An Oregon court ruling could force sheriffs offices statewide to release full lists of all the people in the state with concealed carry gun permits.

Some permit holders say the information is private. They worry if the permits are made public they could become targets of thieves or criminals.

This all started in Medford. The newspaper there, The Mail Tribune, sued the Jackson County sheriff's office for the release of the full list of concealed carry permit holders.

The Jackson County case stems from the 2007 case of a Medford teacher with a concealed handgun license who wanted to bring a handgun onto school property for personal security reasons.

The sheriff refused, claiming that information was private. A Jackson County circuit court judge disagreed and ordered the sheriff to release the names, ruling that people have to document that the license is for security reasons to avoid public records law.

And now other counties are warning permit holders they might have to do the same.

Washington County's sheriff will ask 10,000 holders of concealed handgun licenses whether they want their names made public if it is requested as an Oregon public record.

Sheriff Rob Gordon said he believes that people obtain these licenses as a security measure, which would keep their names private.

On Friday, Washington County license holders will get letters asking them if they obtained the license for security reasons, and whether they want their information kept confidential.

Michael Knoetig is considered an expert on Oregon's concealed handgun laws. He even teaches a course on the laws and says he’s had to schedule extra classes -- enrollment has doubled.

Knoetig also says he himself carries a weapon.

"It's a subcompact gun. It is small enough to go in the pocket," he says.

No one's more concerned about the pending court ruling, which could require sheriff's deputies to release full lists of all concealed carry permit holders.

"Why does anybody out there need to know that I can carry a firearm?" Knoetig asks.

Washington County sheriffs say they will continue the fight to keep the records private.

“We have received requests in the past which we have denied because we feel it is protected information," Sgt. Vance Stimler said.

The sheriff will send a letter to each permit holder asking if they want their information released.

“Most of them were in favor of keeping their information protected," Stimler said. "If they feel the need to protect themselves and be secure than they should have the right to have that information protected."

But the court's decision could force the sheriff to release it anyway, and Stimler acknowledges his office must follow those orders. And Knoetig says that means criminals or others would know there’s a gun in the house.

"If a bad person wanted to steal guns he would already know Michael's house maybe is a good place to go," Knoetig said.

Many worry the ruling will make targets of those who've followed the law in carrying a gun.

The Jackson County sheriff has appealed the decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals, which will likely hear the case next spring. It could order the records released then.

If each applicant wants his or her information private, then Oregon law will allow Washington County to reject a request for names of license holders, Stimler said.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office will confirm that a person has a concealed handgun license if someone calls with a name, said Deputy Paul McRedmond, public information officer. They approve public record requests for general release of names on a case-by-case basis.

In Clackamas County, the sheriff's office will release the information for properly made requests, said Detective Jim Strovink, public information officer.

Both counties are considering Washington County's idea and plan to discuss whether they will implement something similar.

KGW Reporter Jack Penning contributed to this report.