Roanoke Times Columnist Compares Law-Abiding Gun Owners to Sex Offenders, Publishes Their Names and Addresses

A Virginian in the American Revolution
Virginia gun owners are angry about the Roanoke Times' decision to publish their names and addresses:

(CNSNews.com) - Virginia handgun owners are fired up over the publication of their names and addresses in a database posted online by a state newspaper.

The database of every Virginia resident who holds a state-issued permit to carry a concealed handgun was posted on the Roanoke Times' website Sunday to accompany a column in the paper by Times editorial writer Christian Trejbal.

"There are good reasons the records are open to public scrutiny," Trejbal wrote. "People might like to know if their neighbors carry. Parents might like to know if a member of the car pool has a pistol in the glove box. Employees might like to know if employers are bringing weapons to the office."

However, gun owners contend such public scrutiny could pose a risk to gun owners and non-gun owners across the state.

"I've talked to federal agents who have testified against criminals, and police who have permits, that now have their home address posted on the Internet," Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, told Cybercast News Service. "What if a stalker wants to cross check if his victim has a permit?"

Van Cleave said the VCDL is organizing a boycott of the newspaper and businesses that advertise in the paper. He also said the group might publish a photo of Trejbal's home on its own website -- along with his address, the cost of the house and all other public information pertaining to Trejbal. It may do the same for other executives at the newspaper, he added.

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In his column, Trejbal wrote, "A state that eagerly puts sex offender data online complete with an interactive map could easily do the same with gun permits, but it does not."

The comparison angered Van Cleave, who stressed that people who hold concealed carry permits are law-abiding citizens. If they were not, he pointed out, they would not go through the legal process of obtaining a permit.

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My Comments:
The Virginians I know who own firearms would NEVER advocate shooting someone for exercising his 1st Amendment rights, but they might think a good pistol whipping in order.

(For the humor-impaired, that's a joke)

Gary Cooper as "The Virginian"