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New York county refuses to release names of gun permit owners to newspaper out of safety concerns
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Tonight an embattled newspaper gets stuck in its tracks.
It won't be able to out more gun owners the least not -- one New York County the journal news already under fire for publishing -- map locating gun owners and several New York City suburbs but today.
Putnam county refusing to give out -- gun owners' names.
I served here for the people of Putnam county for 35 years.
-- a man who follows the rule of law.
We're not talking about the rule of law anymore we're talking -- -- endangering.
Our citizens.
These laws were written written almost thirty years ago.
Thirty years ago wouldn't have computers.
We didn't have FaceBook and we didn't have social media and we certainly didn't have -- maps.
I think that's what really broke the camel's back on this three.
Last.
But -- correspondent David Lee Miller is live with the latest -- mentally.
Greta Dennis said the county clerk here in Putnam county.
Got a hero's welcome at that news conference earlier today he was interrupted repeatedly -- applause when he was done speaking he got a standing ovation.
Now for the back story the newspaper you mentioned the journal news.
Shortly after the Rampage at the sandy hook elementary school filed freedom of information requests with three counties.
Westchester Rockland and Putnam.
Two of those counties complied handing over the names and addresses.
Of people in those counties who had pistol permits.
They then went and publish that information online using an interactive map all you have to do.
Is click on one of the -- colored dots on that map and up comes the -- actors of an individual in that county who has a pistol permit.
Putnam county however.
Did decided not to comply the county clerk -- saying it was not only an invasion of privacy.
But it would be dangerous to release this information and he cited a number of examples today.
He said women who might have a -- protection and have a gun would have their addresses and names released.
He also mentioned the fact that many.
Active duty and retired police officers live in this county.
They're -- details would also be released and put online in fact I talked to one retired cop he told me in a -- quote him now grown up.
I don't want people I had unpleasant encounters with -- look up my home address.
Now as for this newspaper the journal news.
It is not backing down.
It says that under the Freedom of Information Act this information must be made public and when it is they want to put it on line.
And the state agency that dispenses legal advice on freedom of information request here in New York says that as of now.
The Putnam county officials are violating state law by not releasing this information.
The county is digging in his heels it says.
It will go to court do what -- is necessary but this -- will not be released the county executive to quote her Greta she said.
No surrender.
No retreat.
It looks like this is one battle that's going to end up in court credit.
Indeed David Lee thank you.
And your state senator gray -- -- in the journal news editors asinine.
Well I'm there's more he says they have gone out of their way to -- a virtual scarlet letter on law abiding firearms owners.
And still -- this today senator of all delivering this message to the paper's readers.
-- proud.
Know that the insanity of the journal news has hit a rock ball.
And that rock walls common sense of -- account I will fight with you until hell freezes over.
And -- -- gonna fight on the ice we're gonna hold this journal news editorial board accountable and I'm asking everybody who's listening today.
Cancel your subscriptions.
-- rich whites make sure your neighbors do the same.
And let's make sure that this is a wake up call and no other paper ever does this again.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Good to be here thank you -- -- -- net -- press coverage they're gonna hold the newspaper you want to hold them accountable how do you intend to do that.
-- this was a malicious slap in the in the face and it has to be underlined again and again.
We're talking about tens of thousands of people who obeyed the law we've got to make sure number one that we use the power the person that people out there.
You social networking to make sure that they chancellors of subscriptions.
-- of their neighbors cancel their subscriptions.
And that we continue to come together as a community to show the bone -- -- -- -- -- of the journal news editorial board.
This is in the first time they've done this Greta they they did this couple years ago.
But before we even saw a -- really that this social media come together in in the way it has and the point has to be underscored.
That literally we're talking about victims of domestic violence that are trying to protect themselves and in some instances are young families we have a lot of cops retired cops retired law enforcement and in all throughout the Hudson Valley.
Who put away the worst of the worst -- talk -- New York City talking about.
Gang members murderers rapists bucks now the journal news for whatever reason -- no reason at all created an interactive map that would literally within thirty seconds.
There -- those offenders can be on the on the virtual doorstep.
Of these individuals so we've introduced legislation has had bipartisan support.
This is the Second Amendment issue necessarily.
I have gun control advocates were just as upset of a Second Amendment advocates.
We've got to make sure that we passed legislation to make -- this information while publicly accessible cannot be dispersed and the way the journalist it.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Well two things I mean it is going to be up Janice had -- -- first is that.
Thank god that the elected officials look and public officials all -- -- -- -- To just hand over the information had the intestinal fortitude to stand firm and to take the journal news had not.
And there's a legal process here -- there'll be an appeal that'll go to the -- -- -- executive this'll work its way through the course and I do think that we're gonna have.
A little bit of time here we're gonna have -- employ every legal measure whatsoever what -- -- from a privacy perspective.
The current legislation has bipartisan support -- one -- -- you are excited that I -- but.
I don't think -- time national do not think you have much time conservative according to the tiara or get the records -- -- And I can't imagine it's a public record -- of some -- that I don't know but you know they're gonna turn -- -- to -- do with a 24 hours on a tiara -- junction.
You have -- would you want to block get him to change the law.
And just introducing legislation isn't enough you've got to if you if you know you've got to move it faster and that's -- does what have you done to accelerate that process if you want a checkmate.
The newspaper and really.
In this information.
Well Greta I want to thank you for your your sense of urgency and in -- more than welcome to join me in my cause.
And rally Americans in New Yorkers two to push this governor.
In this legislature in in the right direction all I can tell you is that is that I'm not gonna back down and fight like holy hell to make sure that we that we get this done.
And one thing that is working in our favors it looks like there's going to be what they called gun control package.
Hitting his way through the assembly through the senate in any part of any comprehensive package you wanna make synergies -- that these privacy concerns are dressed in that conference at what's.
But senator promise and let me go back is it is that is that if if you want to do this you really have to -- sort of extra fast and India as a practical matter I mean you know I -- I don't you know I guess maybe maybe the -- Paper won't go to -- I haven't.
I haven't I haven't been Greta I haven't been -- and intent -- and I mean I'm I'm -- on top position at central and -- and -- I think -- -- but you could find somebody -- -- -- hit hard to -- Let me know and I'll stand behind him -- -- but until then on the one -- the charge I promise you if there's any real ability or for anybody to get it done -- get this done.
And senator thank you for -- -- but not for 12 I think that you and that you know working on this hard I'm just there wondering high -- at a rally your troops because I don't think that this is cut -- -- they've you know if you.
If you wanna -- could get a lot thinking you need your Alex but I -- thank you sir I don't.
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