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Again

The latest paper to publish a database of handgun carry permit holders: The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Perhaps someone should publish a list of their reporters names and home addresses. Then someone could compare them to, say, unpaid tax records, crime databases, bankruptcy, DUI registries, or some such?

Another reason we need the privacy bill that Kent Williams said he’d help pass.

Update & bump: Michael Silence notes the peculiar classification of handgun carry permit data at the Commercial Appeal’s website:

Well, I wouldn’t lump law-abiding permit holders in with felons, hate crimes and FBI crime reports under the heading, Public Safety. Funny, I don’t see a category for Individual Rights.

What bias?

Update 2: In comments, whitebread reports a response to the problem (though not much of one):

I appreciate your concern and please know I do not take it lightly. Balancing the public’s right to know with privacy concerns is always very difficult. Because of the concerns you raised, and those raised by others, we have removed the street address from the database.

Louis Graham
Asst. Managing Editor

Update: Turnabout being fairplay and all.

30 Responses to “Again”

  1. RuffRidr Says:

    You know, that’s not a half bad idea. Here’s a full list of their staff:

    http://www.commercialappeal.com/staff/

    I bet it wouldn’t take long at all to get the address and possibly phone numbers for many of these. At least the less common names would be pretty easy.

  2. Josh Says:

    I say let’s do it. I could help in trying to find some of the information. I will post it on my site. Then, we can send the list to bloggers that want to do the same.

  3. Dan A. Says:

    I realize it’s covered by current campaign finance law, but I find publishing who contributed money to be nearly as offensive. If a candidate wants to publish big dollar doners for transparency, that’s fine. But if the average Joe gives $10, why should he be published?

  4. N.U.G.U.N. Says:

    Frankly, if my family were harmed because some local newspaper published such info. And a criminal decided to break into all such homes to attempt to steal firearms.

    Rest assured…those involved in the media would pay dearly.

  5. Whitebread Says:

    I got this response to my comment:

    [Whitebread]:

    I appreciate your concern and please know I do not take it lightly. Balancing the public’s right to know with privacy concerns is always very difficult. Because of the concerns you raised, and those raised by others, we have removed the street address from the database.

    Louis Graham
    Asst. Managing Editor

  6. Rich Hailey Says:

    http://shotsacrossthebow.com/archives/003287.html#003287

    Here’s a good start.

  7. the pistolero Says:

    we have removed the street address from the database

    Yep, because as we all know that completely mitigates the invasion of privacy. After all, it’s not as if they could find the street addresses in the White Pages or anything.

  8. Ron W Says:

    I think if the Commercial Appeal reporters, editors, etc. were required to obtain a state permit to exercise their First Amendment rights, they would be hollering “civil rights” violations!! Furhtermore if they had to do that and ahve all the personal info required for teh gun permits NOT PROTECTED by the state, they would be hollering for their 4th Amendment rights….and rightly so. So why do they want the rights of others violated?? I guess it’s liek the quote from Nazi Germany…when they came for the Jews, I wans’t Jewish so I said nothing…”

  9. the pistolero Says:

    So why do they want the rights of others violated?
    Because some rights, in their world, are more equal than others. I am quite glad the CHL records are closed to the media here in Texas.

  10. Wolfwood Says:

    I’d bet spending a few bucks searching through PACER could be enlightening. Whatever Tennessee’s equivalent of FOIA is, too.

  11. _Jon Says:

    What they don’t know – ironically – is that they put themselves at risk by publishing that information.
    If they are on the list, then thieves could burglarize their home when they aren’t there to get the (likely) accessories.
    If they are not on the list, then thugs could target them for mugging because the thugs *know* the person is not carrying.

    Bad move, either way. And they make a lot of other people not happy. Triple bad.

  12. Ride Fast Says:

    […] Freedom of Information in the New Democracy […]

  13. LissaKay Says:

    I spent a few minutes of my lunch hour and checked their names in the database. None of them have carry permits. So, it would seem that while out on the streets, and probably at home as well, they are helpless as kittens.

  14. Gunstar1 Says:

    Why is it that these reporters/editors never seem to learn from their counterparts in other locations?

    They always say it is for public safety, but it seems permit holders are not considered members of the public.

    When the government looks at cuting off access to the list, the media always says: Oh we will be responsible and not publish sensitive info… we need it to make sure that prohibited people do not get licenses. They simply want the data to make sure the Gov is issueing licenses to non-prohibited people. If you restrict the data then they cant do that vital check.

    Then you get some fool who thinks publishing all the names and addresses is responsible.

    I am not sure if it is incompetence for not knowing the other situations or lazyness for not doing the legwork yourself of crosschecking against convictions and simply publishing the statistics.

    When the list is finally made private, permit holders and honest reporters (there are a few still left) can “thank” the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

  15. Rich in Ohio Says:

    Gun Owners have no rights that the media is bound to respect.

  16. Cargosquid Says:

    Whitebread: I appreciate your concern and please know I do not take it lightly. Balancing the public’s right to know with privacy concerns is always very difficult.

    The public does NOT have a RIGHT to know. We, however, do have a right to a free press. This justification of a right to know is a straw argument brought out every time the press does something wrong. Screw the “public’s right to know.” From national secrets to this, it’s only an excuse to sell papers.

  17. tgirsch Says:

    A coworker told me about this yesterday. I’m glad to see that they at least got rid of the home address, but they also need to get rid of the DOB. And, of course, they’ve got no justification for publishing it in the first place…

  18. paul b Says:

    I fail to see why any one should be told or even be aware of the fact I own 1 or 100 guns. If I want to register them or gain a CHL should not make any difference. I’ve got some that are gray and with crap like this going on they will stay that way.

    read your german history. We have another painter trying to gain power. So far it looks like he is losing his following. We can only hope.

  19. Dave Says:

    http://shotsacrossthebow.com/archives/003287.html#003287

    How about renting some local billboard space and putting a sign up with that info?
    Fight fire with fire. They obviously have zero respect and consideration for those permit holders. They don’t deserve any in return.

  20. Blake Says:

    Kent Williams wasn’t listed.

    Just a random observation.

  21. Linoge Says:

    Well, I just spammed the bejesus out of most of the staff of the newspaper with my letter (though I forgot to change their title a few times), in addition to contacting my state house representative and requesting his support on HB0053.

    I guess we will see what comes of this.

  22. Chas Says:

    Markie Marxist sez: “We Marxists are highly principled people. When it comes to protecting our fellow Marxists, ‘privacy’ is the most important principle. When it comes to punishing our adversaries, ‘the public’s right to know’ is the most important principle. And we Marxists aren’t hypocrites either! We’re just perfectly consistent in the application of our double standard, that’s all.”

  23. Jim Says:

    You know I carried a handgun for many years without a permit.

    Only got the permit because I usually try to do the ‘right’ thing whatever that is these days.

    I can do without the damned permit if need be and go back to just carrying.

    G. Gordon Liddy had a great saying: “I’d rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6.”

    Got a few unregistered firearms tucked away too, ‘just in case’.

  24. straightarrow Says:

    I like the billboard idea with the inclusion of the fact none of the editors or managers have CCW’s. After all, “the public has the right to know”. Can’t tell, may actually save lives. Of housebreakers and hot burglars.

    If it saves just one life, isn’t it worth it? And the public will “know”.

  25. JOHN Says:

    If a person knows what hes doing,he can find out everything about another person by investing a small sum of money and going to a certain website. I would imagine someone who was named in the above list of newspaper employees would be unpleasantly surprise to see name,address,dob,telephone mumber,type of car,license number,with whom he has a car loan,how much is owed,who owns the mortgage on the house,where the children go to school,if the person has a criminal history,etc etc. All this information (and more) is available for inquiring minds. Keep this in mind reporterholes.

  26. Number9 Says:

    Considering how HIPAA works this doesn’t make any sense. Every other part of American life has HIPAA like security except this.

    This is just a liberal media trying to force people not to have carry permits.

    This should not be a public record any more than a person’s medical records or insurance records.

  27. PaxParabellum Says:

    Funny… I’m not in their database. Have Permit, Will Travel.

  28. KCSteve Says:

    Sites like http://www.123people.com will pull up info about them (and others with matching names, of course). With the world today it doesn’t take very long to pull up all sorts of info about someone once you’ve got a start.

  29. Scott W. Says:

    In response to “Say Uncle’s comment” “The latest paper to publish a database of handgun carry permit holders: The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Perhaps someone should publish a list of their reporters names and home addresses. Then someone could compare them to, say, unpaid tax records, crime databases, bankruptcy, DUI registries, or some such?” Here’s something for you to start with:

    The Commercial Appeal
    495 Union Ave.
    Memphis, TN, 38103
    901-529-2345
    800-444-6397

    Circulation – 529-2666 (Subscriber Services)
    Advertising – 529-2251
    Classified Advertising – 529-2700
    Online Advertising – 529-5299 (Online Media Kit)
    News Tips – 529-2322
    Online Department (commercialappeal.com) – 529-2464
    Use our feedback submission form »

    Staff Directory
    Joseph Pepe – president and publisher
    Steve Tomb – VP of Operations
    Chris Peck – editor
    Otis Sanford – editor/opinion & editorials
    Eric Janssen – VP of Digital Media
    Scott Sines – managing editor
    Daniel Moehle – VP/Chief Financial Officer
    Karl Wurzbach – VP of Sales and Marketing
    Robert Jiranek – VP of New Business Development
    Bob Pinarski – Advertising director
    Denise Holman – Manager of Classified Advertising
    Paul Jewell – Marketing director

    Staff
    Trevor Aaronson (Projects reporter)
    Randall Ashley
    Clay Bailey
    Tom Bailey
    Tom Bailey Jr.
    William C. Bayne (Desoto reporter)
    David Beene
    John Beifuss (Movie reviewer)
    Jennifer Biggs (Memphis Dining reviewer)
    Christopher Blank
    Nikki Boertman (Staff photographer)
    David Boyd
    Barbara Bradley (Features reporter)
    Eugene Brady
    Bryan Brasher (Outdoors reporter)
    Paul Briney (Online Site Designer)
    Mike Brown (Staff photographer)
    Peggy Burch (Freelance editor)
    Lawrence Buser (Courts reporter)
    Thomas Busler (Staff photographer)
    Scott Cacciola (SEC reporter)
    Geoff Calkins (Sports columnist)
    Jody Callahan (Reporter)
    Marshall Camp (Page designer)
    Stan Carroll
    Christopher Causie
    Tom Charlier (Sunday and Projects editor)
    Jacinthia Christopher (Zones editor)
    Kimberly Coleman (Art Director)
    Christopher Conley
    Daniel Connolly (Business reporter)
    Dennis Copeland (Online Video Content Manager)
    Jimmie Covington (Reporter)
    Matthew Craig (Staff photographer)
    Kerry Crawford
    Kyra Cross
    Mark Crum
    Dave Darnell (Photo editor/administration)
    Anna Davis (Asst. Metro editor)
    Bill Day (Cartoonist)
    Chris Desmond
    Michael Donahue (Memphis nightlife and area music writer)
    Alex Doniach (Shelby County Government reporter)
    Jeni Donlon (City Editor)
    James Dowd (Business reporter)
    Sherri Drake
    Sherri Drake Silence
    Hank Dudding
    Hank Dudding
    LeRoy Emerson (Manager of Planning & Operations/Advertising)
    Michael Erskine
    William Fason
    David Flaum (Business reporter)
    Russell Fly
    Karen Focht (Staff photographer)
    Blake Fontenay
    Bill Frazier
    John Gaiser (Sr. Online Designer)
    Lela Garlington
    Lela Garlington
    Carolyn Gause (Zones Editor Germantown-Collierville)
    Daniel Ginsburg
    Kristina Goetz (Projects reporter)
    Louis Graham (AME/News)
    Stacey Greenberg
    Teri Hayslett
    David Healy
    David Healy
    Ron Higgins (SEC Football reporter)
    Denise Holman (Classified Advertising Manager)
    Stefanie Holmes
    Tommy Hornsby
    Eric Janssen (VP of Digital Media)
    Paul Jewell (Director of Marketing)
    Rob Jiranek (VP of New Business Development)
    Claude Jones (Photo lab technician)
    Jacinthia Jones
    Stephanie Jones
    Yolanda Jones
    Michael Kelley
    Emily Keplinger
    Mike Kerr (Night News Editor)
    Suzanne Kerr
    Cassandra Kimberly (Business reporter)
    Leanne Kleinmann
    Fredric Koeppel
    Ashley Kumpe
    Toni Lepeska
    Richard Locker (Nashville Bureau chief)
    Marilyn Loeffel
    Michael Lollar
    Amos Maki (City Hall reporter)
    Gary Mangum
    Mike Maple (Staff photographer)
    Jim Masilak (Business reporter)
    Ronald Maxey (DeSoto Appeal editor)
    Jeff McAdory (Photo editor)
    Kevin McDaniel
    Tom McDaniel (Support Staff Manager)
    Shane McDermott
    Melissa McIntosh
    Kevin McKenzie
    Peggy McKenzie (AME/Features)
    Zack McMillin
    Michael McMullan (Photo assignment editor)
    Bob Mehr (Memphis and national music writer and critic)
    Lindsay Melvin
    Daniel Moehle (VP/Chief Financial Officer)
    Linda Moore
    Courtney Morgan
    Marlon W. Morgan (NBA/Grizzlies reporter)
    Lance Murphey (Staff photographer)
    Megan Murphy
    Stephanie Norton
    Kim Odom (Community Editor – Cordova)
    James Overstreet (Business editor)
    Chris Peck (Editor)
    Joseph Pepe (Publisher)
    Marc Perrusquia
    Bob Pinarski (Advertising Director)
    Mary Powers
    Associated Press
    Lee Gattas Proctor (National Online Key Accounts Manager)
    Karen Pulfer Focht (Staff photographer)
    Michael Rabkin (News editor)
    Candace Rector
    Mark Richens
    Wayne Risher (Business reporter)
    Jane Roberts (Education reporter)
    Bryan Robinson (Online Site Producer)
    Gary Robinson (Online News Editor)
    Rebecca Rothfuss
    John Sale (AME/Visuals)
    Otis L. Sanford (Editor/Opinion and Editorials)
    John Schoembs
    Scott Sines (Managing Editor)
    Andrew Smith
    Jason Smith (Prep sports reporter)
    Jon Sparks
    Alan Spearman (Staff photographer)
    Jennifer Spillers
    John Stamm (Executive News Editor)
    Cathryn Stout (Features reporter)
    Phil Stukenborg (Tiger football reporter)
    Bart Sullivan
    Bartholomew Sullivan (Washington correspondent)
    Bartholomew Sullivan
    Sherry Tate (Consumer Marketing Manager)
    Wendi C. Thomas (Local columnist)
    Ronald Tillery (Grizzlies reporter)
    Steve Tomb (VP of Operations)
    Lindsey Turner
    Carla Underwood
    Chris Van Tuyl
    John Varlas
    Craig Wack (Auto racing reporter)
    Don Wade
    Mark Watson
    Holly Weber
    Jim Weber (Staff photographer)
    Mark Weber (Staff photographer)
    Brian Wentzloff (Online Site Developer)
    David Williams (Sports Content Editor)
    Peggy Winburne (M Editor)
    Lacey Winters (Online Video Producer)
    Cindy Wolff
    Dan Wolken (Tiger basketball reporter)
    Matthew Woo
    Jerome Wright
    Karl Wurzbach (VP of Sales and Marketing)

  30. RESMANTN Says:

    Joseph Pepe, President and publisher
    3195 Wetherby Cv S
    Germantown, TN 38139
    901-737-8784

    Steve Tomb, VP of Operations
    1846 Wildcreek Cv
    Collierville, TN 38017
    Phone Unpublished

    Chris Peck, Editor
    21 Belleair Dr
    Memphis, TN 38104
    901-276-8314

    Otis Sanford, Editor/Opinion & Editorials
    3396 Park Ave
    Memphis, TN 38111
    Phone Unpublished

    Eric Janssen, VP of Digital Media
    8996 Stratfield Cv
    Germantown, TN 38139
    901-358-7007

    Scott Sines, Managing Editor
    2136 Wentworth Ln
    Germantown, TN 38139
    Phone Unpublished

    Daniel Moehle, VP/Chief Financial Officer
    3172 Devonshire Way
    Germantown, TN 38139
    901-757-5911

    Karl Wurzbach, VP of Sales and Marketing
    3098 Bentwood Run Dr
    Collierville, TN 38017
    Phone Unpublished

    Robert Jiranek, VP of New Business Development
    175 Waring Rd
    Memphis, TN 38117
    901-251-1810

    Bob Pinarski, Advertising Director
    3961 Herons Landing Ln
    Arlington, TN 38002
    901-867-5294

    Denise Holman, Manager of Classified Advertising
    720 Litty Ct 103
    Memphis, TN 38103
    Phone Unpublished

    Paul Jewell, Marketing Director
    1439 Vance Ave
    Memphis, TN 38104
    901-272-1458

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