Hundreds of gun owners "Opt-Out"

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - More than 200 outspoken gun owners showed up to "Opt-Out Saturday morning at Erie County's Auto Bureau at Northtown Plaza.

Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs opened the Amherst DMV for a few hours so pistol permit holders could fill out their "Opt-Out" forms a few days early.

A gun owner we caught up stated his opinion saying, "Why should we be persecuted, law abiding citizens for the few who are involved in criminal activities. It's a private matter. It shouldn't be public knowledge."

Governor Andrew Cuomo recently passed new tighter gun laws, but pistol permit holders still have the option to "opt-out" and keep their information private.
  
The state form to fill out is online and will be available at all auto bureaus this Tuesday. Anyone who decides to do this should get the paperwork submitted to the Erie County Clerk within 60 days.

Web Extra | Fill out the form here

After 60 days, the form can still be filled out however it won't be 100% secure. "We'll secure the files and you have the piece of mind that the information will never be made public," Jacobs said.

Some of the people that showed up this morning could have even been law enforcement officers. "I thought they should have opted out law enforcement across the board but law enforcement has to opt out just like us," said Jacobs. "I believe that were going to see an overwhelming amount of our 70 thousand pistol permit holders in Erie County saying they want it kept private."