ANOTHER NEWSPAPER PUBLISHES GUN OWNERS
March 28th, 2007 by Syd
Iowa City, Iowa (TLS). The Iowa City Press-Citizen has published the names of those holding permits for concealed carry in Johnson County, Iowa, one of the worst areas in the state for violent crime.
Press-Citizen reporter Mike McWilliams wrote a feature story on citizens who carry concealed weapons, which overall was fairly presented. However, that story contains a link to a list of every citizen in Johnson County who carries a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
As we have stated many times before on The Liberty Sphere, this is a most despicable practice that compromises the safety and security of law-abiding citizens who carry guns–particularly those who live in highly criminal-infested areas such as Johnson County, Iowa.
It is difficult if not impossible to ascertain any good reason to publish the names, other than the overt anti-gun mentality that exists among so many in the Press. There is no better way, in their view, to punish law-abiding citizens who believe in their 2nd Amendment rights than to attempt not only to shame them but place them in mortal danger by publishing their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
The Liberty Sphere has an ongoing policy of doing the same thing to rogue newspapers, editors, and reporters who display such obvious disdain for private citizens.
Mike McWilliams of the Iowa City Press-Citizen can be reached at phone number (319) 339-7360 and at email address mmcwilliams@press-citizen.com. Another number for Mr. McWilliams is (319) 337-3181, ext. 636.
The publisher of the Press-Citizen is Mike Beck, and he can be reached at (319) 337-3181, extension 340.
Jim Lewers is the Managing Editor, and he can be reached at (319) 337-3181, ext. 428.
Click here for the full staff directory:
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=contact
We are calling on the Iowa City Press-Citizen to take down the list. Also, information on the residences, phone numbers, and property dimensions from courthouse records on staff members of the Iowa City Press-Citizen will be forthcoming. Advertisers in the newspaper should also be contacted by subscribers to complain about the list and to inform the businesses that if they continue to advertise in the paper you will no longer do business with them.
Supporters of citizens’ rights in this country MUST keep the pressure on newspapers who engage in this outrageous practice.
March 30, 2007
Update On Iowa Newspaper and Gun Owners
Iowa City, IA (TLS). The Iowa City Press-Citizen, the newspaper that published the names, addresses, and phone numbers of registered concealed gun owners in Johnson County, Iowa, maintains it was only following the law in making public the information… Read the whole story here
I think that someone should publish the name, address, and phone numbers of the publishers, editors, and reporters of any newspaper that publishes the names, addresses, and phone numbers of people who have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
I think we should go one better and publish the public information of those “news” officials, ie, types of cars and value of property on the county auditors public info.
Does this newspaper publish the name of Rape victims? If not, then the published excuse for publishing the list of CCW holders in their area is bogus at best, and down right malicious at worse.
How about retaliating by using that list to go down the list of editors, publishers, managers, etc. of the newspaper, and publish a list of their names, and addresses, as people who do not have a CCW permit? That information is much more of interest to the crooks of the world, I would think. I would justify the list as a PROUD LIST OF REAL AMERICANS who don’t believe in the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. If that is what they believe, they should be proud to advertise that to one and all, no?
I have often challenged anti-gun debaters to put their money where their mouth is, and put a sign on their front lawns, or on the doors to their apartments, declaring that their’s is a ” GUN-FREE” home. Remove the locks, as that is also just another form of personal security, that interferes with a criminals right to do whatever he wants, wherever he wants, no?
The signs would then stop them from obtaining security from hiding among those of us who are armed for self defense, and defense of others. To date, I have had no ” takers”, and the looks of sheer horror I get in these debates tell the story.
Howard 4570
I say this to you, publish the sponsers of the newspaper. All advertisements, to include their home phone numbers, also to include the home addresses of all who advertise in that paper