CHICAGO (AP) — The leader of the Illinois State
Rifle Association says he's pleased a Peoria judge signed an order barring the
state police from releasing the names of 1.3 million firearm owner
identification cardholders.
Richard Pearson says the order signed this week is further
protection for gun owners, who won a similar victory this year when the state
Senate passed a bill prohibiting public disclosure of people with FOID cards.
The ruling is the latest chapter in a story that
started when Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office ruled in response to a
request from The Associated Press that the names are public under the state's
open records law and should be released.
That set off protests from gun owners and a legal
battle that led to the judge's ruling.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
