This isn't anything new. I have heard that in at least one state, I forget which state it is, but I believe it starts with "I" (illinios, indiana, iowa...) has the requirement that all new approved permits get published in local news media.

Yes, the information that is legally obtainable under the freedom of information act (and many before it) is startling. I remember in the 90's that you could walk down to the DMV with a license plate number, OR a name, pay a $5 processing fee, and get the registration and property ownership information for the owner. At the time we used that service for a few different reasons.

Since your CC license is essentially an extension of your driver's license in many states, the information is held under the same rules.

Now, the skinny is this: The fact that I have a drivers license doesn't mean I have a car, how many, or what type. I only means I am licensed to drive one. Yes, the FOIA does provide that you can find out what cars someone owns, and how many tickets they have against their record, etc. Currently, the CCW licenses (and gun purchase permits/licenses) are like drivers licenses, that don't necessarily mean the number of firearms you own, or what kinds are public record.

Yes, indeed the newspaper would be made liable for reproducing that information publicly should that action be directly linked to illegal actions, or harassment. Just because something is public record, does not mean it is necessarily "public". If home values on my block went down because someone published that list, and it turns out that a lot of law-abiding gun owners (or potential owners rather) lived nearby, then I have proof that their action caused unnecessary damages to my property value. Will the lawsuit change anything? No, damage is done, but it might stop them from publishing the list again.

If there would be a string of break-ins at homes that were listed, with a focus on their firearms, the collective body of the victims would easily present a case against the newspaper for making this information readily available.

If a newspaper published a list of "what houses own Honda Civics or Mercede's benz's", they'd equally be just as liable for the targeted theft of those vehicles, even though this ownership list is also public record (don't know if it still is, but the Civic used to be overwhelmingly the highest theft rate vehicle in the US).