Journal News files lawsuit for Putnam pistol permit records

[Robb]

Source: Journal News

Newspaper doesn't plan to ID individuals


WHITE PLAINS — The Journal News on Thursday sued Putnam County and its county clerk’s office in state Supreme Court to compel them to release information about the county’s pistol-permit holders.


(snip)

“The Journal News believes that Putnam County should turn over the records that the law clearly says belong to the public,” said Janet Hasson, the paper’s president and publisher. “The data is essential for our journalists to do their jobs. For example, we need to be able to investigate whether guns involved in crimes are legally or illegally owned. ”

In the lawsuit, the newspaper maintains that the SAFE Act allows “individual permit holders to apply for exemption from the otherwise mandated public availability of their names and addresses only if they asserted reasonable concerns for their safety or privacy from disclosure.”

“In other words, the legislature considered the purported concerns raised by Putnam, and determined that the public’s right to know the names and addresses of permit holders should continue to be public records except where such holder has invoked SAFE Act procedures to be exempted from disclosure,” the lawsuit said.

Read more: http://www.lohud.com/article/20131002/NEWS/310020106/Journal-News-files-lawsuit-Putnam-pistol-permit-records

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This has since been picked up by wire sources, but this is the original article.

Worth noting they are suing for release of the list of those who did not opt out of being part of the public record.

[hack89]

1. Personal privacy is vastly overrated

why, you can't even find the word in the Constitution.

[NYC_SKP]

7. Selective enforcement. It's OK to snoop if it's about the amendments with which you disagree.

Any other invasion of privacy is an outrage, but not this one.

Because of fear and ignorance and emotion-- these three always end up creating bad, horrible, legislation.

[bossy22]

2. last time they used the information irresponsibly

Resulting in permit holders having guns stolen. That being said I'm not sure I agree with what Putnam county is doing- the law is the law

Edit: due to the voluntary pistol permit privacy law you have to assume atleast a portion of the permit holders names will not be released. Wouldn't this make the data incomplete and worthless? I just don't understand what they want this info for.

[bobclark86]

5. Never saw any evidence of that

There was a great deal of scaremongering on that point, but nothing proven.

They want this because they can. Also, being a downstate newspaper, they are probably trying to just be dicks. Now, I think the SAFE Act was a good idea, and support another AWB and particularly better handgun control, but I think releasing the names of handgun owners is just foolish grandstanding. It's all political and nothing substantial or in the public interest.

[bossy22]

6. i remember there being a few news articles about them.

I don't think it was a massive epidemic though
Safe act itself imho is terrible. It was quickly put together and rammed through so that Cuomo could boast he passed the first post-newton bill in his bid for presidency. Didn't seem to help him if you look out the polls.

[Recursion]

3. So, just meta-data, then?

[bobclark86]

4. Under statute, no...

Only names and addresses have ever been public record. All other information was out even before.

[Robb]

8. Exactly. No different than a building permit.

[AtheistCrusader]

9. I'm ok with releasing it.

However, that data should be sanitized for battered spouses/partners living in anonymous locations with active restraining orders, etc.

I'm not the problem. I don't care if people know I could be carrying. I am concerned about some people in other circumstances though.

[sir pball]

10. All permit holders should be notified of the opt-out and given 30 days to choose

And then the list should still be crosschecked against court records for necessary security. After that, the law is pretty clear it's public record.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. Agreed.

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. Looks like the JN wants their employees' names and addresses posted again:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022078663

Journalists’ Addresses Posted In Revenge For Newspaper’s Google Map Of Gun Permit Owners