Citing 3 Laws, Putnam Issues Official Refusal on Gun Permit Data

The decision by Putnam County officials to withhold the names and addresses of residents who possess gun permits is now in writing.

A couple of weeks after he and his colleagues told reporters of the decision to deny the request—which was filed by The Journal News—County Clerk Dennis Sant sent the paper an official letter explaining the decision. The document is posted above.

Check out the following information for more on the situation.

• Click here for a release that details officials' positions.
• Click here for a release from Putnam officials, who say a new law "exonerates" them.
• Click here for a story about the situation and the Freedom of Information Law—as well as the process that follows when a request is denied.
• Click here for a story about threats The Journal News received after posting maps revealing folks in Rockland and Westchester who carry gun permits.
• Click here for video of a press conference with officials explaining the denial.
• State Sen. Greg Ball is pushing a bill that would "prohibit the public disclosure of information in an application for a pistol license with exceptions for prosecutors and police conducting an active investigation." The bill, he said, "would protect lawful gun owners from being targeted by thieves for firearm burglaries and eliminate a database criminals could use to extort their identity-theft victims."
• Click here to read an opinion from Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy.