Letter to the Editor: Not buying editor's story

August 3, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Plain Dealer Editor Doug Clifton has stretched the truth regarding public release of personal information. For example, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles restricts release of a driver's personal information without that driver's consent. This information includes the person's name, date of birth and address.

Also, in most cases involving personal information, requests must be made about a specific person - quite a different approach from just publishing all names en masse. Asking whether a specific person is licensed is hardly the same as asking for a list of all licensed people. Clifton clearly ignored the spirit of the law and its intent.

Clifton proclaims the privilege of news media to see the information as a "right" and insists on exercising it. However, when Ohio courts confirmed the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, he was very much against allowing that right to be exercised. It seems now that both federal judges and newspaper editors are free to ignore legislative intent as well as to determine which "rights" are to be afforded the citizenry.

While the Ohioans for Concealed Carry's action of releasing Clifton's personal information could be judged retaliatory, it is neither more nor less so than Clifton's action.

Fortunately for Clifton, specious articles such as the one he provides in the July 30 Forum section are protected under his "right" of free speech.

Rand Lennox
Strongsville

Commentary:
The writer is correct. Drivers' information IS protected. The reason is largely due to the murder of actress Rebecca Shaefer in the early 90's by a stalker who used her license plate and public records to find her home. The tragedy prompted Federal legislation privatizing driver's license and license plate info. Will it take the death of a licensee, of a victim with a gun stolen from a licensee, or of a person who knew they needed to protect themselves, but who were afraid to have their location published in the newspaper, in order to get such protections here in Ohio?

The publishing of Clifton's contact information on our websites (all of which Clifton has himself chosen to make available publicly) pales in comparison to the violations this newspaper has commited against the citizens of at least six northeast Ohio counties.

In March, after admittedly being influenced by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's tirade, editors at the Ft. Wayne News Sentinel began considering plans to publish lists of CHL-holders in that state, despite a lack of problems dating back some 70 years. Fortunately for residents in northeast Indiana, that newspaper had the good sense to poll its readers on the issue. 95% argued strongly against publishing the list. The result? After much thought, list of gun permit holders will not appear online.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer never polled its readers, and as you read the Ft. Wayne newspaper's description of all the people who they decided could be hurt by such "outing", remind yourself in each case that Doug Clifton and other Plain Dealer editors seem simply not to care.

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