Newspaper Tries To Intimidate Gun Owners

The White Plains newspaper The Journal-News has decided to produce an interactive map of every licensed pistol permit holder in three New York counties.

The map indicates the addresses of all pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties. Each dot represents an individual permit holder licensed to own a handgun — a pistol or revolver. The data does not include owners of long guns — rifles or shotguns — which can be purchased without a permit. Being included in this map does not mean the individual at a specific location owns a weapon, just that they are licensed to do so.

The information is public, however there is no legitimate reason for them to consolidate it and put it on an interactive map. Well, no other reason than intimidation. The newspaper doesn't offer an explanation for why they created this interactive map.

This is bitter, spiteful and dangerous. This puts the gun owners in great danger. Do you live in New York? Do you want a gun? Well rob these homes to get one. When that eventually happens or someone is killed as a result of this stunt, the newspaper won't be held to account. The editorial staff and reporters won't care at all.

Fortunately, a blogger at For What Its Worth, decided that two can play that game. He found the publisher's address, pictures of the inside of her home on Zillow, and her personal likes and dislikes culled from her credit card records.

It should be noted that all of that information is public. It will be hard not to laugh when she accuses bloggers and gun nuts of intimidation.

posted by BenK at 04:39 PM

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