TELL US: Should Licensed Gun Owners' Information be Public?
If you are licensed to own a gun, would you want your name and address publicized?
Photos
A news publication in New York is under scrutiny for publishing the names and addresses of gun owners in certain parts of the state.
Less than two weeks after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn., the New York Journal News earlier this week published the names and addresses of local gun owners in three New York counties.
A story titled, "The gun owner next door: What you don't know about the weapons in your neighborhood," highlights the names and addresses of residents who are licensed to own handguns through Freedom of Information Law requests, according to The Huffington Post.
The Journal News reportedly requested the information from New York's Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, though the publication was only able to obtain the names and addresses of those who have a license to own a handgun.
The move has drawn considerable criticism from readers, some of whom claim the article has put those named in danger, as they could expose law enforcement officials who are licensed to own guns.
What do you think?
Should the Journal News have published that information if it is public? Or has this compromised the privacy and safety of those individuals who are licensed to own guns?
Do you want to know who owns a gun in your town?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Tim from the Bog
11:52 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Absolutely not.
LCT
8:05 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Agree 100% Tim. Legal gun owners should not be treated like sex offenders (in MA Level 1 offenders names are kept 'private' btw). It's no one's business if I own a gun. The police already have this info due to registration/licensing requirements in MA. I don't want to come home & find I've been robbed by someone looking to steal a gun. How about, publish the names & addresses of all arrested for OWI or domestic abuse? What's next to be considered "public"?
And before some busybody says much info is already available via the interent, is it necessary for a news outlet to make said info that much easier to locate? Kudoos to whoever got back at newspaper by publishing names/addresses of editor, etc.
Margaret Carroll-Bergman
11:56 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Why so definite?
LCT
8:08 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Here's one big reason:
from MGL (Mass General Laws):
" Chapter 66, Section 10: The executive director of the criminal history systems board, the criminal history systems board and its agents, servants, and attorneys including the keeper of the records of the firearms records bureau of said department, or any licensing authority, as defined by chapter one hundred and forty shall not disclose any records divulging or tending to divulge the names and addresses of persons who own or possess firearms, rifles, shotguns, machine guns and ammunition therefor, as defined in said chapter one hundred and forty and names and addresses of persons licensed to carry and/or possess the same to any person, firm, corporation, entity or agency except criminal justice agencies as defined in chapter six and except to the extent such information relates solely to the person making the request and is necessary to the official interests of the entity making the request."
Sean H
12:31 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
I think it is shortsighted by the paper and actually puts the neighbors of those listed in danger as potential target of robberies etc.
John
1:03 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
The new 21st century version of keeping up with the Jones...
Brought to you by your local left wing jerks.
Michael Muggeridge
2:40 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
It will assist the bad guys in planning their b&es (they can more easily prey upon the disarmed). Therefore by Left "logic" it helps the downtrodden burglars promote a more just distribution of wealth.
Patrick
8:10 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Don't be an ass. I'm a "liberal" and a gun owner and that editor is a moron. This isn't a liberal plot, it's a couple of stupid losers at a crappy newspaper.
Orson Wallace
3:08 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
I don't agree with their information being public, but to say the rate of b and e's going up is shortsighted. I know a number of people who own guns, and could easily disarm them, and would much rather run into them than other people who might beat you to a pulp if you break into their homes. A gun doesn't make someone tougher or more dangerous.
Margaret Carroll-Bergman
8:41 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Please do not use offensive or objectionable language or your post will be deleted.
LCT
7:02 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Margaret,
A point of clarification please. I find no objectional or offensive language in the post by Orson. So I don't violate the rules inadvertently in the future can you please explain.
robber
3:29 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Only so i know who to rob and who to stay away from!
Margaret Carroll-Bergman
7:46 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
It wasn't Orson's comment, but a series of comments that contained objectionable language by another poster, near Orson that was deleted. Apologies to Orson!
LCT
2:40 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thank you Margaret. Sorry I mis-read the post.
Arthur Dent
3:42 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Stay away from my loot robber! This is my turf!
Michelle D
7:53 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Absolutely Not!
sean
9:00 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
hahaha!!! CNN is reporting a blogger just posted the names and addresses of all staffers that work at the paper which posted the info on all gun owners! touche
John
9:08 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Publish the names of people holding gun licenses alongside the names of those illegal aliens holding EBT cards from the state, or is that a problem?
Matt
11:34 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
So whats wrong with putting the names of the people that own guns? If they haven't done anything wrong what are they worried about. Also its really not to hard to find info about a person anyway.
Patrick
11:59 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
Good point, Matt. We should also publish the names and addresses of gays, jews and everyone who's ever bought an indie record.
What's the harm?
Arthur Dent
12:00 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Gun loonies..America's cancer.
Margaret Carroll-Bergman
5:48 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
Please keep on topic.
ANNA
11:17 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
It would make more sense to publish the names of those who don't own guns according to the logic of this article.