A Right to Know [FREEP- Newspaper Editor Threatens to Publish Names of Gun Owners, AGAIN!]

Cleveland Plain Dealer ^ | 1/16/04 | Doug Clifton, Editor

[TastyManatees]

The Editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Doug Clifton, has AGAIN threatened the citizens of Ohio. Specifically, the Plain Dealer is now threatening to publish the names and addresses of anyone who gets a concealed carry permit under Ohio's new permit law. A few days ago, Clifton wrote an editorial where he said:

"Since Taft chooses to hide behind journalists on this vital public-records matter, it is this newspaper's intention to obtain this information and publish it. Our readers deserve to know the identities of those who obtain permits to carry their guns in public. We hope other news organizations will do the same in their communities."

He defends his decision to publish the names and addresses of holders of concealed carry permits in his newspaper, and refers to the messages that immediately called him on his decision as:

"[H]ate filled spewings, messages that do no service to folks with principled views on the subject."

Please send this gentleman a thoughtful and civil note informing him how you feel about his decision to use his newspaper as a tool to discourage people in Ohio from pursuing their civil rights.

Doug Clifton's Direct E-mail is: DClifton@plaind.com.

Tasty Manatees

[NYCVirago]

But the "how to reach us" box on 2A lists e-mail addresses and phone numbers for senior editors and similar information appears at the bottom of every staff produced story. Those devices make the communication more personal and more immediate. Some times it's so personal and so immediate you can feel its heat.

Hey, Mr. Editor, instead of work phone numbers and emails for your staff, why not print your staff's home addresses and phone numbers? Don't the people have the right to know?

[TastyManatees]

Update. Ohio newspaper editor again threatens to misuse newspaper to puboish names and addresses of concealed carry permit holders.

Tasty Manatees

[baltodog]

Send him and his staff photos of their spouses and kids.

Simple as that.

[07055]

Why not require journalists be licensed too? After all, look at the harm a journalist can do to someone's reputation. Licensing will ensure the safety of the public.

[Orangedog]

Better yet, post them on a website.

[RightWhale]

This is a non-threat. Everyone should be presumed armed whether their weapon is concealed or not. That is not the point of concealed weapons.

[ClintonBeGone]

We should have access to any and all government records.

[CindyDawg]

Actually this might back fire. It will also show who isn't armed. Burglars will now be able to be more selective.

[Humidston]

Bingo! I was thinking the same thing! The bad guys will avoid all those people who DO have arms and concentrate on those unarmed sitting ducks!

And some of that paper's staff would probably fall into that category, LOL!

[DeepDish]

Send him and his staff photos of their spouses and kids.

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG Do it tit for tat. Publish widely his information but leave the family out of it. And let him know it before he publishes that two can play this game. Send nothing to him but the certainty that his personal info will be published just he does to others. It would be a mark of cowardice to intimidate the family as the wife probably knows she married a maroon and lives with her own burden.

[BenLurkin]

"Some argue that gun ownership information is a sacred right that government has no right to know or share. "

Yeah, I'd go with that.

[Drango]

This is easy to stop. Publish online the names, addresses and phone numbers of the editor, reporters and publisher.

And if that doesn't work publish the names and school where their kids attend. (Not a serious suggestion, just funning the editor)

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Is there any competition in Cleveland for the Plain Dealer?

Here's my suggestion for those in Ohio:

Write an email. Send it to all your friends who you think won't appreciate this, and encourage them to pass it on to others who might be Plain Dealer subscribers or live in Cleveland.

Include the Plain Dealer postal address, email contacts and phone numbers. Encourage them to write a letter, call, or both. Content along the lines of:

"If you choose to violate the privacy of law-abiding Cleveland citizens by publishing their personal information in your newspaper, that's an ability our legislature has given you, but be advised that if you do choose to do so, I personally will be cancelling my subscription immediately, and I will never be your customer again."

Encourage people to be polite. Polite, but firm. This is outrageous.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

A couple of key points again:

This is an outrageous violation of the privacy of law-abiding citizens.

If you choose to go through with this, I will cancel my subscription immediately -- and I will encourage all of my friends who subscribe to do the same.

And if they DO go through with it, then follow through.

Be polite, but let them know the consequences.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

A couple more notes (just to capture the steam escaping from my ears!)

They think they can get away with this because only 1 or 2% of citizens will apply for permits.

Your emails to friends should stress that this is a violation of EVERYBODY'S rights. Maybe along the lines of: "The Cleveland Plain Dealer plans to intimidate honest, law-abiding Cleveland citizens from exercising the right to defend themselves, their families and their neighbors - by openly publishing the name and address of anyone in Cleveland who dares to legally apply for a concealed carry permit..."

[Mark]

That was my thought also. Maybe even set up a website: Burglars Robbers-Rapists R Us - publish names and addresses of the libs not having guns.

[AdamSelene235]

Doug Clifton has been editor of The Plain Dealer since June 1, 1999. He began his newspaper career in 1970 at The Miami Herald's Action Line. Over the next 17 years he held a variety of reporting and editing assignments at The Herald, including city editor and deputy managing editor. He subsequently served as news editor of Knight Ridder's Washington bureau and as managing editor of The Charlotte Observer, another Knight Ridder newspaper.

Mr. Clifton returned to The Miami Herald in 1991 as executive editor. Under his leadership, The Herald won three Pulitzer Prizes, one for meritorious public service in 1992 for coverage of Hurricane Andrew, a second for commentary and a third for investigative reporting. During that time The Herald also was a Pulitzer finalist in feature writing, commentary, investigative reporting and twice in photography.

Clifton, originally from Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Dowling College in Long Island, with a political science degree and served three years in the U.S. Army, including a year as an artillery officer in Vietnam in the late 1960s. He and his wife, Peg Clifton, have two adult children and two grandchildren. They live in Bratenahl.

[Drango]

He and his wife, Peg Clifton, have two adult children and two grandchildren. They live in Bratenahl.

Where do the grandkids live? (Just joking)