New York ( CNN ) -- Concealed weapon ? Check . Concealed identity ? Check . New York residents who hold pistol permits can now ask to have their names removed from public records -- an option included in the gun-control law passed after the December massacre at a school in neighboring Connecticut . Forms allowing handgun owners to request that their personal information be kept private are now posted on the New York State Police website . If approved , owners ' names , addresses and permit numbers would be withheld from the public record and exempted from the state Freedom of Information Law . Opinion : If you back gun reform , write a check . Handgun owners will have to provide a reason for why they want their personal information withheld , particularly why their life or safety may be endangered or how they may be subjected to unwarranted harassment by the disclosure of their information . Law enforcement agencies would still have access to the records , but the general public would n't , State Police Sgt . James Sherman said . But `` unless someone is lying on the form or has misrepresented their information in some way , their request will be granted , '' Sherman said . New York requires a permit to carry a concealed weapon or to keep a pistol in the home , and the exemption applies to both types of licenses . The privacy measure was part of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act , which bans ammunition magazines that hold more than seven rounds and requires instant background checks for all ammunition purchases . Opinion : Obama needs a 'Plan B ' on guns . It became law after The Journal News , a suburban New York newspaper , published an online , interactive map showing the names and addresses of all handgun permit-holders in Westchester and Rockland counties . The map , published in December , infuriated many readers and prompted a blogger to post the names and addresses of Journal News staffers in retaliation . The Journal News removed its online map 27 days later , stating that the removal was `` not a concession to critics '' but that the map had served its purpose . The paper 's publisher , Janet Hasson , defended the decision to report the information . `` One of our roles is to report publicly available information on timely issues , even when unpopular , '' Hasson said in a statement . `` We knew publication of the database ( as well as the accompanying article providing context ) would be controversial , but we felt sharing information about gun permits in our area was important in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings . '' Pistol permit information is now exempt from the Freedom of Information Law until May 15 . Permit holders have until then to submit privacy requests to keep that exemption . Forms filled out after May 15 will still be considered , but their information may be subject to FOIL in the meantime , and applications for new permits will have the option to keep their personal information under wraps as well . Complete coverage : The gun debate .
New York now lets pistol permit holders remove their names from public records . Comment: A newspaper published the names of handgun owners in two counties in December .