Local newspaper backs down on pistol permit holders

[David LaPell]

There has been an ongoing fued now between gun owners, in particular, pistol permit holders in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties here in NY and the Post Star newspaper. Back in February, 2008 one reporter decided to FOIL the names of all of those people. Once it was found out, there was a boycott because the newspaper was going to publish the names online, an obvious risk to the families of the permit holders because criminals will certainly take advantage of any opportunity.
This week is what the news industry calls Sunshine Week, which is apparently a call to action for those who cry for open government from the media. So as I have done since the names were collected by this local newspaper, I contacted the editor directly and asked him what had become of those names, and was there an intention to still use them. My reply was a single sentence. "That's not true. We do not have that information." Right now I am waiting for confirmation of what that means. Did they get rid of the names, or id the editor attempting to say that they never had them in the first place, which is a lie. If they got rid of them, well then the gun owners of those three counties can claim a victory, at least for now. It should have never been needed. If the Editor however denies the FOIL request, why? Is he afraid of the backlash and boycott that is still ongoing to this day? I can't wait to hear his answer.

 

[PDL]

Wouldn't the govenment agency resposible be able to confirm the FOI request? I can't believe they wouldn't have a copy. And the request documentation itself should also be able to be seen with an FOI request, if they won't verbally confirm.

 

[bmx]

Find out all of the newspapers employees names, addresses, phone numbers etc., and tell the editor that you will publish the list if the paper publishes the list of permit holders. Try to buy ad space from the paper....if they won't sell space to you have Kinkos print up flyers and canvass shopping centers etc., also use an e-mail campaign against the paper. Take up a collection and buy radio time if possible.

Also state that the paper is against the Constitution and private ownership of firearms. Word it in a manner to convey the message that the newspaper employees do not own guns and are unarmed.

Fight fire with fire and give them a dose of their own medicine.

We must be more agressive in fighting this type of stupidty

I bet the paper would fold their cards in a heartbeat

 

[cmort666]

Find out all of the newspapers employees names, addresses, phone numbers etc., and tell the editor that you will publish the list if the paper publishes the list of permit holders. Try to buy ad space from the paper....if they won't sell space to you have Kinkos print up flyers and canvass shopping centers etc., also use an e-mail campaign against the paper. Take up a collection and buy radio time if possible.

Also state that the paper is against the Constitution and private ownership of firearms. Word it in a manner to convey the message that the newspaper employees do not own guns and are unarmed.

Fight fire with fire and give them a dose of their own medicine.

We must be more agressive in fighting this type of stupidty

I bet the paper would fold their cards in a heartbeat

The tables were turned on the personnel of several Ohio newspapers in this way. They didn't like it one bit either. It's amazing the amount of information you can get on people... even on their ex-wives. The legislature then made it unlawful for them to copy the records. They can look at them and write them down long hand, but apparently that involves actual work, taking most of the fun out of it. I'm unaware of any similar problems recently.

 

[brucev]

Gather the information and publish it on Facebook and websites. Just get the information out. Give the journalist and publishers a taste of the first amendment.

 

[oldman45]

Or very politely ask them that if the Second falls, how far behind will the First be.

The Second is what makes the others work.

I have always felt it best to change the mind of one person at a time. Publishing names and addresses could border on being illegal whereas publishing the names of those with the right to carry would be the same as publishing any licensed group. Having a license issued for any reason by a government agency falls under the FOI and therefore public record. Publishing the private info about a public citizen could be construed to be an invasion of privacy.

 

[Hoptob]

I just wish one of the Seattle newspapers tried to pull it off. But they won't. Why? Because a newspaper issue with the printed list of all CCW holders would look like local White pages.

5% of adult residents here have CCW.



Mike

 

[bmx]

Having a license issued for any reason by a government agency falls under the FOI and therefore public record. Publishing the private info about a public citizen could be construed to be an invasion of privacy.[/QUOTE]


Most states do not allow publishing the CCW permit holders information due to the nature of a CCW permit.

If they publish my info as a CCW permit holder they have definately invaded my privacy and possibly comprimised my personal security.

IMHO opinion if they want to play these type of games I can retaliate as well........what's fair for the goose is fair for the gander.

 

[7shooter]

MN does not allow the release of permit holders personal data.

 

[Sebago Son]

The moonbats up here tried that with the local yellow rag, the Portland Press Herald.

Coincidentally, at the same time there was a movement afoot to try to make any Maine gun owner criminally liable if their stolen firearms were used in a felony.

I contacted the Editor of the PPH and told him that if I was broken into and robbed of guns, that he would be the first person named in a very public civil lawsuit and that I would swear out a warrant for his arrest as a co-conspirator if I was prosecuted for the misuse of any stolen gun of mine.

Not long thereafter, the issue quietly went away.

Drew

 

[nipster]

Most states do not allow publishing the CCW permit holders information due to the nature of a CCW permit.

That's correct, it's specifically stated in statute that CWP information is NOT subject to public records searches. Same as cops names / addresses.

If they publish my info as a CCW permit holder they have definately invaded my privacy and possibly comprimised my personal security.

While that may be true, if you live in a state where that is not explicitly made unlawful, you have zero recourse. It sucks, but it's just one of those things.

IMHO opinion if they want to play these type of games I can retaliate as well........what's fair for the goose is fair for the gander.

You can try, I am guessing the media outlets have deeper pockets than you and no lawyer would touch that case on a contingency basis

 

[elm_creek_smith]

You can try, I am guessing the media outlets have deeper pockets than you and no lawyer would touch that case on a contingency basis

You don't know my brother-in-law the attorney. (It took him a long time to get the family to stop saying "criminal attorney" and start saying "criminal defense attorney." I never did refer to him as a "criminal attorney" because I consider that redundant.)

ECS