Newspaper Publishes Gun Owners Names and Addresses
The Journal News published a map listing the names and addresses of residents in New York’s Westchester and Rockland counties who have a permit for a gun. The article received a surge of responses once citizens in the coverage area realized their information had been published. The interactive map allows the reader to click on a location and have a pop-up appear with the permit owners first and last name and exact address.
The maps only represent residents with permits for handguns. Rifles and other non-permit required firearms were not included. Permits are issued for life; therefore, both active and historic permit holders, for the last five years, were represented on the Rockland County map. Historic meaning they even went as far as to list people whom have either died, moved, or haven’t updated their records. Westchester County, in contrast, requires permit owners to renew every five years.
In order to assemble a list of those with permits, The Journal News submitted a Freedom of Information request. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives anyone the right to request and access information from the federal government. Upon request, agencies of the United States government are required to disclose records in accordance with the FOIA. All of the names and addresses were compiled through public records.
In a statement to ABC News, The Journal News said its readers “are understandably interested to know about guns in their neighborhoods.”
Do you feel there is an assumed privacy to having a gun permit? Yes, the government knows because in some states you are required to have a permit in order to own a firearm. But do you think it is right for your neighbors or strangers to be aware?
Was the paper wrong to publish the name and address information on each permit owner? Would you want to know if your neighbor owns a gun (legally in this case)?
What if newspapers began publishing similar maps displaying contact information for those who engage in other activities such as petty crimes?
Where would the line have to be drawn before it could become a list you would not want broadcast?
Tags : Assumed privacy, Firearm permits, invasion of privacy, New York county gun permits, New York gun owners, Rockland County, Rockland residents, The Freedom of Information Act, The Journal News, Westchester County, Westchester residents
Posted: December 24, 2012
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Dec 25, 2012
The newspaper is employing the tactics of the Nazis when they attack law abiding citiens. There should be an investigation by the State Attorney General.
Dec 25, 2012
Liberals are so dumb as to set up burglars and fulfill their horror of "more guns on the street", but of course burglarizing these homes could be hazardous. I remember my neighbor years ago with signs in her apartment saying THIS HOME PROTECTED BY COLT, and some targets to demonstrate that she could hit what she shot at. The Journal News will give more incentive for these permit holders to carry their gun with them rather than leave it at home.
Dec 25, 2012
I would love there to be a registry for anyone convicted of a crime. I want to know if my neighbor is a murderer or burglar just as much as I want to know if they are a sex offender.
Dec 25, 2012
https://christopherfountain.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/anyone-know-where-to-find-cyndee-royle-editor-of-the-journal-news/
Dec 25, 2012
dworley@lohud.com Dwight R. Worley is the moron who did this.
Dec 25, 2012
Apparently these are the addresses of the "journalists": Journal News President: Janet Hasson, 3 Gate House Lane Mamaroneck, NY 10534 (914) 694.5204 Editors: Cyndee Royle, 1133 Westchester Ave., Suite N110, White Plains, NY 10604, 914-694-9300 Nancy Cutler 9 Woodwind Ln, Spring Valley, NY. (845) 354 3485 Parent company of The Journal News Gannett CEO Gracia C Martore 728 Springvale Rd Great Falls, VA 22066 (703) 759 5954 The reporter on the story is Dwight R Worley 23006 139 Ave Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 (718) 527 0832.
Dec 25, 2012
Thank goodness!
At least they don't publish the names of those who are criminals…
or focus on the issue of mental health…
where most of the problem lies…
and now a wonderful gift to the CRIMINALs… where to go to get guns.
Dec 25, 2012
Ok, 1) Now criminals know which houses have guns to steal while the owner is not at home.
Dec 25, 2012
The morons who published this apparently don't realize that they have by default also shown ALL THE HOMES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANY GUN PROTECTION. Buglars are deathly afraid of armed citizens, so they now can avoid the homes with guns and concentrate on breaking into any of homes NOT listed as gun protected. Also note, the people who are responsible for the article exposing gun owners, are listed below, and any crimianls who wish to victimize them have their addresses available. Gun owners prefer privacy. Concealed carry and the privacy of not having our info posted, is important to us. However, when criminals can't be sure just which homes or individuals are protected by guns, the non-gun owning public benefits by that very fact. By publishing who is a gun owner, criminals also know who is NOT. Smooth move, "journalist".
Dec 25, 2012
2) conversely, criminals also know which home owners are unarmed and therefore easier targets.
3) It is outrageous that the writer of this article equates law abidng citizens who are exercising their 2nd amendment rights to.
"those who engage in other activities such as petty crime". Gun ownership is not a crime and gun owners are not criminals. Gun owner does not equal criminal any more than bank withdrawal equals bank robber.
Dec 25, 2012
Merry Christmas to all those jolly burglars in search of plum pudding, cookies and milk; without a mouse in the house or a gun in site, you now know where to go, for all those Christmas gifts, the Rolex, silver blues pears, and mistletoe. The media just provided neighborhood maps, identifying defenseless driveways on each road, which offer each thief a greater sense of relief. And to all you with guns, may you always sleep tight, knowing that you abide by the law and did what was right.
Dec 25, 2012
Harry GOOD for you. This article is outrageous. We'll see how many gun robberies, burglaries and home invasions will be linked directly to ths article. It is long past time to name, thesee "Journolisting" miscreants…
How about a class action suit by those who have been named and mapped in this article?
Dec 25, 2012
There is also a site that will give addresses of convicted sex offenders. I LOVE it.
Dec 25, 2012
To those saying this article would give a green light to burglars as to who doesn't own guns, please note this part of the article:
"The maps only represent residents with permits for handguns. Rifles and other non-permit required firearms were not included."
Dec 25, 2012
One FB posted noted ""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. 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."
Dec 25, 2012
One FB post noted ""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. 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." I can see where they are coming from. Gun owners are being alienated similarly to sex offenders.
Dec 25, 2012
Simply posing questions….curious to see where people take the topic. I would not literally equate gun ownership to petty crime. Only an example of another kind of list that could be compiled and shared.
Dec 25, 2012
Goebbels would be proud of The Journal News. The Nazis printed lists like this too. What if there was a battered wife hiding from an abusive husband? This rag just outed her. What other list can we print? What about a list of people who receive gov't assistance? Its legal to receive aid, but do you want your neighbor to know?
Dec 25, 2012
Let have a list of what politicians own a gun, but want gun control.
Dec 25, 2012
Fox News informed "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."
Dec 25, 2012
agreed!
Dec 26, 2012
Bravo Harry!
Dec 26, 2012
The gun banners are always at a loss as to where criminals get their illegally obtained firearms, prefering to believe the Bloomberg theory that they travel to states with less stringent gun laws and buy them there while ignoring the possibilty that they ARE STOLEN FROM LEGITIMATE GUN OWNERS. Now, the Journal News gives burglars a list of from where to steal handguns and, by default, a list of homes where home invaders need not worry about being shot with one.
Dec 26, 2012
Of course what it also did was point out to burglars the people who have no means to protect themselves against robbery, rape, assault, home invasion etc. Kinda funny the way childish Liberal agendas (like "Gun free zones" where all the recent murders occurred) usually backfire on them huh? 380% more burglaries are stopped by armed citizens (on scene) than by police who are always x minutes away when they happen.
Dec 27, 2012
The NRA crowd are so paranoid. Paranoia and guns, a bad combination.
Dec 31, 2012
I have a S&W sticker on my can and house.