(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:
–
Related:
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (268)
zapparules
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:46pmThe salaries of public officials is often disclosed / publicly available.
If any public official is ever robbed… Are the sources of that information to be held accountable?
“The Salt Lake Tribune and UtahsRight.com provides information on the gross compensation of public officials at all levels of government and other agencies that use taxpayers’ money.”
That being the case… If one of those folks is ever robbed… Do we hole the SLT and the govt officials who run Utah accountable?
AGAIN – The actions of the newspaper seem to offer no real value BUT… The info IS LEGALLY in the public domain. Work to change that if you don’t like it.
Report this comment
JustTryn
Jan. 14, 2013 at 12:05amHEY The Majic words are~ PUBLIC OFFICIAL~ What you / I / ANYONE else, as a private citizen, possesses is NOT any of your, or anyone else’s busines!
And to publish ANYONEs private possessions is nothing less than ~~ conspiritry to commit ~~~~!
Now go play with yourself.
Report this comment
zapparules
Jan. 14, 2013 at 10:25amYou are correct JUSTTRYN – what we own is / posses / earn is no one else’s business -at least not so on most all cases.
My question was on accountability.
So many folks commenting on this story want to hold the newspaper accountable.
Well does that same type of accountability apply is similar cases?
More than just wages are often revealed for public – and shareholder based workers and leaders.
So lets say someone has their truck parked in the driveway and it has a ‘Protected by Smith &Wesson’ bumper sticker on it – seemingly promoting that the owner has/owns weapons. If that person’s vehicle or home is broken into and guns stolen… Should that person be held accountable for such?
The information released by the newspaper is in the public domain.
EVEN if the criminal said they were motivated to ‘hit’ the home because he/she saw the map… the newspaper still cannot be held accountable for such – in my opinion – because -again – the information is otherwise still available.
Should the newspaper have ‘advertised’ such info.? No – I do not believe so. But people who now want to see harm done to the journalist / paper… What does that say about them?
I thought the Right wanted to hold the criminal accountable,
Newspapers don’t rob homes. Criminals do.
Report this comment
rafa2design
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:33pmKeep your guns in a safe and always carry one (or two) on you in case you come home to this. Also if you haven’t yet join the NRA, one good thing is they offer free gun insurance to all their members for up to $2,500. That alone is a great reason to join for just $25 a year. You can check out their benefits here: http://www.nra.org/benefits.aspx
Report this comment
zapparules
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:31pmAnd so… Is every home crime in these map areas to be considered the result of the newspaper release of the info?
If the home has gun(s)… do folks say it was targeted because of such?
If the home does not have gun(s)… do folks say it was targeted because of such?
The newspaper – and everyone else – has access to the information. It is legally accessible to all.
Even if a criminal were to say they targeted a home because of such (either way) I highly doubt there can be a successful lawsuit – based on how the criminal got information that is in the public domain.
Some levels and amounts of Executive compensation is often publicly posted.
So any time an executive may be robbed… is whoever may have posted such information (including such info being released by the company itself) to be held accountable?
What the newspaper posted seemingly serves no good purpose but… It is information in the public domain.
If you don’t like that… Seek to change the law that makes it public. (Or as many on the Right like to offer… Move!)
Report this comment
1911a1
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:29pmWe should Hound these people at the journal everyday! publish their addresses ! Freakin commie hypocrites and cowards !
Report this comment
djay110
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:15pmThe home owners need to sue the paper and King Mike ! for the cost of the repairs and the firearms and if anyone gets hurt with the firearms they need to have the reporter and Bloomberg charged with the crime !!!!!
I’m so sick of the Libs bullsh*t they need a taste of their own medicine !!!!!!!
Report this comment
AmericanLass
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:14pmThis rag should be charged as accomplices to all the crimes where this took place.
Report this comment
trixiemcgavin
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:13pmglad no one was hurt this time but what about next time?
Report this comment
Chancellor
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:06pmGuess what If those guns are used in a crime the paper should be held Liable.
If someone is killed I hope the friends and family go after the paper in more than just court!
Report this comment
caf338
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:59pmSo how many people in the Lower Hudson Valley actually get this paper, and why would they continue to support it? If I lived there and had a subscription before they posted the map, I would most assuredly cancel it and encourage everyone I knew to do the same. A newspaper survives on subscriptions and advertising. Folks should start cancelling both to send a message.
Report this comment
hades3
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:58pmMost firearms used on the street are stolen, especially those used by felons. It’s only a matter of time before a gun is stolen from one or more concealed carry citizens, or an average gun owner who was identified by this news rag and used in one or more crimes , including murder. How will the media spin this incident ? Let me guess. They will say this is more evidence that people should not own guns, since it tempts criminals too steal them.
Report this comment
DaretoDiffer
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:57pmI hope they get sued or arrested as an accomplice. They’d claim the information was public record, but an attorney could probably prove that they used the information in an intentionally negligent manner. Cracks me up that they now have armed guards at their facility. They better keep them. There are some shady gun owners out there. Can’t claim we’re all good.
Report this comment
Heretodothedevilswork
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:47pmDiscusting, sue the p*ss out of them and shut this propaganda trash down!! its not freedom of speach its just a firestarter
Report this comment
Heretodothedevilswork
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:44pmwow no ****! I say we publish all people that work for that trash paper and all family memeber info! This is Total BS!!!!
Report this comment
DaretoDiffer
Jan. 13, 2013 at 11:15pmSomeone actually did print all the owners and employees Addresses and Phone numbers. I love it! I guess a lot of them are getting death threats. Serves em right. I’d never wish ill or death upon anyone, but I hope they get the **** scared out of em. http://warning-notice.com/warning-notice/journal-news-employees-addresses-in-the-new-york-tri-state-area/
Report this comment
taintso
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:39pmWhy didn’t the paper publish where all the guns are that holder sold during fast and furious? Oh I’m sorry Holder didn’t make the Drug Czars fill out the federal firearms paperwork let alone it import paper work.
Report this comment
Pet Health Guru
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:37pmIt is my belief (LOL) that all wealth is the root of all evil & these same papers should list every person with a larger than 1/2 ct diamond so our neighbors know… also those with gold jewelry, and anything else wanted on the black market… we know criminals don’t read & we just want our neighbors to know how dangerous rich people are! Oh yes, anyone with a new car valued over $30000 is required to register where they keep their keys!
Report this comment
HI_Don
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:32pmI think it time for them to roll out the lawyers, naming the paper and the state/city as co-liable. Sue for the repair/ replacement of the gun safe and any repairs to the home needed caused by the break in as the paper provided the motive for the bugler and the state/city allowed them the access to the info. Then, since the info is out there and cannot reasonably be “un-released”, make them liable to provide a full security system including video and monitoring services for life or until the homeowner moves. Once precedence is set – a collective lawsuit for all the homeowners to get a full security package for their homes. When the paper goes bankrupt – the state and city will have to pay the rest.
Report this comment
dave88
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:29pmIsn’t the newspaper an accomplice in these crimes?
Report this comment
TRILO
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:22pmI hope that they find a connection to the paper publishing the list and that the homeowner sues them for putting his life and his property in jeopardy.
I am glad to see the affiliated police association taking a stand too.
Idiot liberals!
Report this comment
rsanchez1
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:16pmThis is a responsible gun owner right here. He legally owns his gun. He keeps his guns locked up in a safe. And they want to make him out to be the bad guy?
Report this comment
taintso
Jan. 13, 2013 at 10:03pmBloomberg was fighting Arizona’s gun shows fro honest people, now he has one in his state for all his dishonest people. Thanks news paper Bloombug loves you.
Report this comment
jordy2010
Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:51pmDo I understand that all the ”operators” of this left-wing RAG………….are women????? Nice judgement…..
Report this comment
South Philly Boy
Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:48pmSue the paper
Report this comment
mooshoo
Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:48pmIt is much easier to control an unarmed population …
The 2nd amendment was designed with that in mind.
It is not our guns they are after.
It is our liberty.
Report this comment
bignugly
Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:41pmThe people they should go after is Gannet. They are the ones that own the paper and control what is published. Gannet has also stated they back this paper on what was done. I would even venture to guess that Gannett told them to do the article to see what would happen. If nothing had been said then Gannett would have done it nationwide!
Report this comment
hugo65hsv
Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:38pmAny negative consequences that can or do fall on these reckless so called journalist idiots is good news to me.. I’m hoping we will be updated as events unfold..
Report this comment