Journal News To List More Gun Permit Holders After Uproar

Journal News to List More Gun Permit Holders After Uproar

Over the years there have been countless times when one must call into question the ethical practices of journalism.  I find myself at that point yet again.  In the wake of the massacre in Newtown, CT it seems to me that there are those journalists who have made the choice to capitalize on the blended emotions of both fear and anger.  The unfortunate result of such action will do nothing to assist in the ability of proponents and opponents to actually engage in a productive discourse for the purpose of finding a workable solution.

The publication 'Journal News' with two offices located in Westchester, New York and Bronx, New York has deemed it prudent to publish the names and addresses of those citizens that have gun permits.  A decision that I for one can only see as a grave mistake.  Primarily because this tactic falls squarely in the category of what I call 'exacting a pound of flesh in the name of justice' verses serving any real purpose.  The obvious misconception in this ideology is that these permits are for hand guns only as there are currently no requirements for a permit when it comes to a rifle of any kind.  Beyond the breech of privacy, the reality of this situation is that publishing this information puts many other innocent people at risk.

Modern media is no longer restricted to the printed form or available through your favorite local news station.  In the face of a growing number of news outlets, many of these sources have placed a much higher value on ratings and circulation verses accuracy and the quality of the content, ethical practices have long since fallen by the wayside.  All of this is further complicated by the far reaching effects of the availability of the internet and the growing use of social media.

Law enforcement makes no effort to hide the fact that they use information obtained through social media networks such as Facebook in the process of investigating criminal activity.  Although accomplished anonymously, the criminal element is quite prolific at collecting and using the same sources and information.

Publishing the names and addresses of those who have legally obtained permits for hand guns will accomplish one of two things and neither will be beneficial to the reasoning behind the action.  Guns are relatively easy to fence with a decent profit which will result in yet another weapon entering the abyss of non-registered, untraceable weapons out on the streets.  The second scenario is simply that burglars now know which house has a lower probability of containing weapons, which is appealing to the small time burglar who is only interested in the high dollar televisions, stereos, computers, etc. and wants no confrontation with an armed homeowner.

Once considered the battle cry of journalists everywhere, the 'right to know' has become a weapon against the 'right to privacy' by supporters of gun control.  In this same context, freedom of speech has degenerated to the choice between ethics and ratings when it comes to the media.

About Guns
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Adam Lanza's Motive: Did Fear Of Being Committed Lead To Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting? (UPDATE)

You make far too many assumptions. Yes, I would love to have a wooden desk as my personal preference in décor is Old World/Mediterranean. I have a simple metal reject from the Army Surplus Store that’s sitting in an equally plain no frills office, it happens that way when you’re on a limited budget. Interestingly enough I did state in my post that my office was in a separate building from my house because it is not a home office or even a home based business, should have elaborated I guess. My office is located downtown, to get to my desk they would have to get through a set of security doors, find my office among seven others, then get through that door before they even got to the desk to break into it. They would have to do all of that before the police arrived since the silent alarm would have notified them as soon as they broke into the building. Yep, you’re right it doesn’t take a genius just an idiot.
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Obama: Shooting Should Lead To More Action 'Regardless Of The Politics'

Thank you for your brilliant deduction Einstein. Where in my post did I advocate taking the guns away from private citizens? Both sides on this issue must work together to reach a solution that is in the best interest of the community/nation as a whole. This means not going from one extreme to the other. I am advocating that stricter legislation be put in place that governs the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines regardless of the weapon. Posting guards with machine guns at the schools will not be in the best interest of the emotional well-being of our children.



I have already advocated that as a taxpayer within my own community I am willing to pay higher taxes for the purpose of installing more sensitive screening/scanning equipment at the entrances of the schools. This includes the hiring of plain clothed armed trained security and to have a plan in place that is fully understood by the entire school staff. Any person attempting to enter the school should be required to prove that they have a valid reason for being there and must show proof of that that validity.
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Obama: Shooting Should Lead To More Action 'Regardless Of The Politics'

Thank you for the fave and I agree with the flaw. Personally I should not have added the ‘[or any public building]’ part to the comment as well. The Oklahoma City Bombing was and still is a very tragic event that is unfortunately still surrounded by conspiracy theories, which is not to say that I view it any less tragic today than when it first happened.



My commentary on this article/issue is primarily concerned with what measures we as a society can take without waiting on the federal government to get through the bureaucracy of special interests groups such as the NRA and associated groups.



Personally I do not want to see our schools turned into prison-like institutions because it will inhibit an environment conducive to the encouragement of the growth of the imagination and learning. But if keeping them safe means that we pay for the installation of tougher, more sensitive metal detectors at all entrances, severely limit public access to the front door after a specific time, have plain clothed armed security at the doors and on the grounds will accomplish this them I’m all for it.
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Gun Advocate On Connecticut Shooting: Armed Teachers Could Have Minimized Tragedy (VIDEO)

No Mr. Dulan arming the teachers not the answer. I am a gun advocate but I am also an advocate for the protection and preservation of human life. I own a number of guns but none of them would even remotely qualify as an assault weapon, I personally see no need for the average citizen to possess these types of weapons. If there are to be more weapons on school grounds let them be in the hands of trained security. My personal opinion is that rather than wait for Washington and all the Lobbyists to get their act together, we need to do something now. As a taxpayer I would vote to help fund additional security measures at our schools to prevent people who intend to do harm from even being able to enter the buildings.
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Ron Johnson: High-Capacity Magazines Are A Constitutional Right (VIDEO)

With all due respect to your position, we do not live in a world where the largest threat is an armed invasion of ground troops from another country such as existed at the time the various amendments were written and thus installed as our current Bill of Rights. We live in a world where this threat can actually be our neighbor, all because he or she perceived a threat based on some moronic ideology that we just might not believe exactly the way that they do.



Personally I don’t want the ‘standing army’ coming into my town with any form of control in mind. I don’t even want the National Guard of this State doing the same. I don’t want them requisitioning my land as an encampment all because they have some stamp of approval from some level of government.



I live on 40 acres in a very rural community where law enforcement is so shorthanded that getting assistance can be a hit or miss situation depending on what is going on in the county. Out here we simply batten down the hatches when the sun goes down and stay alert. We do this because of the close proximity of two vocal unsanctioned and heavily armed private militia groups that nobody seems to be able to do anything about because so far they haven’t broken any laws.
About Aurora Shooting
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Ron Johnson: High-Capacity Magazines Are A Constitutional Right (VIDEO)

Even as a gun advocate I don’t feel that individual citizens actually need a magazine that contains 100 rounds. I also do not believe that tightening gun control will make a marked difference in who is able to obtain weapons of any kind. Thousands, if not more, illegal weapons are shipped into this country and are confiscated yearly by the ATF. Yet there are thousands more that make it into the hands of both criminals as well as those who have been caught in the red tape of gun laws and deemed not authorized to purchase a weapon.



When crimes are committed with an illegally purchased weapon, the ability of law enforcement to trace it and ultimately locate the offender is severely hampered, whereas weapons that were purchased legally at least do provide a more feasible starting point.



While my household has four weapons, one handgun each, a rifle and a shotgun, there are so many others who hide what can only be described as an arsenal of weapons and ammunition. These arsenals include high powered weapons that go well beyond the need for hunting purposes.
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