Post by corner on Jan 13, 2013 18:31:51 GMT -5
White Plains residence pinpointed on a controversial handgun permit
database was burglarized Saturday, and the burglars' target was the
homeowner's gun safe.
At least two burglars broke into a home on Davis Avenue at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday but were unsuccessful in an attempt to open the safe, which
contained legally owned weapons, according to a law enforcement
source. One suspect was taken into custody, the source said.
The gun owner was not home when the burglary occurred, the source
said. The victim, who is in his 70s, told Newsday on Sunday that he
did not want to comment while the police investigation continues.
"The police are doing a full investigation," the man saidthrough a
partially opened front door.
There was broken glass in the backyard Sunday and a ladder leading up
to a second-story window. Neighbors on the street of modest, Colonial
homes said they had heard about the burglary.
The homeowner's name and address were included recently on the
controversial interactive map of gun permit holders in Westchester
and Rockland counties published on The Journal News' website.
Neighbor John Mascia said he thought the gun permit database should
not have been published.
"I could [not] care less what they have in their home," Mascia said.
Police are investigating what role, if any, the database played in
the burglars' decision to target the home, the law enforcement source said.
White Plains police Lt. Eric Fischer confirmed that a burglary
occurred but would not release further information Sunday.
The Journal News has been the target of sharp criticism from gun
rights advocates and some media ethicists since running the story and
interactive map Dec. 23. The story was published 10 days after the
Newtown, Conn., mass shooting that claimed the lives of 20 young
children and seven adults.
A call for comment to The Journal News was not immediately returned.
Although some good-government groups have come to the defense of the
White Plains-based newspaper, some elected officials, including State
Sen. Greg Ball (R-Patterson, have complained the permit map could aid
criminals.
"If the connection is proven, this is further proof that these maps
are not only an invasion of privacy but that they present a clear and
present danger to law-abiding, private citizens," Ball said Sunday in
a statement.
On Monday, Ball will introduce a third bill into the state
Legislature intended to keep the names of those who have gun permits private
database was burglarized Saturday, and the burglars' target was the
homeowner's gun safe.
At least two burglars broke into a home on Davis Avenue at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday but were unsuccessful in an attempt to open the safe, which
contained legally owned weapons, according to a law enforcement
source. One suspect was taken into custody, the source said.
The gun owner was not home when the burglary occurred, the source
said. The victim, who is in his 70s, told Newsday on Sunday that he
did not want to comment while the police investigation continues.
"The police are doing a full investigation," the man saidthrough a
partially opened front door.
There was broken glass in the backyard Sunday and a ladder leading up
to a second-story window. Neighbors on the street of modest, Colonial
homes said they had heard about the burglary.
The homeowner's name and address were included recently on the
controversial interactive map of gun permit holders in Westchester
and Rockland counties published on The Journal News' website.
Neighbor John Mascia said he thought the gun permit database should
not have been published.
"I could [not] care less what they have in their home," Mascia said.
Police are investigating what role, if any, the database played in
the burglars' decision to target the home, the law enforcement source said.
White Plains police Lt. Eric Fischer confirmed that a burglary
occurred but would not release further information Sunday.
The Journal News has been the target of sharp criticism from gun
rights advocates and some media ethicists since running the story and
interactive map Dec. 23. The story was published 10 days after the
Newtown, Conn., mass shooting that claimed the lives of 20 young
children and seven adults.
A call for comment to The Journal News was not immediately returned.
Although some good-government groups have come to the defense of the
White Plains-based newspaper, some elected officials, including State
Sen. Greg Ball (R-Patterson, have complained the permit map could aid
criminals.
"If the connection is proven, this is further proof that these maps
are not only an invasion of privacy but that they present a clear and
present danger to law-abiding, private citizens," Ball said Sunday in
a statement.
On Monday, Ball will introduce a third bill into the state
Legislature intended to keep the names of those who have gun permits private