Jackson Jambalaya

Pretty solid argument. After initially questioning why anyone would oppose protecting the privacy of concealed carry permit holders, I can see how something like this could start us down a slippery slope to unreasonable government secrecy. That said, I still have grave misgivings about any type of gun registration, licensing or ownership information being available to the public, so I hope some sort of compromise can be found that will provide us with some level of protection from an overzealous reporter while preserving the transparency we must have to allow the media to be the public watchdog they're intended to be. Bill Billingsley

I've dealt with my share of corrupt politicians trying to hide spending and anything else they can get away with.

A point well documented here on JJ when it comes to the rampant corruption of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

The men and women at the 120 daily and weekly newspapers of the Mississippi Press Association are your neighbors and friends and can't be compared to a liberal New York newspaper.

I sometimes wish we could enact laws preventing newspapers from behaving irresponsibly, but we can't.

In other words what Prince seems to be saying here is that the damage that will be done by an irresponsible outfit like, say, the Jackson Free Press is the unfortunate price that may have to be paid to maintain the integrity of Open Records laws here in Mississippi and in defense of the First Amendment.

Thanks for Mr. Prince to taking the time to share.

So his logic is that since the concealed carry application information has been public in the past, that it should always be that way? We are all intelligent enough to realize when something is wrong. In this case the government has my information because I've applied for a license. That is not government generated information. It's mine. This information should have never been public to begin with.

I don't believe Jim Prince would ever publish this information. Would the Jackson Free Press? Absolutely.

Remember that the formost reason a Mississippi citizen needs a firearms permit so that the a legal act in Mississippi i.e. a pistol in the glove box , a soccer mom or other citizen can drive his/her auto to Memphis or Gulf Coast without fear because of firearm permit reciprocality under the law with many states. The only change should be what is available under the enhanced firearm permit. That a is training requirement.

I'm not buying Mr. Prince's argument. Would he be satisfied it the records were simply available under the open records statutes? Apparently not. It seems he won't be satisfied until he publishes them.

If his argument (as he suggests) is that he's only a strong supporter of transparency, why doesn't he stop his argument there. He won't be satisfied with the records being available. He'll only be satisfied when he achieves a certain level of notariety from publication of the records.

"I've dealt with my share of corrupt politicians trying to hide spending and anything else they can get away with."

My direct question to Mr Prince is what leap of logic makes you think that your ability to publish private data on private cititzens held by government entities will help you ferret out government corruption?

Following that logic, since PERS is the hot topic around town, how about a google map that shows the name,age,address,last held state job, and monthly PERS check info?

You can wrap yourself in the 1st amendment all you want, but your rights stop where my right to privacy begins.

But on the other hand,I may be wrong. I'm sure your ability to do a CCW google map would have stopped the looting of the DMR.

Sincerely,

A crusty old Army Paratrooper who fought for your right to have this silly little argument

Amen 7:09 PM. Thank you for your service!

Bearing arms is not legal nor do we have a well regulated militia. Having a professional police force or peace officers is not the same thing as a militia. Early suffrage in this state was extended to freeholders and members of the militia. The national guard is a 'national unit'. Our lawmakers have not provided us outside of the slavery or Klan period with 'a well regulated militia'. We have a halfway regulated right to bear arms and no right of a citizen police force. If we had such a citizen force, the Bill of Rights would operate to the People's peace and welfare.

8:04: Pass the pipe.

Mr. Prince shows the difference in perspective between those who have found themselves in harm's way and desire a lawful means to defend themselves, and those who merely write about such people.

For a real world perspective on this issue, I suggest this excellent video commentary by former DA Jeanine Pirro. Judge Pirro, who has faced credible threats on her life by animals she prosecuted, was one of the persons outed by the Gannett tools. Needless to say, she was not happy.

Curt, Thanks for posting that article. A quote jumped out at me:

'"If the names and addresses of gun owners is public information, Pirro wondered, ”'

This should be common sense. Concealed carry permit information is private and should be legally regarded that way.

My quote didn't show up. Should read "If the names and addresses of gun owners is public information, Pirro wondered, “Should we also publish the names of people receiving food stamps, getting unemployment, those on welfare, the mentally ill? Should we give people maps to their homes?”'

I submit the real difference here is the nature of the information to be kept private. Unlike the corrupt politician trying to hide spending, etc. (keeping government/government employee information private), what this bill requests is to keep CITIZEN information private.......as long as the government is working to keep the citizenry safe, I can live with that any day of the week.

While I understand Mr. Prince's concerns, I don't think he's looking at it from the right perspective.

Excellent post, 7:09 PM.

Lets have the names and addresses of all the brave jackson jambalaya posters. Add the address and name of the publisher. Why not all the journalists and publishers of the MPA?

Harry Truman "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage"

Lets have the names and addresses of all the brave jackson jambalaya posters. ...

Take the lead and start us off. LOSER.

Notice to all Mississippi newspaper publishers...

Go ahead. Publish my address as a legal gun owner. However, if you do this, please be certain that I will "drop" posthaste any thug attempting to enter my abode uninvited. Then I will call the coroner and you will have a story for the next day's paper. Thanks.

January 20, 2013 at 9:00 PM

Interesting take on what information to publish. I'm still waiting on the Bar to publish their discipline records and make the process for consumers an easier one.

I think I will wish in one hand...