Newspaper Removes Gun Data From Website

The New York state newspaper that enraged critics by making public the names and addresses of gun owners has pulled the information off its website. The Journal News says it's not because of the criticism or threats against staffers, but in part because of a state law that passed earlier this week giving gun owners more ways to opt out of the public record. "While the new law does not require us to remove the data, we believe that doing so complies with its spirit," publisher Janet Hasson tells AP.

In a letter to readers, Hasson adds that the database had been up for about a month, enough time for those who wanted to see it to do so, and would eventually become outdated anyway. Not that critics weren't gloating. "Thank God the Journal News has finally realized the error in their judgment and done the right thing," says state Sen. Greg Ball. (More Journal News stories.)