RIBLE TO INTRODUCE BILL BANNING RELEASE
OF GUN OWNER INFO

Says Newspaper’s Actions Could Jeopardize Safety of Police Officers

Assembly Republican Conference Leader David Rible announced today that he will introduce legislation that would prohibit the public release of the names and addresses of residents with gun permits after a New York newspaper published the information and said they plan to release more names and addresses.

Rible, a former police officer, expressed concern that many current and retired police officers have gun permits and would now have their addresses made available to the general public.

“Criminals seeking revenge on law enforcement will now have a handy map right to their front doors,” said Rible, R-Monmouth and Ocean. “Publishing the addresses of law-abiding gun owners, including police officers, is both irresponsible and dangerous.”

Rible noted that the information could also be used by criminals seeking weapons to use in their criminal activities.

“Making this information available in the newspaper essentially provides a blueprint for criminals looking for guns,” he said. “Information on who possesses a gun should be available only to law enforcement and not to every criminal who picks up a newspaper.”

Rible said he will introduce the legislation next week to ensure that information about gun permits is available only to the law enforcement community.

The Monmouth County assemblyman said the bill is consistent with efforts to protect those who could be targeted by criminals.

“Only a month ago the Assembly unanimously passed a bill aimed, in part, at protecting the safety of lottery winners by allowing them to remain anonymous,” explained Rible. “It defies logic that someone who legally obtains a gun permit is not given the same protections from having their name and address splashed across a newspaper.”

Rible added that he is working with Assemblyman Ron Dancer to craft the legislation that would address this issue.

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