Gun owner information protected
LANSING, Mich— Sen. Tom Casperson testified in the Senate Judiciary Committee this past week in support of Senate Bill 49, which protects information collected from registered gun owners and concealed pistol license (CPL) holders under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
“This is a step in the right direction for the privacy of gun owners,” said Casperson, R-Escanaba. “This bill closes a loophole so that personal information cannot be released in Michigan as it has been in the eastern portion of the country recently. Such disclosure is not only a threat to public safety and an invasion of privacy, but it serves no legitimate public service.”
In December, a New York newspaper published the names and addresses along with an interactive map showing the locations of permitted gun owners in several New York counties. This sparked outrage from gun owners who felt their privacy was violated and that they had become the target of anti-gun factions.
“This legislation will strengthen measures in Michigan’s current law to ensure that all gun owners’ personal information is not jeopardized by those looking to infringe on our Second Amendment rights,” Casperson said.
The bill passed out of committee and now proceeds to the full Senate for consideration.