Newspaper Apologizes Profusely for Gun Owners Records Request

'I hope we can regain your trust,' says publisher to readers

A small town North Carolina newspaper has issued an agonizing apology for requesting public records on local gun owners. Their mea culpa is being described as an "awe-inspiring work" of "obsequiousness" by tech-site Boing Boing.

"I want to apologize to everyone we unintentionally upset with our public records request for a list of those who have or have applied for a concealed carry permit," wrote the publisher of the Cherokee Scout, David Brown, to his readers in and around the town of Murphy. "We had no idea the reaction it would cause."

Brown went on to thank (and also apologize to) local sheriff Keith Lovin for his help in quelling the negative public feedback to the records request, and to reassure the people of Murphy that the paper "never meant to offend the wonderful people of this fine community."

As if that wasn't enough, Brown felt the need to detail that not only did he go to high school in Murphy, but he was baptized and married there.

"I know where this community is coming from, and I hope we can regain your trust," wrote Brown, pleadingly. "I know it may take a while, but we're going to try."

Via Boing Boing and Jim Romenesko.

Should the paper be apologizing for requesting records on gun owners?

[Zazziness]

They're a business -- if they're a small-town local paper that depends on the locals to survive, sounds like an apology was their best course.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

So why did they do this to begin with? I think that is a fair question.

[Zazziness]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Probably fit the beliefs of the editor. If it's like most rural papers, the editor is also likely to be the advertising executive, copy editor, writer, and distributor. Sounds to me like he misjudged the reaction of his small town audience, that's all.

[martydotcom]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Small town red necks trying to act like Westchester County Liberals???

[dances-weebles]

@Neo_NtheMatrix simple... everyone has the right to know and the need to know who has a weapon tucked down inside their nickers. we have to be able to know who we should watch out for.

[Drake_Burrwood]

@dances-weebles
Then once you know who has CCW. You make a list of every one else and statistically that is who you have to watch.
Truthfully I wish I new what the purpose was. If they had wanted to publish a numbers of CCW by area to rub in the noses of Rogue Predators. Things like that have actually been shown to save lives and suffering.

[justapirate]

I'm glad the public response and the sheriff's response bit this paper in the butt. This was an attempt to grandstand and the paper got it handed right back.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Damn skippy. The American giant (the voting public) is starting to awaken. Sad that it took so long for people to start opening their eyes.

[marine1]

What kind of sick demented mind thinks they need th know about the lawful actions of their neighbors? Insecure crybabies will be the ruin of this country.

[YUT]

@marine1 It's pretty sad how pussified and pathetic this country is becoming. Mothers of America and other organizations are killing our nation.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Why would the paper be requesting such information? Possibly to do like that one NY paper and publicly out people who own guns? When will the witch hunt against law abiding citizens end in this country. If you don't feel that what this paper was trying to do was a gross violation of the respect due to law abiding American citizens then you don't have a heart and you don't love our Constitution. Speak of sinister, this paper oozes sinister from its pages.

[martydotcom]

Here are census info for Martin NC. Neo you're right this looks like a hotbed of liberals. I'd call it down right evil far worse than those GD New Yorker's with their Westchester Cty Newspaper.
I feel bad for you Neo, I don't know how you ever get a night's sleep with Liberal's lurking round every corner in such a sinister fashion just waiting to seize all your liberties. It's a tough path you've chosen
White
17,775
Black or African American
9,848
Native American
7,869
Asian
0
Native Hawaiian and Pacific islander
0Some other race
0Two or more races
633
Hispanic or Latino
1,067

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@martydotcom - Actually, I didn't mention liberals, you did.

[martydotcom]

@Neo_NtheMatrix You're right, I mentioned liberal due the your mention and the implication of the paper in NY Westchester, County, which we all know NY is a hot bed of liberalism. Ok it's just a very sinister looking newspaper and citizenry feeling better?

[NTBFW]

@martydotcom you might be surprised about NC liberals. Have you ever been around Asheville ?

[martydotcom]

@NTBFW. Murphy NC. undoubtably a sinister hot bed of Liberal According to voter data, Murphy, NC votes 70.8% Republican. Mayor since 1987 -R

[fistv]

Shows how far liberal media has infiltrated down the chain. You would think that the newspaper in NY doing it last month would have keyed in 'that might not be a good idea' instead of 'gee lets do it here too'. This by the way is why I believe that there should not be a permit for concealed carry, it's a right, a permit says it is not because permits can be refused.

[AceLuby]

Yeah, I'm sure this guy is a part of some media conspiracy. That TOTALLY makes the most sense...

[BossTweed]

Best news is that the advertisers keep the paper alive so all residents have to do is boycott any business that advertises in the Rag.

[BelinKS]

It's non of their business. Had they acquired that list, they would have published it to the peril of all on the list.

[Robbo03712]

And all not on the list

[jessejaymes]

Let me translate. An idiot is in charge of a small town paper and isn't smart enough to know his subscribers. Time for a new publisher.

[PNWest]

That's exactly what this comes down to. The records are public so anyone has the right to request them. This publisher should have realized that publishing the names would infuriate his readership. It was a mistake on his part to request the names for this purpose. His namby pamby apology just shows that he is a man without character. If he thought the right thing to do was to publish the names he should carry through and do so. If it wasn't newsworthy then he should not have started the process. What a wimp.

[PoliticalSpice]

@PNWest Where did it say his intent was to oublish the names? Just cause the ny paper did so doesn't mean that was the purpose of his request...

[PNWest]

@PoliticalSpice I can't think of any other reason for a newspaper publisher to request an entire list of names but who knows I could be wrong.

[PoliticalSpice]

@PNWest Just to find out which residents have the permits. Maybe a story on hypocrites who support gun control but have permits. Maybe a story on most popular model gun broken down by demographic (females prefer, men prefer, etc.). I can think of others...

[justapirate]

@PoliticalSpice I wouldn't place bets if I were you.

[AnnieO]

I'm glad they didn't get the information, regardless of their intent for asking for it in the first place.

[Thunderchicken]

Of course they should apologize. But I still wouldn’t buy their paper unless the editorial staff changed. And maybe not then either.

[NTBFW]

How did he even think I could have been a good idea? DA of the day.

[Knuckleballer]

If he's really interested in p[reserving his newspaper he should work with the local pet shop to to include a free subscription with every puppy and canary cage.

Journalism used to be the realm of intelligent, courageous individuals interested in finding and telling the truth.... now it's just bottom feeders and followers willing to do anything to curry favor from their betters. Problem is, every time they stoop to kiss the ring they fall further into the abyss.

[DARSB]

Any other public records we should make private? Marriage licenses? Divorce decrees? Arrest records?

The touchiness of publicly registered gun owners is a mystery - if, as many claim, the gun is for self-protection and security then why should a simple newspaper article be such a threat?

[Thunderchicken]

Kinda makes you wonder if guns should be registered at all.

[DARSB]

@Thunderchicken When I did a stint as a public health nurse one of my duties involved what we called "clap interviews", or, more politely, interviews of persons with STDs to establish the pathways of transmission of that disease. That allowed us to backtrack toward the source of the disease in the community and project forward to possibly prevent transmission beyond the most recent carrier.

Based on that experience I would argue that a similar utility available to law enforcement tasked with recovery of stolen weapons is a desirable thing. If someone steals your Glock you'll likely never see it again - unless it's been registered and law enforcement can trace it through its serial number and your proof of legal ownership.

[Medicinebow]

@DARSB I'll call BS on the weapons stealing scenario. I can easily provide law enforcement with the information they need to recover a weapon.

How well did CoBIS work in NY?

$50,000,000 over 10 years and no crimes solved. How's that work?

What anyone legally owns is nobody else's business.

We could easily resolve this by having national carry laws that do not require a permit.

[Thunderchicken]

@DARSB

How about if my gun is stolen, then I supply the cops with the serial number? Until then, just like sex, ain't nobody's business but my own.

[DARSB]

@Thunderchicken Compare this to the rather enormous number of other things we keep track of and number - automobiles, motor cycles, physician licenses, architects, prescriptions, cold medicine, passports, photo ids, refrigerators, nuclear reactors, dogs and cats - none of which are tools designed solely to inflict injury and death.

Now why shouldn't we keep track of a gun?

[bsking]

Sounds to me like a last ditch effort to stay in business

[culinary]

First, there was a reason they wanted this information. For what, who knows. Second, how in HELL could they have not known of the reaction it would get after that fiasco in New York and the reaction of people, in general, over second amendment rights? Third, I would gather the townspeople and demand that all staff ivolved in this be replaced or they would never sell another paper, nor would anyone who advertises in it get further business.

[PuroChorizo361]

It just shows the pathetic dumb a**es outnumber sain ppl.

[jessejaymes]

Always have always will.

[Buckfan4life2]

Browns picture sure could of fooled me because he looks gay as hell. Says hes married and got a wife But I forgot gays do get married now and I suppose one is the wife.

[mwr]

doubt they mean it, must have lost business and money so now they are begging for forgiveness... they knew what they were doing when they requested the records. hope they go bankrupt.

[AlexMIA]

How do you "unintentially" offend people? Their views led them down a path they shouldn't have taken and it bit them in the a$$, so now they are appoligizing. The appology may help, but it's probably worth about as much as the paper.

[Republican5150]

Why doesn't the newspaper go on record and publish all the "gun free" homes of their circulation?

[Vance1]

They should post a map of all Democrat voters

[Republican5150]

@Vance1 agreed...