Anti-Gunners Oppose Firearms Record Privacy

All the more reason to stay outside the database

Curious about whether your neighbor is armed? Wondering if local officials are illegally doling out gun permits to convicted felons?  It may be impossible to find out, unless you live in one of a small and shrinking group of states.

Lawmakers in most states sealed such records in past years. (See map.) And this year, many others are rushing to join those ranks, spurred by a suburban New York newspaper's publication of names and addresses of handgun permit holders. Critics said the newspaper infringed on gun owners' privacy and put them in the crosshairs of burglars looking to swipe and swap legally owned weapons.