NY county won't release pistol permit info

NEW YORK (AP) - Officials in suburban Putnam County, N.Y., say they'll refuse a newspaper's request to release the names and addresses of residents with pistol permits.

Robert Freeman of the state's Committee on Open Government says the county would be violating state law if it withholds public data.

The Journal News says Putnam County officials have scheduled a news conference Thursday to announce their decision to deny the request.

A Dec. 23 Journal News story was accompanied online by maps of Westchester and Rockland counties. A reader clicking on the maps could see the name and address of each pistol or revolver permit holder.

Critics have called the publication an invasion of privacy. Some say it could endanger permit holders.

The paper stands by the project.

It sought the information after the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn.