Letters to the Editor: Opponents' actions endanger others
June 25, 2004
Dayton Daily News
Sheriff's actions endanger others
Re: "Gun law changes sought," JUNE 10: I read with interest the article concerning Shelby County Sheriff Kevin O'Leary's disclosure of the addresses of people who had completed Ohio's concealed-carry course, as I am one of them.
Much has been made about "those dangerous people" who are licensed to carry firearms. Contrary to popular perception, the people in my firearms course, which was conducted by law enforcement officers, were business owners, professional people, senior citizens, the general working population, and even employees of our police department.
The only thing we had in common was that we had never been convicted of a felony, a violent assault, domestic violence, using or trafficking in drugs, or violence against police officers. None of us had been deemed to be incompetent or had been committed to a mental institution. In short, we were part of everyday working society.
For me, taking the course was a business decision. My profession sometimes takes me and my expensive equipment into questionable areas.
As to why O'Leary chose to release our addresses to a newspaper, one can only speculate about his reason or agenda, but his actions have only put more of us in harm's way. Now criminals have a new list of places to find weapons they cannot purchase legally, and, if those guns should be used to harm others, then O'Leary must share in that responsibility.
— Russell Moore, Sidney
Don't alter concealed-carry law
Re: "Gun law changes sought," June 10: Sen. Ray Miller, D-Columbus, and Rep. Tyrone Yates, D-Cincinnati want to amend the Ohio concealed-carry law.
As a law-abiding citizen who believes in the right to carry a concealed weapon, I question why these left-wing liberal lawmakers are afraid of one's right to self-protection. Then I realized they are both Democrats, and they are only espousing the beliefs of the Democratic Party.
After all, it is the Democrats who want to ban weapons, take away individuals' rights to bear arms, and instill fear in the public with regard to law-abiding gun owners.
Personal weapons deter at least 2 million crimes a year; the incidence of gun crimes is not attributable to law-abiding citizens who own guns, but to the criminals who illegally possess weapons; and states that have concealed carry have a decrease in violent crimes.
I hope the Ohio Attorney General's Office will enforce the law as written, and not further encroach on the citizens' right to bear arms and protect themselves and their loved ones.
— Randall W. Klotz, Germantown
To read a letter to the Akron Beacon Journal editor concerning public records vs. privacy debate (not directly re: CCW), click on the "Read More..." link below.
Invasion of privacy
I found the Beacon Journal's recent series on public records to be very enlightening, especially in light of the fact that I have had a few concerns about public access to police records.
A few days after my son was a passenger in a car that was involved in an automobile accident, I began receiving phone calls from chiropractors and doctors offering him ``complimentary examinations'' as a result of his ``unfortunate accident.'' I couldn't understand where these phone solicitors were getting my phone number, as we have an unlisted one. A quick call to the Akron Police Department revealed that police reports are public records, and that anyone, for a fee, can obtain copies of them. The next few days we were besieged with letters from lawyers.
Where does public record end and privacy begin? Our phone number is unlisted. We have it that way for a reason. However, it appears that unlisted phone numbers are not truly unlisted but public record, because they are included in police reports that are public records.
What about my privacy?
Have you been to a doctor's office lately? There certainly is an onslaught of privacy issues over your health care. Every time you go, you sign more and more privacy forms. Yet everything about my son's automobile accident, including our unlisted phone number, was a public record.
When my son was being treated in the emergency room, one of the first questions they asked him was whether or not they could disclose to anyone who called whether he was being treated there or not -- a privacy issue. Yet, my unlisted number is public record.
I do agree that there are some things that need to be public records. But I do not believe that attorneys and chiropractors should have free access to police records just to drum up business. I do not feel that just anyone should be able to go to the police records room and for a set fee get copies of reports.
If they're needed for filing insurance claims, with proper reason and identification, they can and should be released, but not for the sake of enhancing business -- and in the process, harassing people who are going through traumatic times. Thank the Lord my son and the other occupants of the car in which he was riding did not sustain life-threatening injuries, but it could've been much worse. I certainly would not want to be dealing with these attorneys and chiropractors if my son had been seriously injured or worse.
The whole public access to records issue needs to be looked at again and revised to protect the privacy of innocent people.
Mary Gulledge
Akron
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