Cops prepare to battle newspaper that published gun owners' information

The Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County has scheduled a press conference for Jan. 15, 2013, to voice its opposition to -- and displeasure with – a newspaper that published the identities and addresses of gun owners in two New York counties, according to the leaders of two law enforcement groups on Friday.

The APA is an umbrella organization representing 53 law enforcement groups.

The APA will discuss the Journal News’ recent publication of legal pistol permit owners, which included active and retired law enforcement officers. An action that places these law-abiding citizens, law enforcement officers and their families in grave and immediate danger.

The Journal News newspaper recently posted an interactive map on their website which reveals the names and addresses of all legal pistol permits holders in Westchester and Rockland Counties. The Journal News is now attempting to obtain and publish the names of legal pistol permit holders in other counties as well.

“The Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County is putting The Journal News on notice that we will hold them accountable for any incident where any of our members are involved in an incident where a person, criminal or ex-con presents themselves at the residence of one of our members as a result of their name being made public by the Journal News,” said Robert Buckley, vice president of the APA.

“Under New York’s Freedom of Information Law, any Freedom of Information Officer is entitled to deny access to any record or portions thereof that, if disclosed would endanger the life and safety of any person. Accordingly, we urge all county clerks to deny all such requests under that provision of the Freedom of Information Law. We also urge the Journal News to cease its quest to obtain and publish this information. It serves no legitimate purpose and could easily lead to more tragedy,” said Richard Wells, president of Police Conference of New York.

The APA is calling on the Journal News to cease its efforts to obtain the names of legal gun owners and publishing them online. In addition, they are requesting that the Journal News remove the names of legal gun owners that are currently listed on their web site.