Free Republic

Doug Clifton Defends His Paper's Action on Guns on NRA Radio Program By Joe Strupp Published: July 29, 2004 NEW YORK Editor Doug Clifton of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, who drew attacks from a gun rights group after publishing lists of local residents who carry concealed weapons permits, defended his position Thursday during an appearance on a National Rifle Association radio program, in which he admitted owning a pistol and appreciating gun rights. “I have had guns my whole life, I have a gun in my home – a pistol,” Clifton said during the 30-minute appearance on Cam &...

Cleveland Editor Takes Heat for Publishing Gun List Plain Dealer Editor Doug Clifton By Joe Strupp Published: July 28, 2004 11:25 PM EST NEW YORK When Ohio legislators approved a new law allowing residents to carry concealed weapons, but allowed only the media to find out the names of those obtaining such permits, The Plain Dealer in Cleveland decided to let the public know which of their neighbors were on the list. Starting Wednesday, the paper began publishing the names, ages and home counties of the 3,000 residents who have taken out such permits, citing the public's right to know....

A RIGHT TO KNOW As a lifelong consumer of the written word displayed on paper, the prospect of talking to readers by way of a "blog" is a little unnerving. I've decided to tip toe into these electronic waters because I recognize that to ignore change is to be consumed by it. At The Plain Dealer we communicate with our readers a number of ways, the pages of the paper being the most obvious. 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...