Lessons learned in database incident (VA - Roanoke Times appologizes)

Roanoke Times ^ | Sunday, March 25, 2007 | Editor

[BorisTheBulletDodger]

I guess thats an appology...

[BorisTheBulletDodger]

Arrgh... "apologizes"
sorry.
-btbd

[LdSentinal]

That's not a apology.

[trumandogz]

Second Amendment, Meet First Amendment.



First Amendment, Meet Second Amendment.

[Cicero]

Q: "The difficulty we've faced since is how to respond to the rational objections without validating the abusive tactics and attacks waged against this newspaper and the columnist who wrote a piece linked to the database."

A: Resign.

[jimtorr]

.....the outrageous and threatening nature of much of the response...... the unacceptable antics of the fringe......

Mr. Editor, those threats may not have been the fringe speaking, but the outrage of the mainstream gun-owners who feel threatened by your irresponsiblity.

[Phsstpok]

I suggest we start a well publicized project to post the names, home addresses and phone numbers along with photos of all employees of every old media news organization, starting with this one.

If anyone whose name was published as part of this concealed carry database is harmed in anyway everyone who works for this paper, starting with the owner and publisher, should be charged with the crime.

[glorgau]

First, we had a legal right to post the database.

They have a legal right to be jerks, but that doesn't mean they have to be jerks. They wanted to be jerks.

[Congressman Billybob]

It is a lame apology. Of course they should have known BEFORE they published the list that legal guns could be stolen from legal owners and used by criminals. That's been happening for two years in Canada, where they have a public list of gun owners.

It's called research, you nitwits.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "Charlie and Rosie are Scum"

[samadams2000]

I say we have a right to publish the addresses of the editors and we should do it and issue a weakneed sort of after the fact apology later.

[Spirochete]

I say we have a right to publish the addresses of the editors and we should do it and issue a weakneed sort of after the fact apology later.

After all, property tax rolls are public information, esay to obtain legally.

[NewJerseyJoe]

That is the sh*ttiest "apology" I've ever seen.

[School of Rational Thought]

Clearly this is an example of how well jurisdictions monitor free speach rights. Why is there no waiting period either before publishing?

[sarasmom]

I think someone should.

After all, reporters are "public figures" are they not?
And is not their personal contact information publically available?
If someone just happens to datamine government records information not normally widely available, but related to the specific individuals of interest, well, its just doing an investigative service for the general public that the journalists themselves have refused to do, isn't it?
And if any reporter actually gets physically harmed in the process, how on earth could they prove that the mere consolidated publication of datamined open records information was the source of harm?
Or that the person who datamined the information intended harm?

[goldstategop]

The liberal form of apology is smart aleck condescension accompanied by an arrogant proclamation to the effect, "we are right but went about it the wrong way." It sounds sincere, alright.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

They do have a legal right. But they never got around to examing the other side of the coin, the ethical consequences of publishing it. Its funny how ethics go out of the window when the Drive Bys/MSM see fair political game to hunt or enemies against which to seek political retribution.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Publius6961]

After all, reporters are "public figures" are they not? And is not their personal contact information publically available?

Public records hold all sorts of fascinating information...

Arrests for DUI.
Bankruptcies.

Charges of domestic abuse.
Arrests or citation for possession or use of illegal drugs.
In arrears for child support.

The creative abuse, under the rules set out by this loser editor, is limitless...

[goldstategop]

Exactly. If its good enough for the peasants, its good enough for the lords.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[FreedomPoster]

In case you didn't read the initial article they published, annoucing the database, it was pretty obvious that the writer was an obnoxious Lefty twit. And that's putting it nicely.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Talk about a back-handed "apology." The idiots that run this paper still don't get it, despite their lip service. Coming from that part of Virginia, I can safely say that once the editor(s) are on the local folks' "crap" list, they will stay there for the foreseeable future.