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House Identified on NY Paper’s ‘Gun Map’ Burglarized — And the Robbers Went Straight for the Guns

Jan. 13, 2013 7:33pm Erica Ritz

Man Revealed by Journal News Gun Map Has House Robbed, Criminals Target Gun Safe

(Photo: Lohud.com)

After the Journal News published interactive maps detailing where gun owners live in a number of New York counties in late December, people all across the nation decried the move as an invasion of privacy and a danger to the families.

A number of ex-burglars told Fox News that the list would prove invaluable to criminals, telling them which houses to avoid or rob, depending on what they wanted.

It was revealed on Sunday that one of the homes identified by the paper was targeted by burglars over the weekend, though a connection to the Journal News has not been proven.

New York’s Westchester/Rockland Newsday has noteworthy details on the break-in (all subsequent emphasis added):

A White Plains residence pinpointed on a controversial handgun permit database was burglarized Saturday, and the burglars’ target was the homeowner’s gun safe.

At least two burglars broke into a home on Davis Avenue at 9:30 p.m. Saturday but were unsuccessful in an attempt to open the safe, which contained legally owned weapons, according to a law enforcement source. One suspect was taken into custody, the source said.

The gun owner was not home when the burglary occurred, the source said. The victim, who is in his 70s, told Newsday on Sunday that he did not want to comment while the police investigation continues.

[...]

Neighbor John Mascia said he thought the gun permit database should not have been published.

“I could [not] care less what they have in their home,” Mascia said.

Police are investigating what role, if any, the database played in the burglars’ decision to target the home, the law enforcement source said.

Republican State Senator Greg Ball of New York released a strongly-worded statement on the matter Sunday, adding that he plans to introduce legislation to better protect the identities of gun owners in the future:

“The Journal News has placed the lives of these folks at risk by creating a virtual shopping list for criminals and nut jobs. If the connection is proven, this is further proof that these maps are not only an invasion of privacy but that they present a clear and present danger to law-abiding, private citizens. Former convicts have already testified to the usefulness of the asinine Journal News ‘gun maps’ yet the reckless editors are evidently willing to roll the dice, gambling with the lives of innocent local homeowners,” Senator Greg Ball said.

[...]

“The same elitist eggheads who use their editorial page to coddle terrorists and criminals are now treating law abiding citizens like level three sexual predators. These bills are critical to keep folks safe and fundamentally protect their inherent right to privacy… This is not about the Second Amendment; these bills are simply about commonsense and personal privacy. Publishing this information on a website, as we have evidently just witnessed in the recent attempted gun burglary, provides criminals with a map of where they can steal firearms from lawful owners for later use in the commission of crimes. This legislation is critical,” said Senator Greg Ball.

Ball wasn’t the only one to call out the Journal News in the wake of the robbery. Senator Ball’s office adds:

In addition to Senator Ball’s legislation, the Vice President of the Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County, Robert Buckley, said in a letter [that] publishing these maps online is jeopardizing the safety of residents and is irresponsible.

“The Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County Inc. is putting The Journal News on notice that we will hold [them] accountable for any incident where any of our over 25,000 members are involved with an incident where a criminal or ex-con presents themselves at the residence of one of our members as a result of their name being made public by [their] newspaper,” said Buckley.

Fox News’ Judge Jeanine Pirro ripped into the Journal News over the weekend, noting that the “cowards” who publish the paper appear to be fiercely protective of their own privacy:

–

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (268)

thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:31pm
It is time to realize liberals want gun owners dead or in fear. They figure they can fight lawsuits with their staff lawyers but they want to make gun owners uncomfortable. It is time to make them “uncomfortable”. They are sadistic, communist whores stirring the pot in the nation constantly. Secession is the only answer with all that entails…even hostilities.

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frogg
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:23pm
Time to sue that paper!

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CFL Tea Party
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:20pm
The homeowner needs to lawyer up and sue the crap out of that lefty rag.

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Lara
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:18pm
See there!!! A responsible gun owner, KNEW how to keep his guns out of the hands of CRIMINALS without needing the GOVT’s help!!! Something the Govt, fails to do itself…. Fast an Furious guns!!!

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governmenteffects
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:13pm
If we treated the first amendment like we do the second:

Background check and license all reporters then report their names and addresses on a web map.

But nobody will mess with the freedom of the press part of the first amendment like they do with the freedom of religion part and the whole of the second amendment.

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- CFL Tea Party
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:22pm
  I like the way you think. I think a lot of people would love to know where Chris Matthews or David Gregory live.
  
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- governmenteffects
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:07pm
  My bad, after more thought: They don’t believe in the first amendment either when it comes to talk radio, Fox, or just about any conservative. They do believe in freedom of the liberal press, even if they are void of truth. I guess in reality the whole of the constitution has been trashed. What a country.
  
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DeathRattle
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:11pm
I believe in freedom of the press, but I also believe in consequences. This was only a matter of time.

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Flyingfish
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:05pm
Law suit against the paper, followed up by a second one against the gov’t for collecting this info in the first place.

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sandrunner
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:03pm
That gun owner has every right to sue the newspaper for everything.

This gun owner will be the new owner of new york newspaper.

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singray
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:00pm
These dolt’s in the Media don’t even realize how they are in peril too. It’s only the 2nd Amendment now. Do they understand why it is the 2nd and not the 1st. Maybe it was put there to protect the 1st. You see a Gov’t powerful enough to outlaw the 2nd Amendment is also powerful enough to limit the 1st. The Media better hope that when the Gov’t is at the top, when things go wrong that they aren’t the ones in the middle, sacraficed to placate those at the bottom.

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Acena
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:57pm
Good job Journal News ; you endangered the home, property and life of a law abiding senior citizen .
How many more innocent people will be violated because of your immorality ,lack of respect and complete disregard of human decency and common sense.

You’ve violated and betrayed an entire county for your self righteous gratification and media attention .

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The Third Archon
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:55pm
“HOUSE IDENTIFIED ON NY PAPER’S ‘GUN MAP’ BURGLARIZED — AND THE ROBBERS WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE GUNS”
Seems pretty risky.

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woodcellar
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:53pm
If the burglars say they got the address from the papers site, The editors should be charged with aiding and abetting a felony.

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coyote1hell
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:52pm
Every thing liberals do backfires on them…they never think thing through….now they are arming criminals….wow….

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paulwbrown
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:48pm
I hope the burglars will show some class and send a nice thank you note to the editor for her assistance to them in the crime.

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1Flashlight
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:48pm
Here is the other problem – go back to the original map – scan out and see other states – you’ll notice
that people from other state can be seen as well. These people I must guess have more than 1 home. How will other states handle this info getting out?? Just a guess but the News Paper may have a hole bunch of explaining to do, as it may be violating laws in other states over privacy. Just a though to ponder on ????

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AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:43pm
The peoples whose names were published should sue those responsible for putting their names and addresses for the world to see! I would be angry at DC for not standing up and protecting peoples privacy rights!

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strawberry411a
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:42pm
Typical. Freedom to a liberal only applies to a liberal. Everyone else is on their own. They will ultimately pay for their bias.

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Delaware Patriot
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:40pm
I would sue the editor for damages…Ya can’t sue her criminally because she’s broken no law…but her actions were negligent and contributed to this homeowner being burglarized…Let a judge decide this one….but you can be damn sure I’d sue that beyotch

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neverending
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:38pm
Too bad they weren’t looking at the barrel of the gun when they got in – would have loved the end result of that. These ruthless thugs will stop at nothing because the hussein and holder egg them on. Hopefully these people will find a really good attorney – perhaps a pro bono one and start teaching some of these rats a lesson.

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fastgen1
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:35pm
We can all hope the paper is sued into bankruptcy….

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vic138
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:32pm
Is it still a newspaper? Oh well, I guess I’m a week or two early…

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Magyar
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:31pm
Sorry they got robbed– now find a Pro Bono lawyer and sue the sh%t out of the Journal News!

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woodyee
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:28pm
He wrote it in an op-ed to the Des Moines Register just a little while ago.

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LB
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:27pm
It’s not about the guns people. It’s about the power to controll and this narcasit pres is trying to push his personal agenda.

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MohammadShapiro
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:23pm
Guns don’t kill people, Liberalism kills people.

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