Thought this might apply to some of my Maupin cousins and it would certainly apply to all states considering this. Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 8:46 AM Subject: [ky-rooters] READ IMMEDIATELY and act as you think appropriate > To all KY Cc's and researchers, > > There is currently a bill going to the KY State Senate that will close birth > records from the public view and keep genealogists from obtaining vital > information about their ancestors. I urge each and every one of you to > contact your KY representative and the representative for the county you are > a CC for and ask them to vote against HB 0523. I have enclosed below the > letter I sent to R.J. Palmer asking that he do so. Let's work together and > keep Kentucky from becoming another closed records state! > > Thanks! > Jeni N Chism > SC KYGenExchange > > Mr. Palmer, > > After being told this morning by a colleague of mine that Kentucky is trying > to become a closed state for birth certificates, I felt compelled to e-mail > you concerning this matter. I have been told that the House has passed this > bill and that it is now on it's way to the senate. I urge you to vote against > this bill. > > I understand that it's purpose is to prevent identity fraud for people who > are living. Sir, there is a better solution to this problem than pulling the > records from the public view. It is simply to pull the state seals from the > certificates that are not requested by immediate family members. There are > many organizations that require the birth certificates or proof of parentage > for their ancestors and many people wish to join these groups. For example, > the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of Confederate > Veterans. > > I realize that there are many people who could and would use this other wise > private information for criminal purposes, but without the state seal on the > certificate, the document is not valid proof of an individuals identity and > therefore cannot be used to obtain Social Security Cards or Driver's Licenses > or Marriage Licenses. > > I am a mother, a genealogist, and an Adpotee, so I can honestly speak from > all corners of the situation. In my opinion, Kentucky should not only remain > an open records state, they should be opened even further. My children have a > right to know their ancestors, they have a right to know their biological > ancestors, and they have a right to protection from fraud. Instead of making > Kentucky a closed records state, simply remove the seal on the certificates > requested by non family members. This is only logical solution and the only > way to keep the information available to those who need it now and who will > want it in the future. > > Sincerely, > Jeni N. Chism > SC KYGenExchange > > > > ----- > List Admin - [email protected] > KY GenExchange: http://www.genexchange.org/state.cfm?state=KY > USGenExchange: http://www.genexchange.org/us.cfm > Mailing Lists: http://www.genexchange.org/maillistform.cfm >