Rible: Reports of Prisoners Utilizing Gun Info Shows Need to Ban Release of Gun Owner Names and Addresses

Assembly Republican Conference Leader David Rible today said reports that prisoners are using recently published information about gun permit holders to try to intimidate corrections officers demonstrates the need to enact a bill he has crafted to ban the release of this type of information.

“This is a frightening example of how the reckless practice of releasing the names and addresses of gun owners jeopardizes the safety of members of the law enforcement community,” said Rible, R-Monmouth and Ocean. “Many current and retired members of law enforcement, including police officers, Secret Service members, FBI agents and corrections officers, have gun permits and making their personal information available for any criminal to access is incredibly dangerous.”

According to reports, a sheriff in the New York region where a newspaper published a map with the names and addresses of gun owners said inmates at the county jail are taunting police officers by telling them they know where they live.

A former Wall Township police officer, Rible has announced that he will introduce legislation that would ban the practice of releasing this type of information to anyone other than law enforcement.

“The men and women in law enforcement have dangerous jobs and should not have to worry that the criminals they lock up or guard while they are incarcerated are going to be provided with a roadmap to their front door,” he said. “We are already seeing the consequences of this irresponsible ‘journalism’ and the Legislature should act quickly to protect the safety of the law enforcement community in New Jersey.”

Rible noted that release of this information could also impact those outside of law enforcement, including law-abiding gun owners who may be targeted by thieves looking to steal their weapons. In addition, he expressed concern about domestic violence victims with gun permits having their locations made available to their abuser.

“Releasing this information poses a serious threat to public safety and should be prohibited in New Jersey,” he said.

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