Forms to opt out of public records for those with pistol permits were given to Rockland County Friday afternoon at about 2 p.m., according to County Clerk Paul Piperato.
They can be filled out at the county clerk’s office in New City, or printed out, filled in at home and then mailed into the offices located at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, New City, NY 10956, Attn: Opt-Out. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, although it’s closed this upcoming Monday for Presidents Day.
The one-page form can be found on the front page of the county clerk’s website and can be completed by applicants for pistol permits and those currently licensed to have a firearm. The form also asks why you want your information private and gives a few options to choose from, or space to write in an answer.
“I think next week I’m going to take some forms to gun retailers and police organizations as well to help get the word out,” Piperato said. “We want everyone who might want to fill out an exemption form to know they’re available.”
Piperato added that once the form is in, it just has to be signed off by a judge and then the person’s name will be exempt from public records. He also said it’s important to get the forms in soon for those who want to be exempt because since the Penal Law was changed to include the option for exception there is a freeze on releasing the public records that will go through mid May.
“People need to know that just since the law has passed doesn’t mean they're not in the public records anymore,” Piperato said. “They have to actually fill out the form and get it to my office either in person or by mail before they can be exempt.”
Another gun-related item Piperato has been working on recently is the distribution of free trigger locks. He said his office started giving them out to people last week, and while he didn’t know a rough estimate of how many he’s given out, he said his office is still giving them away.
“We haven’t been overwhelmed with requests for them or anything,” he said. “We have plenty left.”
