Update on Roanoke Times-Christian Trejbal

Charlotte, NC (TLS). The Roanoke Times newspaper and its editorial writer, Christian Trejbal, are apparently up to their eyeballs in an explosive controversy over the publication of the names and addresses of registered owners of concealed weapons in the state of Virginia.

Stating that the citizens of Virginia 'have a right to know if their neighbor is packing heat,' Trejbal proceeded to use his column in the Roanoke Times to list the names and addresses of gun owners.

In a late-breaking update to this story, authorities state that not all of the information Trejbal made public was authorized for public scrutiny. This means that whoever helped Trejbal gain access to the information he published may have broken state law. And in turn, this would also mean that Trejbal broke the law as did the newspaper that published the information.

As we reported Tuesday afternoon on The Liberty Sphere, the actions of Trejbal and his newspaper may place them wide-open to multi-million-dollar lawsuits. Publishing the names of persons who have a right, affirmed by the state of Virginia, to carry concealed weapons is a breach of personal security. Had I been one of the citizens named on that list, I would have made a bee-line to my attorney's office to sign the paperwork for such a massive lawsuit myself.
Since The Liberty Sphere published that story late Tuesday afternoon, reports indicate that the Roanoke Times has been inundated with an avalanche of phone calls, emails, and text messages from irate readers concerning the publishing of the names. There is also widespread talk of cancellations of subscriptions to the paper.

Apparently the outcry of the citizens is being heard. The Roanoke Times took down the posted list of gun owners from its website. But before it took this action, the damage had already been done. Hundreds, if not thousands, of readers had already seen who was on that list, including some powerful politicians in the area. One reader even found her own name on the list for all to see--a female who lives alone.

My friends, this is a call to action. As we have already advocated on The Liberty Sphere, gun owners should track down and publicize the personal information of news reporters and newspaper editors who engage in this despicable practice of attempting to target and shame gun owners. The property information of every single person in America is available to the public at the county courthouse of their residence. This should be made public and posted on the Internet. That way, whenever a hot-shot 'reporter' decides to conduct a vendetta against gun owners in the name of journalism, we will fight back by putting THEIR information online for all to see. Tit for tat.

In addition, readers of the Roanoke Times should immediately call the paper and cancel their subscriptions. Did I mention we can put newspapers out of business too?

I am also calling for persons whose names were published by The Roanoke Times and their rogue editorialist, Christian Trejbal, to consider taking legal action in the wake of having your personal security compromised by the tasteless, despicable, and deplorable actions of a newspaper and a columnist. You do not have to take this sitting down. You have legal rights.

And if someone in the government of the state of Virginia helped Christian Trejbal and the Roanoke Times to break the law by publicizing names that should not have been made public, then every single person involved in this scandal should face the full consequences of the law.