Newspaper Publishes Gun Owners' Names and Addresses

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/newspaper-publishes-gun-owners-names-addresses-215214269--abc-news-topstories.html

By Colleen Curry | ABC News Blogs – 50 mins ago

A newspaper in New York has received a wave of criticism from its readers after publishing the names and addresses of all of the individuals with handgun or pistol permits in its coverage area.

Hundreds of residents in New York's Westchester and Rockland counties were surprised to find their names and addresses listed on a map posted by The Journal News on Sunday. Users can click any dot on the map to see which of their neighbors has a permit for a gun.

The map sparked more than 500 comments from readers within a day of its appearance on the website, many of them voicing outrage at the paper's decision to make the information public.

"This is CRAZY!! why in the world would you post every licensed gun owner information?? What do you hope to accomplish by doing this. This is the type of thing you do for sex offenders not law abiding gun owners. What next? should i hang a flag outside my house that says I own a gun? I am canceling my subscription with your paper today!!!" said commenter Curtis Maenza.

"How about a map of the editorial staff and publishers of Gannett and Journal News with names and addresses of their families…," wrote commenter George Thompson.

All of the names and addresses were compiled through public records. The paper also requested the information from Putnam County, which is still compiling the records for publication, according to The Journal News' website.

In a statement to ABC News, The Journal News said its readers "are understandably interested to know about guns in their neighborhoods," because of the conversation about gun control on its website after the shooting in Newtown, Conn., last week.

"We obtained the names and addresses of Westchester and Rockland residents who are licensed to own handguns through routine Freedom of Information law requests. We also requested information on the number and types of guns owned by permit holders, but officials in the county clerks offices in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties maintained that those specifics were not public record," the statement read.

"New York's top public-records expert, Robert Freeman, disagrees," it added.

The paper declined to answer further questions about the map.

[rade2rising 205]

well newspapers have alot of rights. more than gun owners I bet.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is one of the reasons that Vermont has steadfastly resisted any form of permit or license for carrying concealed handguns.

While it is great and wonderful to have the freedom and exceedingly low crime rates that result from ANYONE being allowed to carry concealed handguns, some Vermonters have requested an optional license system so that Vermonters could carry their concealed handguns in states that have reciprocity.

The Vermont legislature has flatly rejected it as an intrusion and violation on the RIGHT to self defense and have suggested that a voluntary system COULD become involuntary and COULD be used as a list of who had firearms.

At any rate, I am sure the paper may be open to some sort of civil penalty for disclosing this information. We shall see I guess.

well newspapers have alot of rights. more than gun owners I bet.

How so?

[Karee 4,191]

What's the problem? Seems like a good idea to have your name on that list.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

For any criminals that actually read that rag, at least they know now what houses in that area not to rob.

[Karee 4,191]

For any criminals that actually read that rag, at least they know now what houses in that area not to rob.

Exactly.

[himher 634]

LOL

Please assume that dam near everyone in our area has one. It's the small area between Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana

LOL

Check out the friggin map though. This is New York and it's COVERED with dots. Imagine the rest of the country....

http://www.lohud.com/interactive/article/20121223/NEWS01/121221011/Map-Where-gun-permits-your-neighborhood-?nclick_check=1

Edited December 24, 2012 by himher

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

LOL

Please assume that dam near everyone in our area has one. It's the small area between Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana

LOL

Check out the friggin map though. This is New York and it's COVERED with dots. Imagine the rest of the country....

http://www.lohud.com/interactive/article/20121223/NEWS01/121221011/Map-Where-gun-permits-your-neighborhood-?nclick_check=1

That area is too anti gun for my liking. We don't have permits here. Just like Vermont, Alaska doesn't require any permit to carry a concealed weapon and open carry is allowed here also.

Vermont and Alaska lead the nation in American's right to bear arms.

[himher 634]

I know. I lived up there. North Pole.

I do not recall much crime. In fact everybody was pretty dam respectful of everybody else

That area is too anti gun for my liking. We don't have permits here. Just like Vermont, Alaska doesn't require any permit to carry a concealed weapon and open carry is allowed here also.

Vermont and Alaska lead the nation in American's right to bear arms.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I know. I lived up there. North Pole.

I do not recall much crime. In fact everybody was pretty dam respectful of everybody else

That's what I like about here. Nobody knows who's packing and who's not so it puts everyone on level ground.

btw the few times Iv'e been in North Pole we used to eat at an Asian joint called "The Fire Wok". It was in a strip mall there...don't know if it's still there but it had some good eats for cheap.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I know. I lived up there. North Pole.

I do not recall much crime. In fact everybody was pretty dam respectful of everybody else.

Must have lived a pretty isolated existence up there, then. Alaska ranks #6 in violent crime in the nation. SC, TN, NV, FL and LA - in that order - take spots 1-5. All but one are states with high gun ownership rates. Odd, ain't it?