Gun Owner Privacy Battle Headed To Court

March 2, 2011 1:05 PM

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CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) – The issue of gun owner privacy – or secrecy – is heading to the courts.

As WBBM Newsradio 780’s John Cody reports, Illinois State Police say releasing the identity of those who hold Firearms Owner Identification cards is an invasion of privacy. State police issue the cards, and they want the matter taken before a judge.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s John Cody reports

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says it is clear there is no law backing up the idea of privacy or secrecy for gun owners.

“The FOID Card Act does not require that that information is private, so there’s no provision in the law for that,” she said.

When asked whether the names of gun owners should remain secret, General Madigan said that is an issue to be settled by lawmakers in Springfield, where a gun owners’ privacy bill has been introduced by Republican lawmakers.

But for now, Madigan is in court backing up her public access counselor who says the public is entitled to know who has firearms owners ID cards.

Following a request for public records from The Associated Press, Madigan’s office ruled Monday that the names of gun permit holders are public information in which people at large have a “legitimate interest.”

But given the pending court battle and legislative action, the names are not expected to be released anytime soon.

Gun Owner Privacy Battle Headed To Court

elginman

Why the public has to know who has a FOID card is tantamount to having the identity of all holders of a driver’s license be made public. It is nonsense.
Mr Voter

now the gangs and thugs will watch the house and know where to steal guns from….more nosense from lisa, look into the corruption rackeet your dad has in the state for a change, ….Time to vote her and her GESTAPO ways out, next a list of all relgions, organ donars so we can start harvesting people…how about posting the salaries and expenses for ALL public empolyess,

law abiding citizen

mr.voter.
i agreed.time for her to investigate her own father and you’re right, for all gang bangers and thugs to know who owns a gun with FOID cards and will break in their houses.wow.lisa,please better think twice.

Skip.

This might be a good reason to not release that information.

After invading, Nazis used pre-war lists of gun owners to confiscate firearms, and many gun owners simply disappeared. Following confiscation, the Nazis were free to wreak their evil on the disarmed populace.
Jim

This allows criminals to know who HAS firearms, to make them a burglary target, or who does NOT have firearms, to make them a home invasion target. Why give criminals more specific information?

The FOID was rammed down our throats 40 years ago with the promise of absolute privacy. We knew that was BS at the time but thats how it was sold. Now a leftist anti-gun Attorney General wants to violate the last remnants of trust with the people. Typical. The FOID has NOT shown to be any deterrent to criminal activity any more than states without states ID cards. It’s just a money gathering device. Lisa Madigan needs to be turned out of office ASAP. She already has delusions of self-importance that know no bounds.
By the way, don’t forget that this was started by the ASSOCIATED PRESS. They are the driving force behind this.
Nextel

Really, would you want some idiot knowing the name and address of Illinois police officers? They usually have more than one gun in the home. Too many criminal minded people would have access to that information. No way to I want that information available to the general public.
YourMom

Ok – if the AG office sees a Legal Loop-hole in State Laws, then yeah, it needs to be addressed.

However, is it me or is this web site getting a little “yellow”? “gun owner privacy – or secrecy”. Really? Slow news day?

get over it

Agreed. They make it seem like there’s something wrong or a conspiracy by throwing secrecy in there.

Springfield

Illinois lawmakers have been undermining the U.S. Constitution for decades. They only care about retaining power through deflection, deception, and the creation of laws that perpetuate legal arguments which keep lawyers (like themselves) well paid.
public information is great

Here’s Lisa Madigan’s address

LISA MADIGAN
4152 N. ROCKWELL ST
Chicago 60618
WHRE IS SUPERMAN

LISA MADIGAN, SOUNDS MORE LIKE!! SOCIIALIST!! COMMIE!!!! THEN A,REAL AMERICAN!!
WITH A,REAL LEGAL AMERICAN ,LAW DEGREE!
E

For those who believe that information should remain ‘private’, the proposed law is in Illinois House Bill 7 and Illinois Senate Bill 27. Call your reps and senators now.
Bullfighter

I ran an address check on the house full of Mexicans next door to me and found a FBI Bulletin. Somebody from that building was involved in a kidnapping. That’s comforting to know.