tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post8859385144106373986..comments2021-02-24T10:47:44.767-05:00Comments on Inside Story: Gun permits: We should handle with care, but keep them public recordsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-63844352842788356602013-03-05T10:06:04.680-05:002013-03-05T10:06:04.680-05:00"Gun enthusiasts threatening to kill them&quo..."Gun enthusiasts threatening to kill them"?? <br /><br />I like how you take a jab and then ask that we forget that for now. Can we also forget about the criminals who used that list to choose a home to break into? That would be convenient.....the ACTUAL consequential actions of publishing that list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-25304344922108646532013-03-05T09:39:58.629-05:002013-03-05T09:39:58.629-05:00You know.
Legislated secrecy, eh?
Reminds me o...You know. <br /><br />Legislated secrecy, eh?<br /><br />Reminds me of the CMPD decision to remove easy access to the police incident reports.<br /><br />That way, all police information gets properly filtered by our government for our own protection against our own ignorance.<br /><br />Yeah, I'm buying that...<br /><br />Someone is just uncomfortable with the public holding them accountable.Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-47793911011075734332013-03-04T17:01:27.554-05:002013-03-04T17:01:27.554-05:00What has brought us here, Rick, is the First Amend...What has brought us here, Rick, is the First Amendment, Freedom of the Press<br /><br />What has kept that freedom is the Second Amendment.<br /><br />End of storyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-70634456843081783872013-03-04T08:54:42.892-05:002013-03-04T08:54:42.892-05:00Anonymous 7:53 a.m., I'm glad you raised the i...Anonymous 7:53 a.m., I'm glad you raised the issue of taxpayer-funded salaries. Yes, we do publish those. That's an example of how we weigh the public's right to know against the potential for harm for the parties involved, and why the answer is different, depending on what is being disclosed. We realize that many government employees would prefer that their salaries not be public record. And we harbor no ill intentions with this policy. But taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent in all areas of government. I will also add this. More than a few government employees have told us that they discovered unfair pay practices within their ranks by reviewing the salary databases. And more than a few taxpayers have told us that they were incensed at some of the high-end salaries they discovered. These are examples of how transparency generally is a good policy for everyone. To sample the alternative, look no farther than countries that do not follow the principles of a democracy. You won't find any public records databases in Russia or China. That's why we should all be alarmed when our elected officials try to legislate secrecy, even as they think they are helping us. Legislated secrecy always strengthens the hand of government and weakens the hands of its citizens. Always.Rick Thameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06197848962868842639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-20666022210083020722013-03-04T08:35:44.778-05:002013-03-04T08:35:44.778-05:00Anon 11:58 wrote:
"I have yet to see a polit...Anon 11:58 wrote:<br /><br />"I have yet to see a politician talk about how they intend to take away weapons from criminals"<br /><br />Yep. That's the bigger problem, isn't it?<br /><br />Our society protects and coddles criminals.<br /><br />We even allow juvenile felons to "mainstream" back into our schools WITHOUT WARNING PARENTS that their kids may be sitting next to a FELON in the classroom.<br /><br />How STUPID is that?<br /><br />We have a sex offender registry (at least down here in SC) and while that supposedly lets me know that there IS a sex offender living just a half-mile from my house (as there is).<br /><br />But it is also interesting that he was last arrested for FAILING TO REPORT HIS ADDRESS.<br /><br />So again, where's the pain for him, he's still free?<br /><br />That's the problem with registrations and laws in general.<br /><br />Honest, law-abiding citizens will abide by the law.<br /><br />CRIMINALS DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW.<br /><br />Again, the problem is letting the criminals roam our streets freely.<br /><br />Especially the violent criminals.<br /><br />The problem is PEOPLE, not GUNS. <br /><br />We need tougher prisons, longer sentences, and lower prison costs so we can afford to keep violent people locked up longer. <br /><br />Because we sure aren't going to "rehabilitate" them.Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-27360812058692935042013-03-04T08:12:01.458-05:002013-03-04T08:12:01.458-05:00As a counterpoint to the majority of comments here...As a counterpoint to the majority of comments here, what if there is a sheriff's office refusing to approve permits fairly? Without access to the data, it may be impossible to demonstrate that the only people getting permits in that county are donors to the sheriffs campaign committee. There are a few newspapers still openly practicing journalism; they're not all bad. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-61753198073216380262013-03-04T07:53:25.378-05:002013-03-04T07:53:25.378-05:00We should definitely trust you with our personal i...We should definitely trust you with our personal information, Rick. <br /><br />Oh wait, don't you publish the entire database of NC government employee salaries, including names?<br /><br />Oh wait, don't you publish the entire database of CMS employee salaries, including names? And the 8 surrounding counties?<br /><br />Yeah, you're trustworthy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-81191734567550632842013-03-03T21:45:04.922-05:002013-03-03T21:45:04.922-05:00What "trends" are you looking for? Other...What "trends" are you looking for? Other than knowing sales increased, what could it possibly be? How many white people purchased guns? How many women? What socio-economic group increased the most? This is specious at best. There is no public serving reason to make this data available so you can formulate theories as to why gun sales increased or where. All it takes is one person with the power at the Disturber and an anti-gun bias and this list goes viral. We DO NOT TRUST YOU.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-22798928343702587792013-03-03T20:57:51.837-05:002013-03-03T20:57:51.837-05:00It took me 9 months to get through the process to ...It took me 9 months to get through the process to obtain a purchase permit, take the concealed carry class, be interviewed by the sheriff's dept. and purchase a handgun. I was finger printed and everything about me was documented. If I was a criminal I could have gone down to Trade and Tryon and had a gun in an hour and the public and the police would be none the wiser. The Sheriff's Dept. said the reason why I wouldn't do that is because I was a "Law Abiding Citizen". No one other than the Sheriff's dept. needs to know I own a gun. <br /><br />The criminals are the ones we need to know about and disarm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-41192426057534909522013-03-03T20:53:29.796-05:002013-03-03T20:53:29.796-05:00Two reasons for not making the database public:
1....Two reasons for not making the database public:<br />1. Complete lack of trust in the media, including the Observer. While it may not serve the current editorial staff to publish the names of permit holders, what if a new editor comes in and thinks differently? The public does NOT have a right to know whether I have a gun permit - it does not affect them.<br /><br />2. There are numerous databases that query this information and publish it for use by creditors, private investigators, etc. They have no need for this information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-34216331223976981572013-03-03T19:35:22.827-05:002013-03-03T19:35:22.827-05:00Hey Rick: Try and have a few horrific stories abo...Hey Rick: Try and have a few horrific stories about how people saved their lives by having a gun.<br /><br />That might be a little more balanced as we are sure you are not trying to promote only certain views.Ettolrahchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06291283028895857071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-72797225672663790822013-03-03T16:28:53.772-05:002013-03-03T16:28:53.772-05:00...Then why don't you publish the names of rap......Then why don't you publish the names of rape or child abuse victims?<br /><br />Shouldn't we have the right to see that information?<br /><br />What about "anonymous sources"?<br /><br />Where do we draw the line?Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-48916796355051187372013-03-03T15:55:56.344-05:002013-03-03T15:55:56.344-05:00Set aside for a moment the handful of journalists ...Set aside for a moment the handful of journalists who have published wholesale lists of people with gun permits - <br /><br />Sorry Charlie, no we are not. The liberal media is the enemy in this country you may as well sit back and enjoy it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-3519532807940467212013-03-03T15:50:16.501-05:002013-03-03T15:50:16.501-05:00Rick, since no one bothers to look up gun permit r...Rick, since no one bothers to look up gun permit records except newspapers, you have your answer. Secrecy is what everyone wants. You and your newspaper need to keep your noses out of private citizens' information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-56552032997003355652013-03-03T15:18:18.204-05:002013-03-03T15:18:18.204-05:00Anonymous 10:42, your distrust comes through loud ...Anonymous 10:42, your distrust comes through loud and clear. So, do you trust the government to grant and revoke gun permits in secrecy? Or would you rather have the right to see what they are doing?Rick Thameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06197848962868842639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-73099928699289618152013-03-03T14:53:46.045-05:002013-03-03T14:53:46.045-05:00Let's talk about the REAL problem; over zealou...Let's talk about the REAL problem; over zealous liberals and their newspapers who are dying by the day.<br /><br />The stunt pulled in NY was for two reasons - sell papers and push an agenda.<br /><br />Gun permits should be public, but the old saying that "the pen is mightier than the sword" to me means that the reckless use of information and the publishing of it, can be just as dangerous as a deranged person with a weapon.<br /><br />Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-63572503582945143962013-03-03T11:58:05.693-05:002013-03-03T11:58:05.693-05:00I have several issues with this argument.
With ...I have several issues with this argument. <br /><br />With all of the rape, child abuses, and sex scandals going on should we make anything of "adult content" purchased public as well. I am more worried about my daughter being sexually abused than shot!!!<br /><br />People don't break in to steal guns because legal rights are there to obtain them. If you remove all rights to buy guns you will seem the weapons become very hot commodities for those wishing to have them. If a list exists to locate them; guess what happens. ...rightful and law abiding citizens are victimized. <br /><br />I have yet to see a politician talk about how they intend to take away weapons from criminals; only law abiding citizens. Any infringement, public attack, or more towards those citizens is wrong. <br /><br />I can't speak against your comments about felons having permits. It's a broken system related to revoking the permits but what's not covered is the legal measures taken to issue them. ...but yes, they should have lost their permits upon the felony conviction!<br /><br />Citizens have no right to know what I purchase. My neighbors are in no harm. Just like I am in no way obliged to knowledge of what sex websites, adult material/goods, etc my neighbors buy; even at the risk of my children!! <br /><br />Where we draw the line is a difficult discussion but you are on a very slippery slope!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-53396679609527736302013-03-03T10:42:32.108-05:002013-03-03T10:42:32.108-05:00Rick, I'll put this bluntly.
WE.DON'T.TRUS...Rick, I'll put this bluntly.<br />WE.DON'T.TRUST.YOU.<br /><br />Your paper and every other media outlet in America is now a think tank for political propaganda and because of this, your industry has lost the trust of the public.<br /><br />You can't be trusted with our names and addresses and we want them kept away from you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311697705437855137.post-48041807246064237132013-03-03T10:19:39.181-05:002013-03-03T10:19:39.181-05:00Permits will never stop a criminal in our society....Permits will never stop a criminal in our society.<br /><br />That's the whole point of being a criminal.<br /><br />You break laws.<br /><br />It's what we do AFTER those laws are broken that make a difference.<br /><br />Punishment for crimes is the only solution.<br /><br />That's where we've failed.Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.com