"Publication of that list would tell the criminal class where the guns are,..."

<img src="http://www.humanevents.com//img/2_smallpersonimage_419860.gif" align="right">According to a story by John Stossel at <a href="http://www.humanevents.com">Human Events</a>, the Associated Press has requested the names of gun owners in the state of Illinois.

<blockquote>
If you own a gun in Illinois, take precautions. The state attorney general, Lisa Madigan, wants to release the names of guns owners in response to an Associated Press request. Publication of that list would tell the criminal class where the guns are, which could be useful to two different sorts of lawbreakers: gun thieves who want to know where the guns are and burglars who want to know where they are not.
</blockquote>

We are trying to remember how or why a sovereign state is required to respond to a request by a corporation, for information that is protected by Constitutional safeguards, namely, those spelled out in the Illinois State Constitution as well as the Supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution.

The only reason that the story gives is that the state of New York recently did them the same courtesy recently, <b>It included "dozens of boldface names and public figures: prominent business leaders, elected officials, celebrities, journalists, judges and lawyers," the Times reported. It then named names. </b>

Perhaps the conventional wisdom is right after all: You get the government you deserve.

see http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=42753