Outlaw publication engages in massive attack on privacy.
NEW YORK (PNN) - December 24, 2012 - A New York newspaper has gone to the effort to map out and publish online - complete with names and addresses - all the people in its area who have handgun permits.
The Journal News of White Plains, New York, has created interactive online maps of all handgun permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties, while it’s also waiting on information from Putnam County.
The newspaper boasts it was able to obtain the names and addresses through a Freedom of Information request, for New York state law makes permit holders’ information public record.
The interactive maps not only give an overall picture of the distribution of handgun permits, but can also be zoomed in upon, revealing the names and addresses of those licensed to own a handgun, be it pistol or revolver.
Presumably, a person familiar with an area could also use the maps to obtain locations of homes where the owner doesn’t have a handgun permit.
Jeff Knox, director of The Firearms Coalition, called the newspaper’s action “an outrageous invasion of privacy and a highly irresponsible action.”
The state of New York has become a hotbed for debate on the issue of gun laws since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
The highly charged atmosphere surrounding the issue gave Knox yet another reason to criticize the newspaper’s action.
“At a time when prominent public personalities and political operatives are blaming gun owners for the terrible atrocity in Newtown, Connecticut, and calling for the deaths of gun owners and NRA members,” said Knox, “the publication of this information appears to be an overt threat and intentional effort at intimidation.
“The publication of this information just goes to demonstrate why gun owners around the country are so vehemently opposed to laws requiring registration of firearms,” he concluded. “Something like this paints a large bull’s-eye on the backs of gun owners and on the front doors of their homes, placing them and their families at risk for no justifiable reason.”
