NY Newspaper publishes Gun Permit holder info

[Stg1swret]

Your private information isn't so private.



New York newspaper faces backlash after publishing map of gun permit holders


Published December 25, 2012

FoxNews.com




A local New York newspaper is drawing the ire of its readers after publishing an interactive map that shows the names and addresses of thousands of residents who have handgun permits.

The online map was published by The Journal News along with an article under the headline: "The gun owner next door: What you don't know about the weapons in your neighborhood."

The newspaper obtained, and then published, the names and addresses of pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The article, in explaining the decision to publish the information, pointed to the school massacre in nearby Newtown, Conn., and the concerns of some residents about which of their neighbors might have firearms.

But readers swiftly condemned the move. They pointed out that the interactive map could make the gun owners a target, but also make clear to would-be robbers which homes do not contain a gun.

"Do you fools realize that you also made a map for criminals to use to find homes to rob that have no guns in them to protect themselves?" one reader wrote on Facebook.

"You have just destroyed the privacy of these law abiding citizens and by releasing this list, you have equated them to that of sex offenders and murders," wrote another. "These are law abiding gun owners, they are no danger to anyone except for criminals. And with this information you have made them targets for both criminals and anti gun lobbyist who i am sure are going to treat them like monsters."

The newspaper, in a written statement, defended the decision to run the names.

"The massacre in Newtown remains top-of-mind for many of our readers," the statement said. "In the past week, conversation on our opinion pages and on our website, LoHud.com, has been keenly focused on gun control.

"Our readers are understandably interested to know about guns in their neighborhoods. We obtained the names and addresses of Westchester and Rockland residents who are licensed to own handguns through routine Freedom of Information law public-records requests."

The map showed the locations of pistol permit holders -- though did not specify whether those shown actually owned a weapon. Since rifles and shotguns can be bought without a permit, that information was not included.

The newspaper separately noted that the reporter on the story "owns a Smith & Wesson 686 .357 Magnum and has had a residence permit in New York City for that weapon since February 2011."


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...#ixzz2G6qMFpC5

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

Somebody needs to hang that reporter up by his gonads........I volunteer. (I am currently restraining myself from saying other things right now)There has to be something that makes this against the law, some sort privacy act. But putting a target on someone's home is a liability and if anything should happen to any gun owner or non-gunner there should be a law suit against that newspaper if there isn't one already.

[NWPilgrim]

Some blogs are already posting large amounts if personal info of all the journalists involved in that anti-gun story. Presumably their homes are NOT protected by guns. Names, addresses, type and color of cars, family info, facebook and twitter links for travel and hobby info, phone numbers, etc.

If you are listed then might as well put out a yard sign. "I am one of the now famous gun permit holders. I will use guns to defend this house. Suggest you find a house NOT on the list to rob. "

[greg48]

the state of Il thought at one time it'd be good to publish a list of all gun owners till they realized they'd be publishing a list to all the thugs which homes were not armed...seems like NY just did the work for the thugs....

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

[QUOTE=Stg1swret;53819]Your private information isn't so private.

The newspaper separately noted that the reporter on the story "owns a Smith & Wesson 686 .357 Magnum and has had a residence permit in New York City for that weapon since February 2011."

And his name is probably "Poindexteter" and someone will whip his ass and take his gun away from him and shoot him with it. But yet every justified citizen in New York can't get a handgun permit but this creep can because of his "status" right? All the criminals have theirs..............."come on and be a part of it, New York, New York" As the ol' Chairman of board used to sing.

[realist]

I would think that since this information is public then why can't these people just do open carry? To me it is only logical since everyone knows a person has a gun then what difference does it make if it is concealed or carried openly. I bet that would really get people upset. Then again it would be just better that everyone had the right to carry. I wonder if Charles Schumer were to live in that area if they would have published his address........

[greg48]

chucky shumer, nancy pelosi and all the same old socialist wind bags make gun control statements, while off camera stands their armed bodyguards...

[msomnipotent]

the state of Il thought at one time it'd be good to publish a list of all gun owners till they realized they'd be publishing a list to all the thugs which homes were not armed...seems like NY just did the work for the thugs....

The Attorney General's office still wants to do it, along with a list of what firearms are registered to each person. I really don't know what I would do if this ever came to pass. I would probably sell all my legal guns and buy black market, just to have some privacy and not target myself. The better option is to just leave IL, which I would love to do.

[ak474u]

Pretty soon, we'll all have to have a sign on our lawn, or maybe instead of a Star of David like the nazis made the Jews wear, we can all just wear an American flag on our jackets.

[Stg1swret]

Here is just one interesting point to consider. permit holder John Doe is a retired police office who put away some really nasty individuals during his time on the force. During his active time his phone number and therefore his address was not listed in the phone book. One of the upstanding citizens he helped put away has a beef about his time spent as a gues of the state. He now knows where officer friendly lives. Rather then confront officer friendly outright, he exacts his measure of revenge on the family when officer friendly is not home. The news paper has just contributed to i.e., should and can be charged as an accessory to the crime, if a D.A., had the guts to prosecute.