Posted on 11/09/2005 8:09:47 PM PST by aberaussie
I am sorry I don't have the original article, but it has been removed from the WFTV web site. They did a big expose this week on the proliferation of concealed carry permit holders in Central Florda. On their web site they had links to excel files containing lists of permit holders by county including names, addresses, birth dates and permit numbers. Of course, that is all a matter of public record, but they made it easy to access and, from what I have been told by those who heard their promos on the TV and radio, they told people to go to their web site to find out which of their neighbors might be carrying. Here is the e-mail I sent to the station:
I would like to know for what purpose your station put links to the CCW permit lists on your website. Were you interested in letting criminals know where they could go to steal guns?
I hope you will be as quick to expose criminals' names and addresses as you are to "out" those law-abiding citizens who just want to be able to protect themselves legally.
And here is the reply I received:
Ms. Aberaussie, thank you for taking the time to share your opinion with us. We take your concerns very seriously, and we understand that you strongly disagree with the station's decision to publish state records identifying concealed weapon permit holders in Central Florida.
While we very much respect your viewpoint, we believe that our story regarding concealed weapon permits, as well as the identities of those who have elected to obtain those permits, is newsworthy and of legitimate concern to the public. The Florida legislature has deemed that the identity of permit holders, including their names, addresses, dates of birth and permit numbers, is public information. While the legislature has determined that law abiding citizens have the right to carry a concealed weapon, it also has determined that their fellow citizens have a right to know who has been granted such a permit.
However, to the extent that you have any continuing concerns about the publication on the station's website of the state's list of permit holders, you should be reassured by the fact that this information is no longer available on the website as a result of the station's normal process of removing dated materials. We hope this will ease any concerns you may have.
Again, we thank you for taking the time to contact us. Please know that we hear you, and we understand your concerns. Hopefully, we can move forward from here with mutual respect and a better understanding of each other's viewpoint on this matter.
Naughtin, Linda (CBI-Orlando TV) [Linda.Naughtin@wftv.com]
Now, I have trouble believing that they removed the links as part of their regular updating process. I checked the site several times during the day on Tuesday, and about mid-afternoon the links to the lists disappeared, but the article was still there. I do know that one person I know who was calling WFTV and Tallahasee regarding the article and the links was told that both the station and the Department of Licensing were flooded with calls.
Where I live, CCW permits are easily obtained by law abiding citizens. Every so often however, the local newspaper publishes the names and addresses of new permit holders.
My wife was taking a sewing class at the community college and the talk turned to guns. It turned out everyone was either carrying a gun or had one in the car. This was a bunch of ladies at a sewing class!
I like the gun free zone signs posted at some locations around Missouri. Those businesses have "rob me" posted for everyone to see.
Ahhhhh the innocence of idiocy.
I think posting the names and addresses of CCW permit holders is excessive. Recently the Missouri Sec of State Removed the personal addresses of government employees from the "official government listing" due to protection of confidential information and the fear of retaliation.
Sounds like a legitimate concern for CCW holders. If I have a non published phone number and somebody posts my number on a web site, could they be in violation of "NO CALL LIST" information sharing??
Contact your Atty General.
I don't get your objection. I have no problem with anything of public record, being posted on the internet about myself. Public record is just that, public.
Now we have a quandry. Is this information private or is it a matter of public record? It can't be both.
Remember the station when they apply for a new FCC broadcast license. There is a period that allows public comment on the licensing. Public input can be introduced into the record at the FCC licensing hearing. Make them explain how such action benefits the public.
What we really need is a list of all government employees with the addresses and telephone numbers in case we want to check up on them or give them some free advice.
It is a matter of public record, but my beef is that the station sensationalized the issue and encouraged people to take a look at the lists, then made it easy to do so. Our name begins with Ab, so we were on the first page people looked at. I don't know how easy the info is to get normally. I went to the Florida CCW site and did not see any links to lists of permit holders.
You can't sue someone for making a matter of public record, public. What part of public record don't you people understand?
This is America. You may not win but anyone can sue anyone. It shouldn't be but it is a public record. IMO, posting the list under a legitimate concern is putting legal gun owners in a criminal, to be watched catagory though. Criminals, who might not have even known to look this up now can just take a list with them as they cruise for targets. The ironic thing is that the people who aren't licensed may be the very ones picked.
You should write them and tell them you will send letters to the FCC the next time their license comes up for renewal and recommend that it not be granted. Imagine if thousands of CCW permit holders write letters to the FCC?
I don't particularly care if my name goes on a public list of ccw permit holders. If someone wants to come to my house to steal a gun, their first obstacle will be to avoid becoming a happy meal for a BIG dog, it gets worse from there, there is at least one armed person in the house 99.9% of the time.
There are all kinds of documents that are public record but are not allowed to be disclosed to third parties without permission of the person about whom the record is kept. It is a federal crime to disclose someones's college transcripts without permsission. Drivers licenses are public records, but only authorized persons are allowed to access the database of license information.
So, Linda Naughtin wouldn't mind if we posted her address and phone number on this message board then? After all, it's in the public record.
I'd kinda like to be on a public "don't f*** with me list." Where's the problem?
You should have also mentioned that they were publishing a list of people (by omission) who did not posses the means of self defense, whereby possibly subecting those people to harm or even death.
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