Outrage after NY paper publishes names of gun permit holders

[boroxc]

The issue came up in Texas a few years ago and the State, wisely, declared CHL holder info non public information.

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two_bit-score that is exactly the a part of the problem.... State by state regulations! Its a patchwork system and filled with gaps! Some may not like it, but I live in NY and we have better laws than most I feel when it comes to this issue. Are they perfect **** NO! But they are better. NYC has the lowest homicide rate of any large city in the US! BTW I'm 3 miles form PA and I'll take our laws over theirs ANY DAY!

A while ago I heard a DEA agent speak to a group of high school students and say this.... "There are a group of students who are never going to use drugs regardless of what I say. I'm not here to speak to you! There are a group of students here who will do drugs regardless of what I say. I'm not here to speak to you! However there are some here who are thinking about it. Can the rest of you please not disturb them while I speak!" I see our current discussion going this way. Some, like myself have NOTHING against most gun owners. However there is also a side of this discussion which does not want to address the GUN itself!

And we need to address the other two sides of this stool. Mental health and gun ownership. To simply state that its it only a criminal problem is OVER SIMPLISTIC! To the best of my knowledge there is no such thing in the US as an illegally manufactured gun. They were manufactured legally and ended up in the wrong hands! That is what we need to stop! And mental health we as a nation need to understand that if we truly value our society its not by protecting health care privacy or guns! America is more than either one of these!

Lets all be respectful!

 

[RadarTech]

I think First Amendment rights end when it puts others in danger. I am not saying this did but it has potential.

I agree... Imagine the stupid criminal who tries to break in and steal something from a known gun owner..
I'm sure he will sue... Kind of like the guy who fell through the sky light in Texas trying to break in to that house...

 

[gsganzer]

I understand your point but am still a little perplexed as to why this information would be harmful to the individual. Why would it mark anyone as more vulnerable or attractive to a criminal than say if they drove a fancy car and wore expensive clothes? I do appreciate the privacy point but am not clear other than just the loss of privacy that there is additional harm.

It's the equivalent of posting a list of those that have added jewelry riders to their insurance policies. Don't you think a criminal would love to have that list?

 

[PossumHound]

I suspect those supporting publishing of this list are anti-gun believers; that's the only reason I can see for publishing a list of citizens who are obeying the law. I just don't get the anti-gun crowds' position. There are far more deaths every year from medical misadventure (98,000) than from guns ( 31,000):

Preventable medical errors: Preventable Medical Errors

Gun deaths: FASTSTATS - Injuries

Most of those gun deaths are by true criminals - very few by licensed firearm owners and virtual nil by CCW permit holders.

I am as appalled as anyone by the Sandy Hook tragedy, but what about all the deaths of children under 16 in Chicago each year: In Newtown’s shadow, Chicago’s bleak gun toll goes on ?

That last link illustrates that most of the deaths are gang related or committed in the act of committing another felony. Did prohibiting alcohol prevent it's use? No. Do anti-drug laws prevent drug use? No. Do anti-robbery laws prevent bank robberies? No. To continue the same behavior (prohibition of any act) after repeated demonstrations that such prohibition will not be universally obeyed (anti- alcohol, anti-drug) as suggested by the anti-gunners is just stupid.


PH

 

[aczlan]

Is this just a NY thing? I thought you only had to have a permit for concealed weapons.

Its a NYC thing. No permit needed in the rest of the state.

Aaron Z

 

[daugen]

It's the equivalent of posting a list of those that have added jewelry riders to their insurance policies. Don't you think a criminal would love to have that list?

just living in a certain neighborhood gives an indication to wealth, and potential possessions, and now Google Earth will let you zoom into everyone's back yard.
So your concern over making things worse is right on. Luckily...as a retired insurance guy, jewelry rider lists are private records, not public records.
Anyone who released them, and only the insuring company is likely to have useful details, would be immediately criminally and civilly liable for the fallout.
Of course even knowing that isn't likely to stop all occurrences.

I'm picturing a Hollywood film starring some likable crook in an insurance company that copies those jewelry riders though.
And sells them for a tidy sum.
Probably art work also.
And lastly, who sinks deeply into a moral cesspool and starts a tractor theft ring. Oh dear.
And of course finally gets discovered. Busted by the man who drives off on a tractor and gives a modest wave.

 

[murphy1244]

So? What happened then? Is there a story there or not?

I write a column for a local newspaper, my name and email address are on each issue. My name is in my TBN profile, and the town where I live. I am listed in the local phone book. So far, no one has done or said anything to me that would cause the least bit of worry, whether they agree or disagree. I do worry some about retiredmgn who lives in the next town over.

Are you creating fear where none should exist? Sure, tomorrow I could be slain by some crazed person, but the chances that that happens because they know where I live are remote. It is much more likely that they are desperate for drugs, or the voices in their head told them to turn up my driveway for some reason that no sane person can comprehend.

They no longer print them. there's your scoop.

 

[sweettractors]

The way we are headed, I would almost be willing to bet that your medical records/history will be available to about anyone that can show the slightest need, within the next 4 years. Ken Sweet

 

[dmccarty]

One of our local news outlets has a link showing the salaries of all university employees in NC. While this is public information, I don't think it needs to be made so easily available, it just amounts to allowing people to snoop on their neighbors. Of course, it drives traffic to the newspaper website so they make money allowing people to snoop on the people they know. Good thing TSA does not keep photographic scans of people, otherwise these websites would show the images as well.

Later,
Dan

 

[PHIL850]

FYI, Gun permitting status is not open to the freedom of information act in the state of MA. That is
the only portion of the gun laws I can agree with.