Trib: Government Secrecy Knocking

One of the best ideas ever to come from Idaho was the state’s public records law. It presumes you have access to government records. Access keeps the process honest. The system is constantly under assault. In the two decades since the law took effect, legislators have tweaked it here, trimmed it there. Now, they’re trying to pull from public view the name of anybody who purchased a hunting or fishing license or game tag. That’s because an opponent of the state’s wolf hunt, Rob Hobson of Boise, posted names of those who shot a wolf this season on his Web site. Some hunters say they have been harassed/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here .

Question: Should the state of Idaho be allowed to keep the names of those who buy hunting and fishing licenses from the public?