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Anti-gun zealots get a lot more than they bargained for after publishing the names and home addresses of New York handgun permit holders.
On December 24, 2012, The Journal News got up on it’s high horse and published an article titled “The gun owner next door: What you don’t know about the weapons in in your neighborhood“, which included links to two interactive maps. These online maps contained the names and addresses of thousands handgun permit holders in New York’s Westchester and Rockland counties.
Needless to say, gun owners and privacy advocates were furious, just as Canadians were back when the Ottawa Citizen pulled a similar stunt here in Canada. The only difference was the Canadian information didn’t contain names and addresses of gun owners, “just” their postal codes along with every firearm they owned.
This time it’s far worse as the names and home addresses of every permit holder in these two counties are displayed on these maps.
Common sense and decency appear to be rare commodities at The Journal News, as evidenced by the self-righteous justification spewed forth by Janet Hasson, president and publisher of The Journal News Media Group.
“New York residents have the right to own guns with a permit and they also have a right to access public information.”
Janet Hasson is correct legally, if not morally. Under current law, the names and addresses of all license holders is considered public information.
5. Filing of approved applications. The application for any license, if granted, shall be filed by the licensing officer with the clerk of the county of issuance, except that in the city of New York and, in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, the licensing officer shall designate the place of filing in the appropriate division, bureau or unit of the police department thereof, and in the county of Suffolk the county clerk is hereby authorized to transfer all records or applications relating to firearms to the licensing authority of that county. The name and address of any person to whom an application for any license has been granted shall be a public record.
Clearly this law needs to be changed to protect the personal information of license holders.
That said, just because you can do something, does that really mean you should? Just because it’s legal, does that mean it’s the right thing to do?
As long as you’re a gun-hating zealot, the answer is a resounding YES! Anything that can advance the anti-gun agenda is fair game, especially if it endangers the lives of those neanderthal gun owners.
CynDee Royle, editor and vice-president of the paper, said after the article was published,
“We knew publication of the database would be controversial, but we felt sharing as much information as we could about gun ownership in our area was important in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings. People are concerned about who owns guns and how many of them there are in their neighborhoods.”
People willing to jump through all the legal hoops to obtain a handgun permit in New York State are hardly the criminals-in-waiting Royle and Hasson makes them out to be. They are, in fact, the most law-abiding citizens there are.
I think an interactive map publicizing the name and home address of every convicted pedophile would be far more useful to citizens concerned about the safety of their children.
Then, of course, there are the Unintended Consequences.
The problem with what The Journal News did is far greater than it appears on the surface. It’s not just about an invasion of privacy, it’s about the safety and security of every person included on that map, which just happens to include law enforcement as well.
One very upset member of law enforcement wrote under a pseudonym:
My name and address appear on that map and to say the least, I’m pissed. In all my years as a LEO, I listed my telephone using a pseudonym and my vehicles and driver’s license came back to a post office box. Now these idiots have identified my address.
All the cases I worked as a detective involved career criminals and lots and lots of those low-lifes were sent to prison with extended sentences. Hell, they all knew my name as the cop that put them in prison but none were able to find me outside of the detective squad where I worked.
So now I have to be on super high alert wherever I go just in case one of these nit-wits decides to look me up? WTF!!!
Well, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander too, right? Apparently not, at least as far as The Journal News website is concerned.
When Christopher Fountain posted the name, home address and phone number for the paper’s publisher, Janet Hanson, (3 Gate House Lane, Mamaroneck NY 105643 (248-) 594-2197) that comment was promptly deleted.
Seems all this talk of “freedom of information” is just a one-way street.
Shocking, I know!
As a result of this, Christopher Fountain made a decision.
If posting her name, address and phone number wasn’t okay on the newspaper’s website, he’d post that information on his own blog. He then went a few miles further and posted the names, addresses, phone numbers and anything else he could find out about the employees of The Journal News to his blog.
Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot and the hypocrites at The Journal News are no longer quite so thrilled with all this “access to information”.
Again, I’m shocked.
[hr]
Below you will find contact information for every person working at The Journal News as it was posted on Christopher Fountain’s blog. I’m reposting it here in the interest of openness and fairness. If it’s okay to publish the names and home addresses of New York State Gun owners, surely it’s okay to do the same for the publishers and staff of the newspaper so willing to hop up on their high, hypocritical horse, right?
[hr]
White Plains newspaper The Journal- News, a Gannett publication, has published the full name and address of every licensed pistol permit holder in three New York counties. I don’t know whether the Journal’s publisher Janet Hasson is a permit holder herself, but here’s how to find her to ask:
(UPDATE: Uh oh – InstaPundit’s linked here. Hundreds of thousands of readers; Janet, you have a great Christmas Eve)
Journal News
Janet Hasson, 3 Gate House Lane, Mamaroneck, NY 10534.
Phone number:
(914) 694-5204
Here’s a photo showing her Mamaroneck house – interior shots are on Zillow:
UPDATE: From reader RJS: Gannett’s CEO-
Gracia C Martore
728 Springvale Rd
Great Falls, VA 22066
(703) 759-5954
The reporter on the story is
Dwight R Worley
23006 139 Ave
Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 (718) 527-0832
UPDATE: Intrepid readers have come up with all sorts of contacts for these people:
EDITOR:
Miss Royle’s married name is Lambert. She lives in White Plains and here is her Facebook page complete with pictures of her and her kids. Hello Sanctimony.
http://www.facebook.com/CynDeeRoyle
Cynthia R Lambert
17 Mcbride Ave
White Plains, NY 10603 (914) 948-9388
Work: 914-694-5001
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/croyle1
https://www.facebook.com/cyndee.royle.7
https://www.facebook.com/CynDeeRoyle
Drives a red convertible:http://s13.postimage.org/k8ffnxuo7/cyndee_royle_aka_cynthia_lambert_red_convertible.jpg
Family photo: http://s7.postimage.org/dkqtytvyj/cyndee_royle_aka_cynthia_lambert_fb_alt_private.jpg
Publisher, Janet Hasson,
3 Gate House Lane, Mamaroneck NY, 10543
(914) 694-5204
Reporter, Dwight R. Worley, 23006 139 Ave
Springfield Gardens, NY 11413
(718) 527-0832
The “Visual Editor” responsible for the map itself is:
Robert F. Rodriguez
(w) Stephanie Azzarone
Home (212) 222-4566
420 Riverside Dr, Apt 7A
New York, NY 10025-7748
Publisher: Janet Hasson (@janhasson on twitter) 3 Gate House Rd, Mamaroneck, NY 10534
GANNET CEO:
Gracia C Martore 728 Springvale Rd Great Falls, VA 22066 (703) 759-5954
OTHER STAFF MEMBERS:
–(Junior Editor) Nancy Cutler 9 Woodwind Ln, Spring Valley, NY. (845) 354 3485
Barbara Livingstone Nackman a Reporter on the municipal beat can be found here:
Barbara L Nackman
279 Farrington Ave
Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 332-5185
Swapna Venugopal Also a Reporter and can be found on
http://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14
306 Quaker Rd
Chappaqua, NY 10514 (914) 238-4607
Mike Risinit
Michael J Risinit
http://www.facebook.com/michael.risinit/info
42 Robinson Ln
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 (845) 454-2278
Seth Harrison
http://www.facebook.com/seth.harrison.391
107 Valleyview Rd
Irvington, NY 10533 (914) 231-5411
OTHER STAFF. Let them know you how you feel about the actions of their co-workers and management.
Albert Conte
Photo reprints
Work: 914-696-8401
[email protected]
Anjanette Delgado
Community Conversation (Forums, Blogs, Social Media)
Work: 914-694-5072
[email protected]
Brian Howard
Social Media Editor at The Journal News
[email protected]
Work: 914-666-6177
https://www.facebook.com/HowardBrianJ
Carrie Yale
Visuals Director at The Journal News
Photography (Days)
[email protected]
Work: 914-694-5092
https://twitter.com/carrieyale
https://www.facebook.com/carrie.yale.7
Caryn McBride
Print and digital news editor, award-winning journalist
Editor at The Journal News
Westchester County, NY
Work: 845-578-2434
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/RocklandEditor
https://www.facebook.com/CarynAMcBride
Cathey O’Donnell
Journal News reporter in NY covering Westchester, Rockland and Putnam
White Plains http://loud.com
Investigative Reporter at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/catheyodonnell
https://www.facebook.com/cathey.odonnell.7
Chris Brown
Graphics Artist at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/chris.brown.108
Chris Gaughan
Works at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/cgaughan1
Dan Donovan
Comics, crosswords, Jumble, Sudoku, movie clock
Work: 914-694-5309
[email protected]
David McKay Wilson
@davidmckay415
Columnist at The Journal News, freelance journalist, cycling advocate
Mahopac, NY
https://twitter.com/davidmckay415
https://www.facebook.com/davidmckaywilson
Ed Cummins
News Editor at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/ed.cummins.54
Ed Forbes
Digital Team/Homepage
“Ed Forbes, a @StLawrenceU and @columbiajourn alum, is the Digital Editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com. Westchester resident, N.J. native, Ad’k expat.”
Lives in Mount Kisco, New York
From Randolph, New Jersey
Columbia, St. Lawrence
Work: 914-696-8488
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/edforbes
https://www.facebook.com/ed.forbes
Gary McGriff
Works at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/gary.mcgriff
George Troyano
Vice President Sales & Marketing at Journal News Media-Gannett
Studied Marketing at Drexel University
Work: 914-694-5157
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/george.troyano
Heather Salerno
New York-based journalist, wife and mom
Works at Feature writer for the Journal News
Studied at Georgetown University
https://twitter.com/heather_salerno
https://www.facebook.com/heather.salerno.7
Herb Pinder
Community Conversation / Opinion Page editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com
Westchester
Work: 914-694-5031
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/herbpinderNY
James Kwasnik
Online Director at The Journal News, Technology/Analytics Editor
Work: 914-694-5172
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/schmooze
https://www.facebook.com/jameskwasnik
Jill Mercadante
Multimedia/Marketing Editor at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/tumbling_after
https://www.facebook.com/jill.mercadante
Joe McDonald
Local News, Local Content Editor
Work: 914-694-5099
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/joemcd1973
Karen Croke
LoHud Weekend
Work: 914-696-8267
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/KarenCroke
https://twitter.com/livinghereNY
“Yolo!”
Kathy Moore
Local Content Editor
Work: 914-694-3523
[email protected]
Ken Valenti
“I’m a transportation reporter for The Journal News/lohud.com”
White Plains, Westchester, NY
https://twitter.com/lohudgoing
https://twitter.com/NewRoKen
https://www.facebook.com/ken.valenti
Linda Lombroso
Features Writer at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/LindaLombroso
https://www.facebook.com/lindalombroso
Leah Rae
Journalist in Westchester County, N.Y., following local news, immigration trends, and cool maps.
https://twitter.com/LeahRaeNY
https://www.facebook.com/leah.rae.33
Lee Higgins
Breaking news reporter for http://lohud.com
[email protected]
Work: 914-696-8570
https://twitter.com/LeeHiggins
Liz Johnson
Food editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. Eater, drinker, gardener.
Lower Hudson Valley
Work: 914-694-5075
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/small_bites
https://www.facebook.com/sourcherryfarm
Mary Dolan
Deputy Managing Editor, Features editor The Journal News/LoHud.com
White Plains
Work: 914-694-5230
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/featuresed
Mike Meaney
Morning breaking news
Work: 914-696-8565
[email protected]
Nancy Cutler
Opinion editor, Rockland, The Journal News/LoHud.com
Rockland County, NY
Work: 845-578-2403
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/nancyrockland
Nights, weekends, holidays and news tips: 914-694-5077
Phil Reisman
Columnist for The Journal News/Lohud.com
Westchester, NY
https://twitter.com/philreisman
https://www.facebook.com/phil.reisman
Robert F. Rodriguez
Visuals Editor / Photo Editor at The Journal News
Photography, Nights
Studied at NYU
Lives in New York, New York
Married to Stephanie Azzarone
Work: 914-694-5092
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1522994678
Sean Mayer
Sports and Operations Editor for the Journal News Media Group.
Studied at Binghamton University
Married to Randi Kravetsky-Mayer
From Monroe, New York
[email protected]
Work: 914-696-8527
https://twitter.com/scoopmayer35
https://www.facebook.com/sean.mayer
Swapna Venugopal
Reporter, The Journal News at Gannett
Staff Writer,The Journal News/LoHud.com.
Write about politics, development issues and life in Westchester County, New York
Studied at New York University
Lives in Chappaqua, New York
From Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Work: 914-696-8229
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/SwapnaVenugopal
https://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14
Thane Grauel
Local Editor Rockland/Digital Editor at The Journal News
Norwalk, Conn
https://twitter.com/thaneg
https://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14
Theresa Juva-Brown
Reporter at The Journal News
“Transportation/TZB reporter for The Journal News/LoHud.com. Reach me at [email protected]with tips/story ideas. I love hearing from readers/riders/drivers.”
White Plains, NY
Studied at Syracuse University
From Queens, New York
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/TJuva
https://www.facebook.com/theresa.juvabrown
Contact Us
The Journal News and LoHud.com
Main Office:
The Journal News
1133 Westchester Ave.
Suite N110
White Plains, NY 10604
Main phone number: 914-694-9300
Report breaking news: 914-694-5077
E-mail breaking news: [email protected]
Lobby Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. – open for visitors
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Home Delivery Operations Manager: John Czarnecki, 914-696-8540, [email protected]
Director/Circulation Operations: Elaine Kirsch, 914-696-8511, [email protected]
Single Copy Manager: Mauro Ferrotta, 914-694-5233, [email protected]
News Managers
Sound Shore: Liz Anderson, 914-696-8538, [email protected]
White Plains: Scott Faubel, 914-696-8569, [email protected]
Northern Westchester: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, [email protected]
Yorktown-Cortlandt: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, [email protected]
Putnam: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, [email protected]
Rockland: Nicole Futterman, 845-578-2408, [email protected]
Advertising
Online Ad Director: Eileen Zaccagnino, 914-696-8463, [email protected]
Director, Marketing and Client Solutions: Tessa Garcia, 914-694-5188, [email protected]
Janet Hasson herself is married with one child, and her personal interests, as culled from her credit card records, are noted below:
I see those facebook pages have already been blocked. I’m sure phone numbers are hastily being changed too; although I haven’t confirmed that. May a worthwhile project for later.
I agree Bob but I think these people have already been tagged, they are hooped.
Poetic justice
B.
Hey Janet, are you, Cynthia, Dwight and others sleeping well these nights with your criminal element in possession of this information on you and your staff (come and pillage us, we are unarmed)??
If you want to keep your anonymity then let us keep ours.
The licensed firearm owners of the world are not your enemy Janet, those without permits (most of them) are. Print a list of their names and addresses, if you dare, that is!!
Wow. Hansson is not only hypocritical, but stupid. Here in Canada gun owners are not supposed to advertise they have guns to help reduce theft of guns for illegal use. Now every violent psychopath in the world knows what addresses to case for gun theft. What were they thinking? Never mind, the question assumes they can think.