# Newspaper Posts Gun Owners' Names and Addresses **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 25, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124 "2012-12-25T17:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/1 "2012-12-25T17:16:13Z")
[A New York newspaper is under criticism for publishing the names and addresses of local gun owners on Monday.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/25/new-york-journal-news-gun-owners-westchester-rockland-counties_n_2362530.html) > [@](#): > > In a piece titled, “The gun owner next door: What you don’t know about the weapons in your neighborhood,” the Journal News requested the names and adresses of local residents who are licensed to own handguns… > > The article includes an interactive map of Westchester and Rockland counties that allows readers to view those who have a license to own handguns around them. > > … > > The paper told ABC that its readers “are understandably interested to know about guns in their neighborhoods,” after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn. Dick move, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/2 "2012-12-25T17:20:59Z")
Completely a dick move. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/3 "2012-12-25T17:24:57Z")
And people wonder why gun owners so strongly fight registration? This kind of outrage is exactly why. I’d guess 70% of Americans own a gun of some kind. Even if its a dusty relic they inherited from grandad. Treating gun owners like criminals on a map makes me sick. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/4 "2012-12-25T17:25:16Z")
A dick move toward whom? Now the bad guys will know which homes to avoid and which ones will be easier prey. It seems like more of a dick move toward the peaceful non-gunowners. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/5 "2012-12-25T17:27:39Z")
Maybe they just want to invite their gun-toting neighbors to a meet-and-greet. It’s only a “dick move” if anti-gun folks aren’t the gentle, inclusive, peace-loving people most of them purport to be, right? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/6 "2012-12-25T17:33:47Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > A dick move toward whom? Now the bad guys will know which homes to avoid and which ones will be easier prey. It seems like more of a dick move toward the peaceful non-gunowners. The flip side is that criminals now know which homes have guns. They will burglarize the homes (looking for guns) when the homeowners are gone. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/7 "2012-12-25T20:07:24Z")
I support registration and that IS a dick move. I’m astounded that the newspaper did not pause before publishing names and addresses of private individuals. And that the NY Legislature neglected to enact in the law that the registration information would NOT be for casual general public dissemination. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/8 "2012-12-25T20:24:57Z")
I’m a non-gun-owner and a Canadian, who doesn’t particularly like guns, but I think it’s stupid of the paper to publish names and addresses of people for owning guns, or even for just about any other reason. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/9 "2012-12-25T20:29:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > And people wonder why gun owners so strongly fight registration? > > This kind of outrage is exactly why. No it isn’t. That said, this looks unethical, paranoid, and stupid. > [@](#): > > I’d guess 70% of Americans own a gun of some kind. I think you’re off by about double. It’s around 33%, or a little under 50% of households. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/10 "2012-12-25T20:34:32Z")
Something that should not have been done. But certainly not the first time something like this was done. At least (as far as I can tell) the names and addresses weren’t there alongside accusations of “crimes against humanity” as were used with the publication of the the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of abortion providers ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/11 "2012-12-25T20:35:23Z")
Is that information supposed to be confidential? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/12 "2012-12-25T21:11:22Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The flip side is that criminals now know which homes have guns. They will burglarize the homes (looking for guns) when the homeowners are gone. This is really the most appalling reason. Do they want to list the FMV of the firearms in the house as well? Safe combos? > [@OldGuy](#): > > Something that should not have been done. But certainly not the first time something like this was done. At least (as far as I can tell) the names and addresses weren’t there alongside accusations of “crimes against humanity” as were used with the publication of the the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of abortion providers No idea what situation you’re talking about (link?). But I’d imagine I could find most of those people with a Google search. As far as I know, there is no gun owner search. A lot of people who oppose registration say it’s because they government knows who to confiscate now. But a more mundane but no less messed reason is stuff like this. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/13 "2012-12-25T22:52:08Z")
What was the rationale behind printing the names? Last time something like this was done it turned out a lot of anti-gun liberals owned guns or had concealed carry permits. Part the second, is the information confidential or readily available? And criminals wouldn’t avoid a house with guns they would likely want to rob it (after casing the home first) to get said gun. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/14 "2012-12-25T23:01:10Z")
One of the gunowners ought to sue the newspaper for revealing information that is completely private. Of course, if the suit is then lost, it would turn out that the newspaper was operating within the law. I predict no lawsuit will be filed. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/15 "2012-12-25T23:23:29Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > One of the gunowners ought to sue the newspaper for revealing information that is completely private. Except it’s not completely private. Or even remotely private. It was released by the government via the FOIA. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/16 "2012-12-26T00:11:05Z")
Nitpick: that’s New York State’s **[Freedom of Information Law](http://www.oms.nysed.gov/foil/)** (FOIL). FOIA is a Federal law, and the US government cannot do the same because it does not keep a list of people who own handguns because they do not require registration. Not sure if NICS requests are saved. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/17 "2012-12-26T00:28:23Z")
So, they put un-registered people in harm’s way because the crooks know they shouldn’t have any guns to defend themselves with, and they put registered people in harm’s way because the crooks are going to break into their houses and steal their guns. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/18 "2012-12-26T00:50:42Z")
Apparently it’s legal. Clearly they are douche bags who have potentially put people in harms way. No excuse, no defense. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/19 "2012-12-26T01:45:26Z")
What benefit did they perceive other than increased circulation? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124/20 "2012-12-26T01:52:49Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > What benefit did they perceive other than increased circulation? That’s all they were looking for (the editors at least). The writer might have been self-righteous and delusional enough to believe they were doing “good” but the bottom line is circulation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-posts-gun-owners-names-and-addresses/645124.md?page=2)