The Journal News has pulled from its website its interactive map of gun permit holders in New York’s Westchester and Rockland counties, but publisher Janet Hasson wants readers to know that the decision was not a reaction to the controversy but a move to comply with New York’s sweeping new gun regulations.
Westchester newspaper knuckles under to gun nuts, removes map of gun owners after threats/harassment. http://t.co/NcThvMU0
— Gary Weiss (@gary_weiss) January 18, 2013
Whoa, gun nuts? That’s not what Hasson says. Hasson posted an open letter on the lohud.com site today explaining the Journal News’ actions, and if there’s a gun nut behind the pulling of the map, it’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
From Publisher Hasson: "Today The Journal News has removed the permit data from http://t.co/pG6tRvAa" http://t.co/WXPb6zyL
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 18, 2013
So intense was the opposition to our publication of the names and addresses that legislation passed earlier this week in Albany included a provision allowing permit holders to request confidentiality and imposing a 120-day moratorium on the release of permit holder data.
Today The Journal News has removed the permit data from lohud.com. Our decision to do so is not a concession to critics that no value was served by the posting of the map in the first place. On the contrary, we’ve heard from too many grateful community members to consider our decision to post information contained in the public record to have been a mistake. Nor is our decision made because we were intimidated by those who threatened the safety of our staffers. We know our business is a controversial one, and we do not cower.
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It appears that some of the most grateful community members were burglars who were looking to get their hands on firearms. Two incidents of burglary at homes identified on the Journal News map have been reported.
Journal-News, has @gawker taught you nothing? When you screw up, never admit it. ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN.
— Nick Judd (@nclarkjudd) January 18, 2013
..but most likely was. RT @onthemedia: The Journal News removes its gun map, claims it was not a concession to critics. http://t.co/jJCFihLr
— Ken Ericson (@kenericson) January 18, 2013
Reality is that people in Rockland where I'm from originally were canceling their subscriptions to the Journal News. Money talks.
— Brian Walsh (@brianjameswalsh) January 18, 2013
The Journal News pointed where criminals can go to steal guns, they've pulled down the maps now. Too late, time for LAWSUITS to begin
— Micky Baker (@MickyBaker1) January 18, 2013
Journal News to remove their map of NY's legal gunowners. The clowns are only 1.2 million downloads too late, in an internet that's forever.
— NY for Mitt (@NY4Mitt) January 18, 2013
TOO LATE, DAMAGE DONE! Journal News Takes Down Controversial Map of Gun Owners http://t.co/DX9e1r4A via @politicker
— outlaw sixty (@lynney62) January 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/disny10/status/292413272030842880
They are just waiting for the lawsuits. http://t.co/RsXKHQ5I
— Charlie's Oldest Son?????? (@MoronPres) January 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/renewedrepublic/status/292414542019969024
Friday's award for how to make a bad situation worse goes to Journal News for removing controversial gun map http://t.co/HjBr7ljT 1/2
— Staci D Kramer (@sdkstl) January 18, 2013
So, the Journal News now has managed to anger both gun rights supporters and opponents, as well as empower criminals. What next?
https://twitter.com/pjmprometheus/status/292407392275140608
Related:
Map of the unarmed: NY newspaper’s gun permit map was a Christmas gift to criminals
Newspaper editor who published gun owners’ personal info protects her Twitter account
New James O’Keefe video: Anti-gun journalists refuse to display ‘proudly gun free’ yard signs
How about this map, Journal News? Awesome pic shows map of criminals with guns
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