..."Criminal Justice" reporter Mike McWilliams, Publisher Mike Beck, and News Editor Teresa Thorpe of The Iowa City Press Citizen, for irresponsibly, and with hatred aforethought, printing the names and addresses of Johnson county concealed weapon permit holders (I'll not directly link to that list here).
Must a person who got their CCW because they have cause to fear someone finding them get hurt or killed before "authorized journalists" are held accountable for their actions?
CCW holders aren't the only people with addresses that can be posted, but I don't fight that way.
[Via Tavis]
Iowa "newspaper" publishers sued the state to get at those records a few years ago. Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette and even my own home-town weekly wipe publishes the CCW holders.
ReplyDeleteThe publishing of names had one good outcome: Iowa CCWs are at the discretion of each county sheriff. The sheriff in the county next to mine would never find a reason to allow a mere citizen to carry. The the list was published and we discovered all of his friends and family had permits (and a few "only ones"). He was booted out in the following election and replaced with a more understanding sheriff. CCW permits increased as a result.
Maybe it's time you did, David, although getting the crooked sheriff booted was one GOOD thing that came from posting the list.
ReplyDeleteThere should be NO "permit" required in the first place.
ReplyDeleteTo slam home the point about printing the list. The local market should bury the paper by boycotting any advertiser. Let us not forget the all important lessons learned from Zumboizing....
Action, and threat of loss of income, can bring very fast results. Have the locals contact advertisers, and inform them they will no longer purchase their products or services. Potential loss can indeed change minds very quickly....
E.David - I agree with the no permits. "Permit" is the root of the word permission, and no one should have to ask permission to exercise a right.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Iowa City is a liberal's utopia where candidates from the social worker's party regularly get elected there. The Johnson county sheriff is not a friend of gun owners.
A local boycott would never work there. That town (and county) is full of sheep bleating to their masters. Printing of the list is celebrated by almost all there. Gun owners are held in disdain - right up there next to tobacco smokers. I know, I lived there.