Concealed carry has been in the news a lot lately. But that doesn’t always mean it’s newsworthy.

In response to the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., The Journal News in Westchester, N.Y., published a map of concealed carry permit owners in December that included names and addresses of local residents who had gun permits.

The newspaper’s decision met immediate backlash from residents and lawmakers. State Sen. Greg Ball announced plans to close permits to Freedom of Information Act requests.

And just last month, the Arkansas Business posted a list of permit holders’ names and ZIP codes in the state. Public outrage ensued, and the newspaper took down the list.

Someone then posted an editor’s name, address and home and work phone number online. The editor wrote: “Our home phone began ringing constantly, silenced only when we unplugged it in order to go to sleep. … My work email address filled up with requests, complaints, insults, veiled threats and, yes, quite a few messages of thanks and appreciation.”

These newspapers all had the same problem: They published public data without context or analysis. Anyone can fill out a FOIA request. It’s a journalist’s job to take that raw information and give it meaning for readers. Publishing raw data is irresponsible and can even cause harm. Lawmakers who opposed the publication of these data rightfully pointed out the public safety concerns that go with publicizing lists of gun owners.

But that doesn’t mean journalists should back down from investigations about concealed carry, and lawmakers would be wrong to make these data private.

The Bangor Daily News in Maine sought information about concealed carry permit holders but dropped the request after Republican lawmakers held a press conference condemning the newspaper.

The Cherokee Scout in Murphy, N.C., withdrew its FOIA request, then published an apology to its readers.The newspaper requested the data Feb. 19.The local sheriff claimed the data weren’t public, readers complained to the newspaper, and The Cherokee Scout dropped its request just three days after making it, and the editor of the paper resigned shortly thereafter.

The papers in Bangor and Murphy shouldn’t have dropped their requests. Journalists have to stand up against public outrage and legislative bullying.

But it’s also important that newspapers and journalists keep in mind their responsibility to the public.

We can’t just broadcast raw information, especially on a topic as sensitive as gun ownership. Journalists are detectives, writers and analysts. We need to use all of those skills to make sense of gun ownership in the United States.

So to the newspapers in this country: Remember your role in society. Analyze data and help the public good. Be bold. And don’t shrink from public outrage of legislative threats.