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County refuses to release names of gun permit holders

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    David Lee Miller reports from Carmel, New York

  • Duration 3:35
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There are significant developments now in the showdown over the privacy of gun law abiding owners.

The officials in the State of New York now -- using your request to release the names and addresses.

Of the residents in their town with pistol permits.

After a newspaper published the gun owners' personal information online.

The David Lee Miller is live in Putnam county that's in new York State of New York the town of Carmel.

Whose publishing this information sounded really good morning there.

Morning -- We're talking about a suburban New York newspaper owned by -- called the journal news.

And this controversy has created so much of a stir that now the paper fearing for the safety of -- -- has hired armed security guards.

Now the controversy began last month when the journal news under the -- of information act.

Requested from three counties the names and actresses.

Residents with pistol permits to counties complied.

One county has said no that is Putnam county and that's the county -- from which I'm speaking to you right now.

Putnam county says to release this information would endanger residents the county executive says specifically at risk would be the mania.

Current and retired law enforcement officers who live within the county listen.

We're hearing from retired police officers who have -- in.

There -- you know criminals and put them into -- jail and they're afraid of the retribution.

We have active law enforcement officers to do not want their names -- -- is obviously because it compromises their family's safety.

And interestingly the county executive says residents who do not have pistol permits would also be at risk because now.

The bad guys would be able to find out.

Who they are and where they live that's uninteresting twist what does the newspapers saying about the stated they.

Well Janet -- -- the publisher and the president of the newspaper issued a statement it said no we -- to you now quote.

We believe the law is clear that this public and information is public information and residents of Putnam county are entitled to see it.

She went on to say we're trouble that county officials have apparently switched their position since we first requested the information.

And now the executive director of the new York state committee on open government.

This is a state agency has come out to essentially echoed the position of the paper and says that the information requested must be -- Listen.

-- every unit of government at every one of us is supposed to comply with law.

And in this instance there's a provision actually in the New York State penal law.

Which for years has required the disclosure of the name and address.

Of any licensee.

Who can carry or own or dispose of a firearm.

And during the past few years.

The journal news have had a very difficult time in 2011.

Bill.

They have to cut about twelve and a half percent of its staff the circulation between 2005.

And 2010.

Dropped about 38%.

The question on the minds of many what will the newspaper do next if in fact Putnam county which is gonna have a news conference in this room a few hours.

Refuses to release the information will the newspaper.

Move on to the next step and that will likely be going to court.

-- all good questions there may go get some answers -- in that press conference David Lee thank you.

David Lee Miller upstate New York -- that Heather has more now.

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