ANOTHER attempt to hide important government records from West Virginians is proceeding through the Legislature - in this case, adding concealment to concealment. It would make secret the names of people who get permits to carry concealed weapons.

Delegate Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, said some women victims of domestic violence asked him to introduce the bill, because they don't want anyone to know they're carrying hidden pistols. Maybe - but we suspect that this is another dubious scheme by the right-to-bear-arms lobby.

The National Rifle Association is backing similar secrecy efforts in other states. Since guns are extremely popular in rural West Virginia, most Mountain State politicians timidly vote as the NRA requests.

Nonetheless, we're amazed that the House Judiciary Committee headed by Delegate Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, approved this concealment plan. The only opposition came from Delegate Bonnie Brown, also D-Kanawha, who said the public has a right to know which people have loaded guns hidden in their pockets.

"I don't even like the idea of concealed weapons," she said. "I read those lists so I know who to stay away from."

Sadly, few other legislators are speaking up as the bill sails through the House of Delegates.

Suppose you're sitting in church, or a city council meeting, or a school basketball game, or a rock concert, or watching a street parade, and someone nearby has a loaded pistol hidden under his clothing. Don't you think you're entitled to know this ominous information?

One Statehouse observer said the new concealment bill would be "a terrible blow to an open society," in which government records are available to citizens. He called it "a serious intrusion into the public's right to know."

Hiding the identity of pistol-packers would compound the problem caused by hiding secret guns.

Delegate Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, said some women victims of domestic violence asked him to introduce the bill, because they don't want anyone to know they're carrying hidden pistols. Maybe - but we suspect that this is another dubious scheme by the right-to-bear-arms lobby.

The National Rifle Association is backing similar secrecy efforts in other states. Since guns are extremely popular in rural West Virginia, most Mountain State politicians timidly vote as the NRA requests.

Nonetheless, we're amazed that the House Judiciary Committee headed by Delegate Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, approved this concealment plan. The only opposition came from Delegate Bonnie Brown, also D-Kanawha, who said the public has a right to know which people have loaded guns hidden in their pockets.

"I don't even like the idea of concealed weapons," she said. "I read those lists so I know who to stay away from."

Sadly, few other legislators are speaking up as the bill sails through the House of Delegates.

Suppose you're sitting in church, or a city council meeting, or a school basketball game, or a rock concert, or watching a street parade, and someone nearby has a loaded pistol hidden under his clothing. Don't you think you're entitled to know this ominous information?

One Statehouse observer said the new concealment bill would be "a terrible blow to an open society," in which government records are available to citizens. He called it "a serious intrusion into the public's right to know."

Hiding the identity of pistol-packers would compound the problem caused by hiding secret guns.