All across the country, records offices are trying to deny access to public domain records to genealogists and others. The usual excuses are "to prevent identity theft" or to "prevent fraud." An interesting Associated Press article points out that closing access has not slowed the identity theft problem one bit. In fact, denying access to legitimate researchers seems to have no impact on the identity theft problem at all. So why lock up the records?
The AP article examines both sides of the issue, quoting those who favor locking up the records as well as those opposed. Jack Brissee, chair of the vital records, access and preservation committee of the National Genealogical Society, is also quoted. You can read the article at http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=2241052
