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Gawker Publishes Complete 446-Page List of ‘All the A**holes Who Own Guns in New York City’

Jan. 8, 2013 3:57pm Jason Howerton

Editor’s note: This post contains some strong language that may be offensive to some readers.

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Gawker Publishes Complete List of All the A**holes Who Own Guns in New York City

Credit: AP

The website Gawker has outdone New York’s “Journal News” and published the names of all licensed gun owners in New York City. With the provocative headline, “Here Is a List of All the A**holes Who Own Guns in New York City,” John Cook provides a 446-page list of every licensed gun owner in NYC, obtained two-and-a-half years ago via a Freedom of Information Act request.

“Below is a 446-page list of every licensed gun owner in New York City…Because the NYPD is more interested in raping and/or eating ladies and spying on Muslims than it is in honoring public records law, the list contains only the names, and not the addresses, of the licensees,” Cook writes.

(Scroll down for updates to this story)

The Journal News sparked outrage when it published the names and addresses of pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland Counties. The paper wanted to also publish the information of gun owners in Putnam County, N.Y., but so far the county has refused, saying providing the information would put the public in danger.

As Cook correctly points out, section 400.00 of the Penal Law of New York, entitled “Licenses to carry, possess, repair and dispose of firearms,” makes addresses of licensed gun owners public information. “The name and address of any person to whom an application for any license has been granted shall be a public record,” the law states.

Critics argue, however, just because information is publicly available, that doesn’t mean it should be published online and in newspapers for criminals and others to see. In other states, like Texas, the personal information of concealed weapons license holders is considered confidential.

In his post, Cook also brags about outing Fox News chief Roger Ailes, Sean Hannity, Howard Stern, Don Imus, Donald Trump and others as gun owners with permits to own or carry firearms in the city in 2010.

Gawker

Because New York pistol owners must register with their local police department and the state, the names of 1.2 million New York handgun owners and the addresses of 300,000 of them have been available online for more than two years. Because of this, gun owners in New York should not be upset about the Journal News or other outlets like Gawker publicizing their personal information, according to Cook.

“In any case, it’s clear that many of the Rockland County and Westchester County gun owners who are outraged at having their addresses plastered on the internet have had those addresses plastered on the internet for years without it causing a problem. And if anyone wanted to really stir some sh*t up, they’d grab those Who’s Packing databases and throw them up on Google Maps,” Cook writes.

While the names and addresses of gun owners are considered public information in New York, the media, even websites like Gawker, still have a responsibility to exercise smart editorial judgment and carefully consider the consequences of all of its decisions.

Ex-burglars and thieves recently told Fox News that a database of gun owners is like “gold” for criminals, letting them know which houses are easy targets and which ones have guns to steal. Frank Abignale, the famous former thief portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me if You Can,” called the Journal News’ decision to publish gun owners’ information “reprehensible.” Another ex-burglar said the newspaper was “exceptionally stupid” in its actions.

“And for the record,” Cook concluded. “[The gun owners] are not all a**holes. Some of them need guns for legitimate reasons for their jobs, like providing security for a**holes.”

TheBlaze is not providing the 446-page list of all New York City licensed gun owners.

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UPDATE: Gawker quickly changed its headline, striking through the word “a**holes” and mockingly replacing it with “handsome law-abiding citizens.”

Gawker

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Update II: Gawker is now reporting death threats directed at the website over its decision to publish the names of all licensed gun owners in New York City.

About an hour-and-a-half after they published the story, someone apparently called Gawker’s headquarters and said “you’re f**kin dead.” Gawker reports it is “fair to assume this was related to the gun post.”

Another Gawker employee claims to have received a phone call after the story went live, telling her to “look both ways when you leave the building” and “all of you better look both ways because you’re going to get shot.” The same caller also reportedly said “every girl better have a boyfriend because you need someone to protect you.”

Gawker has contacted the police over the threats.

“These violent threats come as reaction to us publishing information that was already publicly available,” the website writes.

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Comments (329)

SquidVetOhio
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:33pm
I’m sure between all of us, we can find out where John Cook lives don’t you think?

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- burnteye86
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:37pm
  I say go for it
  
  Report this comment
- ranepowel
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 5:01pm
  To what end? If you show up at his house with guns you’ll only be proving his point. The people that put out lists like this are PRAYING someone with a gun will come after them, just so they can point to the lunatics who would threaten a poor, defenseless human being with their big, nasty gun.
  
  Play into their hands, though. I’m hoping someone actually ‘does something’ about this and threatens this author so he can shine an even brighter light on pro-gun lunatics like most of the posters on this site.
  
  Report this comment
pahrumper
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:31pm
You come to my house and call me that you will be leaving my place wiggling your ass and sweeping the side walk as you leave,,,,and I will need a new broom!

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joeslick
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:30pm
I wonder if bloomberg’s name is on there…cause he is an *******.

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bigbear_awake
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:30pm
the only REASON WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IS BECAUSE OF 1 DFMCMB IN THE PEOPLES HOUSE
GRTR DONE!!!!!

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AnotherLiberalDouche
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:29pm
A perfect example of another lib “journalist” without an understanding of the issue. The list is actually of law abiding citizens who took the time to work within the confines of the ridiculous gun laws of NY. A list of A**holes would not be readily available because they DON’T follow the laws. Dooshbaggery at it’s finest.

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BasketFullOfPuppies
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:29pm
I think someone hit the nail right on the head. THIS is why we can’t allow registration.

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Metallicat
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:28pm
It seems to me that some in the MSM are doing their best to provoke a gun owner into a reaction that they can use as evidence to support their gun grabbing agenda. Why are they criminalizing and invading the privacy of law abiding citizens. Why are all gun owners being treated as guilty until proven innocent? I think they are actually trying to create an incident where a gun owner is put into a dangerous situation where he must defend himself from a mob,so they can have another massacre to whine about. Are they try to encourage the OWS to occupy gun owners homes,hoping they will respond with violence? I dont think the gun owners are the ones perpetrating and instigating evil actions to take place. Our media is out of control and violating the privacy of America citizens,and villifying them in the public eye,stopping short of demanding lynchings.

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tom comella
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:28pm
Let’s see; if I remember correctly the courts have said that the police have no responsibility to protect any individual citizen; their assigned task is to protect the community. So, if you are de facto on your own for self defense………… The left is truly, truly insane.

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DougHuffman
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:28pm
DaBlasé can dilute the evil that is The Gawker Journal News by administering and publishing a volunteered and vetted list of legal gun owners. South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit CWP#000030564 MOLON LABE

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PDX Entrepreneur
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:27pm
I am for the second amendment, but we need to stick up for the whole bill of rights and everyone, evens those we don’t like!

This is why they think they can get away with treating gun owners like Sex Offenders;

This is the attitude of our politicians in terms of trampling on our rights now “You always start with sex offenders because nobody is going to stick up for sex offenders,” State Rep. Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) America wake up and start depending everyone’s rights

Maybe it’s time you stopped being hypocritical and stuck up for every one, even those who are Scarlet Lettered today. Take away some peoples rights it leads to all our rights being limited or taken from us.

Ben Franklin said in a letter;

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Once a
Right is gone, it is gone.

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- ranepowel
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 5:17pm
  Sorry, I don’t want to live next door to a convicted child molester. For a lot of the same reasons I don’t want to live next door to a lunatic who thinks he has to have a gun to protect himself from the “evil big communist in Washington.” I should have a right as a citizen to know if I’m living next to someone who can harm me or my children with deadly weapons, which are on par with child molestation.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 5:33pm
  Rane,
  And you would be the first one running to that lunatic, cryin’ and sniveling if somebody was attacking your family. Hey, the mailman is here. Run out and see if that govt check is in the box. Coward.
  
  Report this comment
- hatchetjob
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 6:06pm
  I’m with you MIL DOT!!!! Right on!!
  
  Report this comment
South Philly Boy
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:27pm
Well lets see if any Armored, Prison, Bank, Private Eye or any other ARMED Protection Service personel GETS THREATENED.

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Jake Dog2
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:26pm
monkey see monekey do.

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TADTAD
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:25pm
This is a cold war that is starting to take on the margins of becoming hot. This follows the characteristics of what led to our “Civil War.” This is being conducted with malice and purpose. Yes, this is a hardball world, and if you shortsheet me, I’m going to do more than read you the riot act. I will respond with every-effing-thing I can muster, and I will demonstrate what exterminate with extreme prejuidice means. I know the NWO folks are behind this. I know they want this. You can just call me the crowd pleaser then, because I shall deliver what THEY want. Just hurry the eff up and get this going, my time here on Earth is finite. Semper Fi. That is all.

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lid.smoker
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:25pm
It’s time for some rich guy to fund the publishing of all the public data on liberals, criminal history, marriage history, their kids criminal history, drug rerhab history. Anything that is legal to release, let’s get it and publish it!!

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Exidor
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:24pm
Hacker much?

;))

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Uechi
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:24pm
An Hole and proud of it. Fortunately, I don’t live in the Northeast anymore and especially glad not in Bloomberg’s Eden. When the SHTF and it will sooner or later over our liberties or the collapse of the economy I hope the fools at Gawker are the first ones to starve or be attacked by armed bad guys. When that day happens they will be praying for some A hole who is armed to save them. Fortunately it won’t be me.

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Locked
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:23pm
“As Cook correctly points out, section 400.00 of the Penal Law of New York, entitled “Licenses to carry, possess, repair and dispose of firearms,” makes addresses of licensed gun owners public information. “The name and address of any person to whom an application for any license has been granted shall be a public record,” the law states.”

Sounds like a law that should be challenged in court and overturned as unconstitutional, no?

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- ranepowel
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 5:14pm
  The 2nd Amendment doesn’t guarantee your right to have weapons anonymously. Read it again, Sherlock.
  
  Report this comment
- stumpy68
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:11pm
  ranepowl another young punk hiding behind his computer
  wonder what would happen if someone posted your address
  naw i wouldnt want to do that youd poop your pants and your mommy
  would have to clean them.
  
  Report this comment
RabidPatriot
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:22pm
This is why you shouldn’t register the firearms you own with the government. All of these people and their families are in danger. The government will not protect you in any way. Not your physical well being and not your privacy. Unless it’s a liberal cause like abortion, criminality, mental illness, drug use, AIDS, homosexuality……

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msconstrue
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:21pm
this whole thing is outrageous……it wont stop until a someone is killed or injured by the release of this information, then whose problem will it be?

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scrapadapolis
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:21pm
How funny if a gawkers family was taken hostage and KILLED I HOPE THEY USE A SHOT GUN THAT SHOOTS KNIVES..

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John.Galt
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:20pm
EXCELLENT!!! Now the next time I go burglarize a home, I can check the list to make sure there are no guns in the home I am about to rob!

THIS WILL BE A BOON FOR CRIMINALS… ALL YOU NOT ON THE LIST ARE NOW TARGETS!!

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TH30PH1LUS
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:20pm
Gawker is seeking attention. May they get what they seek.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 6:10pm
  Tenfold.
  
  Report this comment
Atlappraiser
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:20pm
All this does is potentially harm the ones who don’t choose to exercise their right to bear arms. Criminals will rob their houses since they know they don’t own a gun. Poor non gun owners. They should be the ones pissed off.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 6:12pm
  But maybe they’re expert at throwing tomahawks, or butcher knives. That would be nice.
  
  Report this comment
P4cooler
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:20pm
Gawker may learn what “backfire” means.

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- GuruMeditation
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 5:10pm
  Or… Fire!
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 4:19pm
Does anyone know where John Cook lives in Manhattan, NY?

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