COMMENTARY: Should you know who owns a gun?

Both the county clerk and the sheriff made a compelling argument that this is a safety concern, and I take the sheriff very seriously when it comes to safety If your neighbor has the right to own a pistol, should you have the right to know he does? Should that neighbor have a right to know about your pistol, if it's licensed and legal? That's the debate now playing ... via Press & Sun-Bulletin

[Ojinaga]

As a law enforcement person, I am shocked that a sheriff of a county would want to advertise the list of persons in his jursdiction who have pistol permits. Let's just say, the list goes public and Mr X, a criminal with prior felonies goes to the home of Mr Y, a permit holder. During his unauthorized visit to Mr Y's home, not only does he find the pistol but when Officer Z comes to investigate the break in, Mr X is cornered in the home, with the gun. Not a siuation I would want to be in. Then it would become my safety and boy, will I become concerned..