Letter-writer: Plain Dealer practices ''life threatening, dirty journalism''

4:29pm Friday, October 15, 2004

The following letter, addressed to the Cleveland Plain Dealer editor, was CC'd to OFCC. It is written in response to the Plain Dealer's latest abuse of a provision giving the media an exception to the privacy of concealed handgun license records. The Plain Dealer published still more names of Ohio CHL-holders in its October 6, 2004 edition.

October 14, 2004

Dear Editor,

I have probably bought my last copy of the "Plain Dealer."

Your publishing of the names of law-abiding citizens who receive Right-to-carry permits is dirty journalism and out-right life threatening!

Should you not also print the names of felons who have been convicted of illegally carrying firearms or using firearms in the commission of crimes?

Your tactic is full of hypocrisy. You would rather "expose" a law-abiding citizen who receives a right-to-carry permit legally than a convicted criminal who is completely outside the law?

Your tactic defies logic.

I sincerely hope that a small business owner who received a Right-to-carry permit because he or she carries large sums of money to the bank everyday is not gunned down by a thug and then robbed because the thug knew that person was carrying a concealed weapon, because you published their name.

Law-abiding citizens who carry concealed weapons do not want the thugs to know they carry a concealed weapon and you know that. Your tactic is to dissuade people from applying for Right-to-carry permits.

If a death occurs as I described above or a similar situation, you at the Plain Dealer will be partly to blame!

Andrew Blackhurst
Shaker Hts, Ohio.

Bad news, Andrew - it may have already happened: Days after Plain Dealer ''outing''; CHL-holder Bill Singleton is dead

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