Names and addresses of Broome County pistol permit holders aren't going to be released.

A Binghamton man who submitted a Freedom of Information Law request seeking the information from the Broome County Sheriff's Office today was advised the request was denied.

The man was informed by Undersheriff Alex Minor that the pistol permit information was on thousands of handwritten index cards and was not contained in a database.

Broome County Sheriff David Harder this afternoon told WNBF News there are between 28,000 and 30,000 names of pistol permit holders contained on the cards.

Harder said the department doesn't have the staff to transfer all of the information into a computerized database.

Pistol permit information has become the focus of debate since a Gannett Company newspaper, the Journal News of Westchester County, posted a database of Westchester and Rockland county permit holders last month.

Harder said he's not aware of a request by Gannett's Press & Sun-Bulletin to obtain Broome County permit information.

Harder said the sheriff's office identification division has been very busy in recent weeks processing pistol permit requests.

The sheriff said the office has three employees who also have other duties.

Harder said at times there's "no standing room" as people seeking pistol permits are "jamming into" the office.

The sheriff said 491 pistol permits were issued in Broome County last year. So far this year, fifty permits have been issued.

Harder said it now may take three or four months for a pistol permit application to be processed.

Applications are reviewed by Broome County Judge Joseph Cawley, who decides whether a permit is to be issued.

Pistol permits in Broome County cost $115.25. Harder said the county keeps ten dollars of that, with the remainder going to the state.

Those seeking a Broome pistol permit must be at least 21 years of age and a county resident.

The pistol permit office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

More From WNBF News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM