Suit Charges Philly Violated Privacy By Listing Gun Owners on Web Map
November 9, 2012 08:11:41 am
Philadelphia could be facing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of gun owners who say the city violated their privacy by publishing their personal information and launching an interactive Web map that included clickable icons of revolvers over their homes, reports the Philadelphia Daily News. Attorney Joshua Prince asked a court to seal the suit to avoid revealing the names of his five clients and potentially hundreds of others if the case is granted class-action status.
The city's Department of Licenses and Inspections introduced a revamped website, featuring a map that allowed users to view the names and addresses of some gun owners in the city, and the specific reasons why they wanted a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Police quickly asked the department to remove the information, saying it could jeopardize the safety of the gun owners. Mayor Michael Nutter's spokesman, Mark McDonald, has said that the published information is public record because applicants waive their right to confidentiality when they appeal a permit denial or revocation.