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The Most Irresponsible Piece of “Journalism” I Have Ever Seen
Much was made by the left about the “outing” of Valerie Plame and the danger it put her in. Scooter Libby was demonized, scapegoated and eventually jailed.
Now the left-wing rag, Gannett, has published the names and addresses of all the law abiding citizens in Rockland and Westchester counties (there are also addresses listed as far away as Niagra Falls, NY) in an attempt to demonize them in their communities as “people who should be watched.”
Has the left thought of the danger they have put these law abiding citizens in?
I called 3 people at random that were listed on this interactive map. The first gentleman was Steve Z., from Connecticut. And I say gentleman because that is exactly what he was. He was an even-tempered man who chose his words carefully and thoughtfully. I could hear his family enjoying themselves in the background as I interviewed him. Steve wanted to see the map for himself before he commented. I gave him a couple of days and called back. Steve told me he had called the paper to lodge a complaint. He also had this insight:
“I clicked on the map out of curiosity. I stumbled upon my attorney and a few area police officers.”
The police do not usually publish their names and addresses, for obvious reasons. Gannett has broken that firewall, for no other reason than a political agenda.
My second call was to a Norm M. in Westchester County. He, too, had no idea that his name and address was published. He also was a complete gentleman. Although he was disappointed that his information was published he, too, acknowledged that this was their right, albeit irresponsible. Norm also cited that his gun permit is in complete compliance with the law and that Gannett was attempting to “point fingers and capitalize on the building media hype that law abiding citizens are the problem.”
My last call legitimized Steve Z’s point. I spoke with a D.J. in Westchester County who had just heard about this story on ABC News and wondered if she was on the list. My call confirmed what she feared. D.J. is a retired police detective and is very concerned that the list could be used by disgruntled felons looking to settle a score. She’s taken great pains to keep her whereabouts hidden and it was all undone by Gannett, and for no good reason. Ironically, D.J. counts herself as someone who doesn’t believe citizens should have access to military grade weapons, but sees no problem at all with citizens “arming themselves to protect themselves and their domicile.”
I hope this story doesn’t go away. I hope Gannett is sanctioned in some meaningful way. I hope the customers they are insulting, and endangering, cancel their subscriptions.
Gannett cites iOwnTheWorld as being largely responsible for the spread of this story.






RWF
December 26th, 2012
That is pretty interesting, Hat. Did you get any to consent to your quick minute interview by chance?
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Maybe next week they’ll identify all the Jews.
Or Christians.
Or non-GM auto owners.
Or registered Republicans.
grayscape
December 26th, 2012
I’d like to see someone publish the taxes of the editors at Gannett so everybody could see they are greedy compassionless fucks who give zero charity like the greedy compassionless Vice President.
BigFurHat
December 26th, 2012
RWF,
I didn’t ask for an audio interview from anyone, and I promised I wouldn’t use their names.
I just wanted to confirm that the map was current and accurate. It was.
I was struck at how they all independently mentioned something about being big rule of law proponents.
Just three random calls connected me with people who I wish lived next door to me.
MaryfromMarin
December 26th, 2012
“Gannett cites iOwnTheWorld as being largely responsible for the spread of this story.”
Oh, I see. As long as it was only in their paper, it was totally acceptable to publish this? It’s only a problem now, because someone blew the whistle? Lame-brainedness has reached a new low.
This is the sort of irresponsibility that gets people targeted, threatened, and killed. Gannett should be sued up one side and down the other for putting countless people’s lives in danger.
How about publishing the names and addresses of women who have gotten abortions? Would that be okay with Gannett, too? I’d really like to hear them explain the difference.
Weldor
December 26th, 2012
There are doubtless some deep pockets there.
Lawsuit time.
Bad Brad
December 26th, 2012
Net result, like everyone else has eluded to, those homes will probably be a lot safer then the ones not on the list.
Two things. Publish the names and addresses of the morons that decided this was a good idea. Also, I read their publisher was on the list, but scrubbed. Be pretty cool if that could be proven.
Jethro
December 26th, 2012
BFH
You should be proud you are in the spearhead of the blogosphere momentum that is exposing the lamestream media for what the are – statist propagandists.
Another site has posted the names and addresses of the reporter, editors and president of the paper that chose to publish the list.
CrustyB
December 26th, 2012
Just one more reason I never renewed my FOID and get my guns the old fashioned way; word of mouth.
Moe Tom
December 26th, 2012
BFH I am listed along with some of my neighbors. As you well know “the Journal News”is a liberal rag.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Even though gun rights and ownership are in the spotlight right now, this is bigger than that alone. It’s also about privacy, and the ability of the media to single out and demonize any group while hiding behind a corrupted interpretation of the First Amendment.
Good job bfh.
RosalindJ
December 26th, 2012
Despicable. This has already begun to backfire (pardon the pun) on them in ways the publisher hadn’t thought of.
BTW, http://www.ammoland.com/2012/12/24/batfe-taking-comments-on-a-pending-ban-ammo/#axzz2GDS6GJWt
Menderman
December 26th, 2012
Great journalism Fur! I am proud and impressed!
Now, If I were not on the list, I’d go get a permit and call Gannet and demand they run an article for just for me, adding me to the list. I would brag that I have an arsenal of weapons, and I am itching to test them on any scumbag willing to be a target…ya know, to see if my training was as good as I thought. Who will be the first evil bastard to test me?
Ann B gives directons to her house to those that threaten her and to date nobody has knocked on her door to fulfil their threat…wonder why?
To the evil ones…yes I am armed…got a problem with that? I suggest you call before you come knocking on my door to address your complaints.
Name Redacted™
December 26th, 2012
A few years ago I stumbled across a similar interactive map showing the names and dollar amounts of campaign contributions, nationwide. It was on Huff Poo, which is why it was totally accidental that I should come across it. I found it terribly depressing, in how vulnerable it could make people, how it could make enemies of neighbors, and in how many idiots donated to Obama.
Technology and the availability of information is going to be the end of civil society. It is just too easy to “out” people, record what people say without their knowing, and take images and videos of people in any number of compromising situations, and throw it out on the Web to all the wolves. It was a little funny when it was just celebrities this was happening to, but now it is being used to hurt so many people in so many ways, and you just know it’s people on the right who are going to get the most hurt by violent crazy lefties.
Gracie
December 26th, 2012
We need to make this backfire on these leftards. This points out to all criminals just who to rob – the ones with NO PROTECTION – like grandma and ol’ Aunt Bea.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Now let’s see a list of everyone on government handouts.
Millertime
December 26th, 2012
Waiting for the contact info for all Gannett executives and employees to be published.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
What about a list of Volt owners?
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
What about the names and addresses of everyone in the CPUSA?
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
A list of full tax data on every elected federal official?
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Whoops! “Elected” doesn’t always apply to the Obama Administration, does it? Correct that last one to “every federal official”.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
I demand full personal details of every member of the NBPP in next Sunday’s paper.
Maudie N Mandeville
December 26th, 2012
As usual the comments are more informative than the article itself. They list FB page photographs of the editor and her children, her home address, phone #, description of her car, etc.
Her FB page has been deleted and phone disemboweled. I’ll bet she’s not as smug as she was when she first came up with idea to publish the registered gun owners. I hope she realizes that she and her family are now a target of thugs and criminals who know she’s defenseless…and proud of it.
Bad Brad
December 26th, 2012
How about a list of Felons, Child Molesters, etc, and overlay the map of gun owners. That might be enlightening.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Shouldn’t the names, race, grades, and infraction history of every public school student be printed in the paper weekly, like the arrest reports?
Jerry Manderin
December 26th, 2012
I want Obama’s medical records published. College transcripts released. And his black book from his bath house days in Cheekago.
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
Someone should wait a week or two then write an article on how many of the paper’s employees have applied for CCW. Complete with addresses and home phone numbers, of course.
Dagny
December 26th, 2012
Good job, BFH. You’re more than a blogger; keeping in touch with Barnhardt; calling those folks; this is excellent.
jinks
December 26th, 2012
Im still confused. Is this a map of where the best area in that county is to be a criminal and not get shot? Or is it a map for criminals to find out what homes to stake out to steal guns?
Blink
December 26th, 2012
@jinks – exactly my thoughts too. The addresses listed may be places to avoid robbing when someone is home, but could become targets to be staked out and robbed when no one is home for the firearms to arm the criminals.
MaryfromMarin
December 26th, 2012
@Xavier–
“What about a list of Volt owners?” You don’t need a list for that. Just look for burned-out garages and scorch marks in driveways.
jinks
December 26th, 2012
Unfotunatly, the highest concentration of legal gun owners in certain portions of this map more than likely have the highest crime rates also. thats why people feel they need to protect themselves.
Claudia
December 26th, 2012
“Gannett cites iOwnTheWorld as being largely responsible for the spread of this story.”
Wow, I’m proud we make a difference. Now sit on it and spin, proggies.
Moe Tom
December 26th, 2012
jinks? duh? WTF?
Xavier
December 26th, 2012
I’ve got it! A list of homosexuals! Everyone who’s had an abortion! Convicted illegal drug users! Atheists!!!
Well if reductio ad absurdum is good enough for Scalia it’s good enough for me.
jinks
December 26th, 2012
Moe Tom. I made that comment in regards to Bad Brad’s thought about having an overlay of criminals and gun owners. Just making the point that the most criminals would be in the same areas. Sorry Moe just thinking out loud.
Xavier
December 27th, 2012
A list of union members. Everyone with negro blood, even a single drop. Utility bill amounts. Full arrest records. Religious affiliation. Dates of annual vacation. Children’s names and schools.
iamthegps
December 27th, 2012
I would absolutely ”love” it if someone came to Oklahoma and tried to do that… Every single house would marked about six times. There’s a reason people try not to mess with us.
TheFineReport.com
December 27th, 2012
Inadvertently, Gannett helped publish the names of people WITHOUT guns to protect themselves.
Felons throughout New York send their thanks. In fact, many have asked for a reprint of the map to use in planning their home invasion robberies.
Aunt Liz
December 27th, 2012
Huff Po reports that a guy did publish the names and addresses of those involved with the rag:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/26/journalists-addresses-posted-google-maps-gun/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D249935
But in case they disable the link to the blog For What It’s Worth here you are:
http://christopherfountain.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/sauce-for-the-goose/
Team America
December 27th, 2012
@Moe Tom – be safe. (Late to the party)
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