Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

A while back, the Journal News, a suburban New York newspaper, published an interactive map featuring the names and addresses of people with gun permits in two counties. The paper wanted to publish the addresses of permit holders in a third, but the Putnam County Clerk denied the request, saying it would put lives in danger.

The gun permit map is such a bad idea that even Michael Bloomberg is up in the air about it (currently Bloomberg feels the interactive map technology should only be used to locate people who drink large sodas).

Because crooks — like the rest of us — would prefer not to get shot, ex-burglars say the map is a treasure trove of information for criminals about which houses to avoid. However, it could also endanger the people who are more likely to be named and located on the map — specifically prison guards and other current and former law enforcement officials:

Law enforcement officials from a New York region where a local paper published a map identifying gun owners say prisoners are using the information to intimidate guards.

Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco, who spoke at a news conference flanked by other county officials, said the Journal News’ decision to post an online map of names and addresses of handgun owners Dec. 23 has put law enforcement officers in danger.

“They have inmates coming up to them and telling them exactly where they live. That’s not acceptable to me,” Falco said, according to Newsday.

Robert Riley, an officer with the White Plains Police Department and president of its Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, agreed.

“You have guys who work in New York City who live up here. Now their names and addresses are out there, too,” he said adding that there are 8,000 active and retired NYPD officers currently living in Rockland County.

And it isn’t only law enforcement officials who may be in jeopardy because of the paper’s idiotic decision:

“I originally obtained a gun permit because I had previously been married to a man who attempted to strangle me… The first emotion I felt was, ‘Oh my gosh, he can find me.’”

**Irony Alert** The newspaper has two offices that are now protected by… armed security. Did they put two dots on their “where the guns are” map to let everybody know that?

In related news, a map of the location of gun owners in Texas has been published:

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe