Should the names of people authorized to own guns in Illinois be made public?
The Illinois State Police, which authorizes Firearm Owners Identification cards and keeps the recipients confidential, say it's an invasion of privacy.
But Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan thinks the names should be public, dismissing state police claims that the public-records law prohibits releasing the names and that the move could put gun holders' lives in danger.
FOID card carriers' names likely won't be released in the near future, but Madigan released a letter Tuesday saying the information is public and should be disclosed. State police plan to maintain its argument against the decision.
In September, state police denied a Freedom of Information Act request from the Associated Press asking for the names of FOID cardholders.
