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Blogger publishes journalists’ home addresses after N.Y. paper posts map of gun permit owners' addresses
A New York based newspaper has sparked outrage this morning after its decision to publish a map pinpointing the addresses of people with gun permits. Published in The Journal News, which is based in White Plains, New York, the map shows homes where public records indicate someone living there holds a gun permit. It was part of an article called "The Gun Owner Next Door," and the newspaper says the information shown came from public records. It has readers online furious. Blogger Christopher Fountain is one of those readers, and he decided to strike back by posting the home address of most of the leadership and staff of The Journal News.
Fountain, who is a gun owner, says that The Journal News defended publishing the gun permit owners' addresses for safety purposes, but Fountain disagrees with the correlation between gun ownership and gun violence. He tells "Starting Point" that he decided to post the journalists' information because he felt that the newspaper "was bullying gun owners by conflating ... West Chester County gun owners with a horrible incident in Newtown, Connecticut ... one has nothing to do with the other." He adds, "I felt that they were using this to harass gun owners ... so I harassed them back."
Fountain's blog, "For What It's Worth", can be found at christopherfountain.wordpress.com
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This media outlet tried to use their bully pulpit to shove these pistol owners around. It's great that this guy pushed back. Frankly, I'd have gone a bit further. Why not publish whether or not they have an alarm system? Get a group together that would photo their homes and post...you know, we don't have to sit back and be bullied. This media company potentially put these familes in danger. Sauce for the goose is good for the gander...
I can't believe a journalist would publish the name and address of someone or anyone who had a gun in his home. Like who cares. I live in Texas and I would think it would be news if I found the name and address of someone who didn't have a gun in their home. On a related subject, Celebs are now pushing for more gun control and I could see a change in some regulations. But I can also see the need for more regulations for tv, films and games. Hollywood has been hiding behind the first amendment for too long. TV, movies and computer gaming is causing the trend of increased violence and because Hollywood are big supporter of political parties no regulations will be enacted. Hollywood has made using a gun to kill someone perfectly except able.
Can the newspaper be held liable for homes that are burglarized based on the published information?
I have to applaud Mr. Fountain on his retort to these excesses of the media and journalists. The Journal News was wrong. It could have shown the dots in Westchester w/o people's information, but instead, basically used it instead to literally persecute gun owners – not a crime. That's going too far. The implication that all gun owners are crazy and a threat to public safety is wrong and clealry unfairly villfying a group the liberal media don't like. How about publishing a map of everyone with mental illness like schizophrenia? Journal News is a disgusting example of a journalistic publications and so are the two members of CNN's morning crew who sought to discredit Mr. Fountain after he was invited to be interviewed! You journalists have no shame? When your ilk does something like this, have the deceny not to defend them and the badger someone who is providing a very appropriate retort.
this is GREAT. The paper had the nerve to publish the home addresses of law abiding citizens now the table is turned!! Perfect redemption.
I am financial journalist with a national byline who has been reading Fountain for the last 5 years. He is smart, funny and a really interesting writer. I love that he took a view on the tone of the some of the stories I'm seeing my peers write on gun ownership- and did something about it. It's great CNN got his name out there also even if they ganged up on him during the TV hit just to create a sense of drama.
I am a financial jouranlist with national byline who has been a fan of Chris Fountain's blog for the last four years. I live in lower Fairfield County and read him daily. Chris is smart, funny and a really entertaining writer. I like that he used his popular blog about Greenwich Real Estate (who a has a large wallstreet readership) to be an activist over the media's tone on gun stories. And good for CNN for having him on – even if you guys did gang up on him to create more drama in the TV hit.
Think of the pain when a sex offender is published compared to someone who owns guns. We live in a country where guns holds to much power and control. These laws are not controlled enough. I do not feel sorry for any of those people who's name was published.
Fair is fair, this newspaper exposed that addresses of many police officers and abused women looking for anonymity. Now the addresses of these so called journalists can be made public too.
It was with great alarm I watched the interview and learned of the mapping of people who have gone through the legal process in order to own a gun in Westchester County. I am one of those people. The publishing of these name, address and phone number is pure bullying and completely irresponsible. Let me ask you a question – why were the names of all people arrest for DWI after the horrific crash on the Sprain Brook Parkway involving the woman in a mini-van not published "for public safety" ? Including the makes and license plates of their cars? I understand the outrage of gun violence in the US and the out cry for more gun control, but I feel this publication was just wrong. If anything they have now clearly shown criminals who has a gun and who does not. Will this keep them away from my house and have them target the ones who are not listed? Or has the Journal News just given them a shopping list?