Which Neighbors Have Concealed Weapons Permits? (Redwood City, Ca. publishes list)

[Starboard Tack]

257. Let me attempt to clarify

Is there a public benefit from publishing the list? Possibly, there is, if people read the list and know the people concerned. That would create some marginal public benefit, in that some would be informed and could take appropriate measures, as they see fit. However, there is probably very little public benefit, as it is not an efficient way of informing the public as to who is carrying a loaded gun. There lies the problem. How do we create a system which allows both for the freedom of the individual to exercise his constitutional rights and also allows the public to know who is walking around with guns. If, by publishing the names and exercising it's 1A rights, the newspaper deters one individual from carrying a gun in public, then there will have been a benefit.
As an employer, I would make it clear that I would not hire someone who carried a personal firearm.

As for the constitution slapping itself in the face, I could not disagree more. It seems to me that the constitution was engineered to protect the rights and freedoms of the individual, so long as this does not cause unjust harm to another. By protecting every individual equally (granted, this was not always the case), the whole of society is also protected. While publishing this list could be viewed as exercising one's right to free speech, it does indeed, pose the serious possibility of injury to others.

I love it. The free speech publishing poses the serious possibility of injury to others, but not the carrying of guns.
When you leave home wearing a gun, you already more than leveled the playing field. Now you're even more afraid by an individual exercising his right to free speech. Wear a clown outfit, expect to be laughed at. If your neighbor's little kid knows you carry a gun and follows you down the street pointing at you and chanting "This clown's armed and dangerous!" What are you gonna do? Shoot him, or leave the silly gun at home and grow up?
Point is, when you applied for the permit, like when you apply for anything, you forfeit certain rights to privacy. Check your spam box and you'll see proof of that.