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gunowners.jpg
It's a public record. The Journal News says neighbors have a right to know in case they feel insecure about living next to a gun owner. (Screen grab of the Journal News map)

Gun owners - outed in New York!

BY Dave Ross  on December 27, 2012 @ 7:36 am (Updated: 7:51 am - 12/27/12 )

There it is - on the website of the Journal News, which covers New York's Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland Counties. An interactive map with red dots, which you can click on to see the names of people with gun permits and where they live. Not the number and types of weapons, just that they have a permit.

It's a public record. The paper says neighbors have a right to know in case they feel insecure about living next to a gun owner.

I checked out a gun owner I know in Westchester, Sure enough - she has a permit. Which makes sense because I know her to be a law-abiding citizen.

That's the bottom line here - this is a map of law obeyers, not law breakers. Now - if I knew that a neighbor had guns, and saw there was NO red dot indicating a permit, that's what would worry me.

The newspaper's gotten flak from people worried that outing gun owners like this will just help bad guys steal guns. Maybe - if the bad guy could be sure the owner wasn't home. But it seems to me a crook would want to avoid the homes with the red dots, right?

As for how this might affect our current gun debate: When you look at the map of Westchester (where I grew up, by the way) and you see those 16,000 dots in just the one county - you realize gun confiscation is not going to happen. What you DO hope is that under the dot is a responsible gun owner who's been trained, who has a safe, and is in a good mood today.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (82)


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  • Snout wrote...
    They can just read the sign on the door
    December 27, 2012 8:17 am
    "There is nothing in this house that is worth your life" and burgle the house with the Obama/Biden yard sign next door instead.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    Well....the media has successfully used their amendment like an armed violent assailant
    December 27, 2012 8:27 am
    Dave and the media ilk are much worse then anyone who legally owns a weapon. They shoot off their mouth or their presses everytime they feel justified regardless of damage done. I'm thinking we need to create a interactive map with red dots all over the media types that fire rounds off with total disregard of the public.
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  • low_tech wrote...
    Pins on a map is one thing ...
    December 27, 2012 8:29 am
    Personal information, names, and addresses another. How bout we out Dave Ross on a map ... name, address, let's even go further. Phone numbers, back ground checks, financial information, etc ... Where does it stop Dave?
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Dave Ross lives on Mercer Island. Public Assessor records show.........
    December 27, 2012 8:44 am
    One David Ross in King County with likely ownership on Mercer Island, a 1982 3980sf 2 story home (plus basement) with 2012 assessed value of $842,000.

    This is PROBABLY Dave's house BUT as I can not be 100% sure AND I chose NOT to out Mr. Ross, I'm not showing the address here. ... Not everyone need be as disregarding of privacy as the Journal News.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    BY THE WAY - ther's a Luke Burbank with a house in Mount Baker (I'll not give it's address either)
    December 27, 2012 9:34 am
    Purchased 10/2008 (nice timing, Luke) @ 567,500 but the 2012 assessed value is only $465,000.

    Amazing what all can be found in public records. Even your mortgage history, and that's just from property records. ... The sanctimonious left ought be careful 'exposing' gun owners and others they seek to demonize. Lest a whole lot of THEIR private data be exposed. ... Arrest records, just about anything.

    Of course, 'if you have nothing to hide...... ' . ..

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Spectacular, Ron. Is there some type of new right wing math where
    December 27, 2012 10:38 am
    two wrongs make a right? Some of your buddies here have called Dave a "fascist jerk", etc, for simply mentioning a newspaper back east that published material that is in the public record. When you do (just about) the same, is it suddenly OK because you're not a liberal? Why are the voices that called Dave a "fascist jerk" silent in response to your equally tasteless and invasive tactic?

    It was wrong and stupid for the newspaper to print the names of the CPL holders. But it wasn't illegal. It was wrong and stupid of you to "suggest" what Luke and Dave paid for their houses, what they're worth today, etc. But, it wasn't illegal.

    If you don't like what the newspaper did, or the fact that Dave reported and commented on the newspaper's actions, don't do it yourself.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Uh, Chuck. IF you've noticed I DID NOT show Dave's or Luke's addresses.
    December 27, 2012 11:38 am
    Beyond that, it's pretty well known in which neighborhoods they live. And assessed values (and purchase prices) ARE public record. ... That's actually very minimal information vs what is publicly available.

    My point was to imply what all IS available on public record by providing a minimal but also stating that there is so much more readily available. And how dangerous it might be with full disclosure - by that Journal OR by Dave Ross (he did include the link, so any of us could find every gun address). A lot easier than finding Mt. Ross's or Mr. Burbank's home address.

    BTW, I've no idea if 'Chuck Gould' is your true name or an on line name. But 'Ron Prevost' is real and anyone can find me any time they want to. .... Also, BTW, perhaps you call anyone tending to the left YOUR 'buddy', but please do not assign anyone to me.

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Ron, the addresses were missing....but the financial details of their
    December 27, 2012 12:42 pm
    purchase prices and estimated current values were not.

    Just so I get these double standards straight, it's OK to out Dave and Luke because you withheld *some* of the information in public records- but Dave and Luke should be condemned merely for reporting on and commenting about a publication on the east coast that published a public records list of the names and addresses of CPL holders? Is that pretty much how the double standard is working here?

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Chuck, IF you go to the Journal News link, EVERY, repeat EVERY gun owner address is available.
    December 27, 2012 1:23 pm
    And Dave Ross provided that. ... Too specific.

    What I provided was just enough info to confirm that those properties were most likely Dave's and Luke's. ... Sorry, I couldn't resist a dig at Luke, BUT by providing the link, Dave became just as culpable as the Journal News.

    The double standard is that you are NOT condemning Dave's post, which included gun owner names AND addresses. ... Or is that OKay because he tends to the left ?

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  • Brian Oblivion wrote...
    I carry a gun
    December 27, 2012 9:36 am
    because a cop is too heavy....also because arrogant, self loathing fascist liberals like the author of this garbage don't want me to have one. Molon Labe.
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  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Privacy is just as important as any other liberty we possess!
    December 27, 2012 9:38 am
    How would it look or feel if someone published the list of everyone on a community who has a oxycodone perscription? How safe would they feel then Dave? How about if we publish a list of every citizen who buys gold? Or if the SHES shooter's mental disability is discovered to be the true cause of what he did and a list of every person afflicted with the same disabilty is published "in the interest of public safety?" Destroying a law abiding citizens right to privacy is VERY, VERY BAD JUJU!
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  • Hayduke wrote...
    I'm all for reasonable gun regulation, but this gives me pause.
    December 27, 2012 9:41 am
    I'm just not comfortable with it. As long as guns are legal, I don't see why gun owners should be outed like this.

    On a side note, I recall a story where abortion seekers were outed, just like these gun owners.

    So how about it, gun owners? Can you be intellectually consistent as well?

    http://www.yalelawjournal.org/the-yale-law-journal/note/privacy-rights-and-abortion-outing:-a-proposal-for-using-common%11law-torts-to-protect-abortion-patients-and-staff/

    http://www.salon.com/2009/10/07/okla_abortion/

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  • AtheisticallyYours wrote...
    Point exactly?
    December 27, 2012 10:13 am
    So, is the objective of this to "out" who has a PERMIT to get a gun, has a gun itself, or lawfully uses/maintains a gun? People following the law with a gun, or is it MORE THEN ONE? Now, perhaps if those with the guns had their guns IDENTIFIED-those with handguns, those with assault rifles, etc., THAT would be a much more interesting "outing"!
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    Brian Oblivioun
    December 27, 2012 10:18 am
    Loved the post... have to put that one away and use it someday..
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  • Hot Hansel wrote...
    #1 Weapon used in homicides...
    December 27, 2012 10:21 am
    The FBI lists the baseball bat as the #1 weapon used in homicides. I keep one in my bedroom. Do I get a red dot too?
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  • hedujg26 wrote...
    No...
    December 27, 2012 12:02 pm
    Hot Hansel, just for sake of accuracy, your incorrect. The FBI never said that. Its a urban legend being passed around.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Public records can be a female canine,
    December 27, 2012 10:39 am
    especially when the public decides to take a look at them.

    Anytime you do business with the government, whether taking our a building permit, a gun permit, getting a marriage license, signing up for public utility service, etc it creates a public record.

    It's not usually any big deal. Usually.

    Public records can be misused, as in this case.

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