.

It is one thing for a public officials public hearings and meetings to be public, it is quite another for this stuff to be under such scrutiny..

(I also wonder why would ANYONE need a Social Security Number for a hunting license? Do dead dear issue 1099s to hunters?)