Kansas City, Mo. ? A federal judge has been asked to bar Missouri and its 114 counties from releasing their lists of convicted sexual offenders.

U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey already has granted a preliminary injunction barring the release of the names of three Kansas City-area plaintiffs. On Thursday, she granted class-action status to six other men challenging the law, meaning those six now potentially represent more than 17,000 Missouri residents required to register.

On Friday, attorney Arthur A. Benson II, who represents the plaintiffs, asked Laughrey to extend the preliminary injunction to the entire class essentially gutting Missouri’s “Megan’s Law.”

The law requires convicted sex offenders to register with authorities. Registration lists, which are supposed to include names and current address of those convicted of certain sexual offense, can be obtained at sheriff’s offices.

Benson said the law made no distinction between a serial rapist and someone who had underage sex, and stigmatized people who weren’t dangerous.

“We have asked the court to prohibit the dissemination to the public of the registration list,” Benson said.

The developments stem from an amendment to Missouri’s Megan’s Law that took effect in August. It required all sex offenders to register with their sheriff’s office.

Previously, the law only required offenders to register when they moved into a county.