Online Gun Owner Map

tcon

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This bears reminding and we should all be aware of where local, state and national registration and accompanying firearm ownership databases can lead. These databases can be subject to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) and the information can be released depending on the laws and the whims of courts and then made public in creative ways.

So a trip down memory lane. Many will remember this...

In December 2013, a newspaper in NY state called The Journal News used the FOIA to obtain the names and addresses of gun permit holders in two NY counties and used this database to publish an interactive map on its website showing where these permit holders lived complete with names and addresses. The title on this newspaper's web page was “Where are the gun permits in your neighborhood?”

This was met with objection and complaints from firearm owners all over the country and especially from many of those on the list who were horrified and felt their safety and privacy had been compromised by this irresponsible and invasive outing by an anti-gun newspaper.

After a flood of angry complaints and letters, the newspaper's editor went to the police fearing for her own safety but the police did not see any credible threats. So then the editor and newspaper executives hired their own armed security guards. How's that for hypocrisy?

Within a few days, some pro-gun bloggers returned favor and published online maps showing names and addresses of the employees of The Journal News. “Where are the Journal News employees in your neighborhood?”

The Journal News gun permit map has since been removed but the fact that it happened to begin with should serve as an example of what will happen if a central registration list is allowed to begin.

Anytime I hear about proposed additional gun laws, I try to make the steps from that proposal to the creation of an inventory list in order to enforce it. In regard to background checks and transfer records for private sales, if you knock down the dominoes you will end up with a federal firearm ownership database if such a law is to be remotely enforceable. Unless an ownership database is created, such law would be voluntary.

And we know where firearm databases lead because a NY state newspaper already showed us the light. Thank you, Journal News.

This is why we must hold tight and insist on the enforcement of laws already on the books instead of allowing additional laws to be instituted. No more.
 
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Missouri's CCW holder database is now considered personal protected information and not subject to release except for a specific inquiry about a specific person who is subject to a criminal investigation or arrested for a crime. Missouri's laws really tightened up in 2013 after the Highway Patrol gave a Social Security investigator the list to investigate whether or not persons with mental illnesses receiving SS benefits also held CCW permits. Turned into a big ole' boondoggle . . .

Missouri Highway Patrol Gave Federal Government List of CCW Permit Holders
 
In Kentucky, the KY State Police maintains the CCDW database and this database, like Missouri's, is also exempt from public disclosure by law.

I also remember in 2013, a sheriff in one of our southern counties here in Kentucky reported that he received an open records request from the website heavy.com. The website was wanting a list of handgun owners in Whitley County. No idea why. The sheriff informed the person that there are no such records in Kentucky because permits are not required for firearm ownership.
 
This bears reminding and we should all be aware of where local, state and national registration and accompanying firearm ownership databases can lead.
I remember reading about this. Thanks for bringing it up again. :)
And the quote below is my favorite part. ;)
tcon said:
Within a few days, some pro-gun bloggers returned favor and published online maps showing names and addresses of the employees of The Journal News. “Where are the Journal News employees in your neighborhood?”

tcon said:
This is why we must hold tight and insist on the enforcement of laws already on the books instead of allowing additional laws to be instituted. No more.
I totally agree with this!
 
If junk like this starts going again, then a "Where do reporters and liberal elite live and when are they away from home" list needs printed
 
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