Guns and Pistol Permits Stolen From Another Home Identified by The Journal News

It's suing time.

Last Resistance

VERBATIM

Police in Clarkstown, New York have reported that a home was broken into and ransacked by burglars.  The thieves managed to open two safes and stole a third safe from the third floor in the home.  The stolen safe contained a .45 Colt revolver and a .22 Iver Johnson handgun along with the two pistol permits to own them.

The home, like that of a seventy year old man in White Plains, had the home owner’s name and address identified as a pistol permit holder on the interactive map posted online by The Journal News.  In this case, burglars used a ladder to break through a window on the upper floor.  Their target was his gun safe.

Clarkstown police have not said if there is any evidence linking the burglary to the online posting. 

Sgt Joanne Fratianni stated:

“The burglary is still under investigation, and there are no facts to support this correlation at this time.  If the investigation develops further information, it will be released accordingly.”

Det. Lt. Charles Delo told the local news:

“At this early point in the investigation, we believe it is a random crime and the home was not targeted.”

Is it random?  How do they explain the break-ins occurring in neighborhoods where break-ins of this type are rare?  In White Plains, one neighbor has lived there for 15 years and never recalls anything like that happening during that time.

Are the police in that area protecting The Journal News?  All it takes is one piece of evidence linking a break-in to the online posting and The Journal News is ripe for a lawsuit from one or all of the victims.  Would the newspaper like ALL of their names and home addresses posted online along with the knowledge of something valuable that they own like a painting, jewelry or expensive car?

Many people, including myself, predicted that those gun permit holders identified by The Journal News would be victims of break-ins from criminals looking to steal guns.  Now, there have been at least two such incidences reported and mostly likely, many more to come.  Will it take someone being shot and killed to bring the issue to a legal head?  I wonder if the newspaper’s insurance will cover all of the damages they could be facing once the lawsuits start getting filed?