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Majority of states prohibit access to gun records

In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, gun store owner Dave Burdett talks about gun rights as he displays a hand gun in his store in College Station, Texas. Burdett, who owns an outdoors and adventure shop across the street from the sprawling Texas A&M University campus in College Station, says his affinity for guns is rooted in history, not sport. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, gun store owner Dave Burdett talks about gun rights as he displays a hand gun in his store in College Station, Texas. Burdett, who owns an outdoors and adventure shop across the street from the sprawling Texas A&M University campus in College Station, says his affinity for guns is rooted in history, not sport. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)Read more
    by By Ryan Sibley and Caitlin MacNeal, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION, External or Unknown
    Published 

Following a New York newspaper's controversial decision to publish the names and address of local gun owners, state legislators are moving to make such information private, even as a Sunlight Foundation analysis shows that in a majority of states, the data are already off the public record.

This map illustrates the availability - or lack - of gun ownership data in the 50 states.

It is based on information from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, as well as Sunlight's reporting. We welcome any additional information about gun laws in your area. You can email the Sunlight Foundation here: contact@sunlightfoundation.com