Posted on 03/14/2007 5:31:51 AM PDT by Perseverando
Threats of violence, litigation and legislation sprang up after a list of people allowed to carry concealed weapons was released.
The Roanoke Times will not re-post a list of gun owners on its Web site, even after being told amid continuing public furor that releasing the information does not violate state law.
First published Sunday, the database of more than 135,000 people allowed to carry concealed handguns has become the most controversial content in roanoke.com's history -- sparking threats of violence, litigation and legislation.
One day later, the list was removed from the site because of concerns that state police might have inappropriately included the names of crime victims on a list it provided to the newspaper.
Although there is a law that protects the identity of some victims in certain circumstances, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said Tuesday the restriction does not apply to the concealed-weapons list.
"The information released to The Roanoke Times was in total compliance with the Freedom of Information Act," Geller said. "It is up to the recipient of that information to be a responsible guardian of the information."
While Geller declined to comment on whether the newspaper acted responsibly, hundreds of angry readers have said in e-mails, phone calls and even threats that it did not.
By naming everyone in Virginia who has received court permission to carry a concealed weapon, critics said, the newspaper invaded the privacy of law-abiding citizens and all but invited criminals to burglarize homes for guns. Another concern is that victims of domestic abuse, who might have armed themselves for protection, are now in danger of being tracked down by their abusers via the database.
Although the legal concerns stated by the newspaper as the reason for removing the names no longer seem to apply,
(Excerpt) Read more at roanoke.com ...
I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought "sitzpinkler!" upon seeing this dweeb's photo.
Second Amendment
Meet
First Amendment
I think you misunderstand what that is saying. Its talking about information collected from advertisers and subscribers, either on-line or othwerwise. The submission policy is not talking about newspaper writers, but people participating in their on-line community/blog. Its not talking about the paper's policy on news stories as far as I can tell. I don't agree with the writer who linked the database on the site or his reasons, but the policy information you linked is not really saying what you believe it does.
Can't you just picture the dweeb at a NYC cocktail party brown-nosing his hero Pinch Sulzberger, sipping Chardonnay, pinky extended, and smirking over the outraged rednecks he pissed off?
It is no wonder he received hate mail. Not that I condone it, but the doofus reporter put peoples' lives at risk.
Shouldn't the non-holders of CWPs also sue? After all, they're now at an increased risk of being targeted by the same burglars who've just been warned off from CWP holders' residences.
Any bets this twit will use the Dixie Chicks defense in his next column and cry that his "freedom of speech" rights were violated? It's almost as if liberal Democrats are inbred with the notion that disagreement with them by private citizens is censureship.
Just watch.
It is my understanding that there was a big gun show at the Roanoake Civic Center the weekend the article went into print as well. Coincidince?
They promote homosexuality and all of the other liberal crapola. Comes in handy for our puppy though.
Surprise, Surprise they are owned by the same company that owns the Weather Channel.
" The Official Global Warming Channel."
But naturally, he assumed that some evil gun packer had sent him a bomb or some anthrax. LOL
Blog comments: http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/columns/comment_on_trejbals_column_12.html
C. Trejbal
During my research for this column, I took a close look at crime rates and related data for concealed carry states vs. non-concealed states. (The NRA lists 10 states as having unacceptable concealed carry laws.) That information did not make the column because there was not space and because it was only tangential to the fundamental theme of the column -- open government.
Here, in brief, is what I found using FBI data.
Overall violent crime rates are slightly lower in concealed carry states. For several specific classes of crime, however, the rates are considerably higher in concealed carry states, notably rape, aggravated assault, property crimes, burglarly and theft.
Also, in concealed carry states, police are twice as likely to be feloniously killed.
But, as I said, I'm not arguing for or against concealed carry or guns in general here.
"It's almost as if liberal Democrats are inbred with the notion that disagreement with them by private citizens is censureship."
Yup. I read some of his other columns. This guy is bland and stupid. A sampling (from a column about Virginians panicking when it snows):
"The other day I even heard the familiar crackling sound of studded tires on pavement. Studded tires. In Southwest Virginia! Talk about overreacting. I shook my head at the paranoid driver.
Studs only improve traction on perfectly smooth sheet ice. Under other conditions, which is most of the time around here, they are at best as good as other tires and often are more dangerous. Meanwhile, they grind up the roads. How could Virginia not outlaw them given the paucity of ice?
At least the infestation of needlessly large SUVs wasting fuel and towering over the roadways is less pervasive here"
What a clown. Rosie O'Donnel material.
Remember about a month ago they were the topic of discussion on Orielly for something. I think it was the segment on "the most rediculous item of the day". The times is our only newspaper in Roanoke. I only read the funnies. I prefer to get news from Drudge and FR.
Christian Trejbal obviously did not think thru what he was exposing. Now those gun owners have to carry their weapon on their person all the time, concealed, because they will not be able to leave home without their weapon. Every criminal in the Roanoke area who wants a gun, knows where to find one thanks to Christian Trejbal, he published the addresses of locations hundreds of guns.
Concealing a weapon is a farce in Roanoke now.
A coward dies a thousand deaths. a brave man only once.
Anyone who wanted to write to him at home could simply Google search his name. Due to the same public records and "sunshine" he is so fond of, it's all right there. You can find out that he spent $115K for his new house. Ahh, the sharp, two-edged sword of sunshine.
Are you talking about this part of the article?
Meanwhile, The Roanoke Times continued to feel the wrath of readers. By midday Tuesday, there had been more than 2,000 visits to an online discussion forum, at least 36 canceled subscriptions and countless angry calls -- some that showed up in company voice mail well before dawn.
There were also some threatening comments directed at Trejbal that led the newspaper to place a security guard, at least temporarily, outside his Christiansburg house.
Concerns were heightened early Tuesday afternoon when a mysterious package was delivered to the house. The street was closed, a state police bomb squad was called in and at least some neighbors were evacuated after Trejbal found the package during a lunchtime trip home.
Lt. Mark Sisson of the Christiansburg Police Department said that Trejbal said he definitely didn't order the package, "so we're going to take every precaution." However, it turned out the box was full of blank postage labels and cardboard mailers.
Everyone with a website gets threats. Not everyone has achieved the degree of smugness, passive aggression, egotism, and paranoia necessary for the COMPLETE OVERREACTION described above.
What you heard was the mating call of the male North American Cowardly Lion. He begins by condescending, then proceeds to mocking and attacking, and finally ends with him caterwauling about his own victimhood. You'd think the species would have gone extinct by now, for lack of attracted females.
"Everyone with a website gets threats."
Seriously? I feel left out now.
Look, I worked long ago in the newspaper business and any reporter worth his salt gets threatened every now and then, but never did I see the paper actually hire a private guard for anybody. The fact that they did hire one in this case suggests to me there were some pretty serious sounding threats.
The box was harmless but do you really think it was just a coincidence it was left at his house? Would you have walked up and opened it? I would hope not. Many years ago in the same town where this guy lives, a commonwealth's attorney lost his hands when he picked up a Pringle's can someone had left on his car and it (the can) exploded.
Just to be clear, I think the column was stupid and poorly written. He obviously had an anti-gun agenda. And putting the database up was ignorant.
I just finished reading the 488 comments (currently) posted to the reporter's original story. See
http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/columns/comment_on_trejbals_column_12.html
I especially call attention to posts 167 and 281 on that page. Not only did the reporter post names, addresses and (in some cases unlisted) phone numbers of law abiding CCW holders in Virginia, he specifically compromised the safety of 2 individuals whose violent abusers DID use the database to track them down to the posted addresses on their CCW permits. Good going there, hero!
I've neglected to bother getting my CCW, since it passed in my state after I ceased working nights. Reporter Trejbal has merily confirmed my suspicions as to adding my personal info to yet another government database if I can avoid it. Should I begin carrying again, I likely won't bother with a permit. I'll just take my chances.
I'm one who maintains a PO box and unlisted number. If I want you to find me, I'll volunteer my info, thanks.
BTW, among the comments posted were none threatening physical harm to the reporter/newspaper, though there was some understandable mocking over the "bomb threat" at the reporter's home.
Blank mailing labels and cardboard mailers, hmph!
$115.K for a House? You cant buy a Porta-John around here for that.
Now tell me does he own a YUGO? LMAO
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