Guest Commentary: Balancing the Citizens’ Right to Know and Public Safety and Privacy

The Examiner News.com ^ | 01/08/13 | By Donald B. Smith

[NY.SS-Bar9]

In recent days, there has been substantial media attention focused on the issue whether the names and addresses of all pistol permit holders in Putnam County must be released to a newspaper, which has indicated its intention to publish such information. By law, the initial determination of this issue is to be made by the county clerk, who is the legal custodian of the licensee records, with any administrative appeal to be determined by the county executive and any further challenge to be decided by the courts. According to the media reports, the county clerk and county executive-as well as other officials in county and state government-have expressed their positions that the disclosure of licensees’ names and addresses to the newspaper should be refused.

In the main, the media coverage has seemed to suggest that those officials’ refusal to release the licensees’ names and addresses is utter fiat and without any legal basis, as the reporting has emphasized more rhetoric than legal discussion. To my understanding, however, there are legal grounds upon which Putnam County, as a sound exercise of governmental discretion, may lawfully withhold some, if not all, of the names and addresses of pistol licensees. [More at link]

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Outstanding, reasoned response from the Putnam County Sheriff.

Too bad the other counties didn't think this through first.

[Tublecane]

I think it is a matter of public record, and exactly the sort of thing the freedom of information act is for. That it is not newsworthy or that it puts people’s lives in danger is incidental. What we really should learn from this spectacle is not to register weapons or require permits, which don’t accomplish much and edge on infringing rights anyway.