TV Station "Outs" Concealed Weapons License Holders.
E-mail from Ron about the WFTV hit piece on Concealed Weapons Carriers.
See the hit piece HERE.
Hi Pat,
I am fuming right now. Channel 9 tonight, and on their website, have provided the names and addresses of all of Florida's CCW licensees. This now becomes a shopping list for criminals to go and steal guns they know are there! And if they encounter someone in the home while the gun owner is absent, and presumably has the gun with him, what would an angry criminal do to that person? My wife is now petrified to come home from her part-time job to an empty house...well maybe not!
I'm going to change my license information to my PO Box, but that will take weeks to go into effect. Meanwhile, my family has been made a target by WFTV!
This is without doubt another irresponsible action taken by the liberal news media without any regard whatsoever for the damage and harm they cause. I can only hope you jump on this situation with both feet.
I'm going to call Jeb Bush tomorrow to find out why the counties made this information available to the media. Next I'll contact all advertisers on WFTV to let them know what they are party to being associated with this station, then onto my blog for a protracted series on this subject.
Thanks for letting vent this...for now.
Ron
What useful purpose is served in making the private information of law abiding citizens public?
From a listener...
Pat:
Below is the letter I sent to my State Senator and Representative regarding protecting the privacy of lawful citizens who apply for and/or hold concealed carry permits. You are welcome to read it on the air.
MANY THANKS for spotlighting this issue!
The Honorable Paula Dockery
Room 326
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
November 6, 2005
Dear Mrs. Dockery:
I have discovered that certain news media outlets have undertaken to publish or broadcast names, addresses, and other personal information belonging to Florida citizens who have exercised their right to obtain a Concealed Weapon Carry Permit. It is outrageous that such information is available to anyone other than bona fide law enforcement personnel acting pursuant to a search warrant.
First, criminals can study such lists to determine which persons to victimize and which to avoid. Concealed carry constitutes an effective crime deterrent only if criminals do not know which of their prospective victims might be armed. To publicize the identities of concealed carry permit holders is thus tantamount to giving enemy personnel access to classified information.
Second, publicizing the identities of concealed carry permit holders constitutes a gross invasion of privacy. When we give the government our sensitive personal information, we have a right to expect that this data will be fully protected and held in the strictest confidence.
Third, decent, law-abiding citizens may be reluctant to apply for a concealed carry permit if they know that their personal information is not protected.
Fourth, this information could be used by employers, anti-gun groups, and/or other entities who are hostile to the right to keep and bear arms to target law-abiding citizens for discrimination, harassment, or worse.
For all the above reasons, I strongly demand that you introduce legislation to fully protect the privacy of all information regarding citizens who apply for and/or who hold Concealed Weapon Carry Permits.
It is essential to immediately know where you stand on this vital issue.
Your prompt response to this letter will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your kind assistance.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Baldwin
posted by Pat Campbell @ 6:24 AM
31 comments
31 Comments:
This was an extremely irresponsible act by the station. Of course, just when did we expect them to be responsible? It was an outrageous act on the station's part and all hell should be raised about it. Who did they think they were...perhaps above all we mere mortals. People just don't think and that is in spades is this case of distributing information. I will never watch them again! I would suggest other like minded persons boycott their advertisers.
channel 9 has broken the law, specifically Florida Statute 790.335 that took effect may 13th 2004 and states:
No person (public or private) shall knowingly and willfully keep or cause to be kept any electronic list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any electronic list, record, or registry of the owners of those firearms.
you could argue that concealed carry licensees are not necessarilly firearms owners but if the police can use the fact that you have a CC license as justification to send in the SWAT (as in the Elian Gonzalez case) then it is obviously a list of firearms owners.
T.O.
I want to reiterate what one of your callers said this morning. That this also gives wouuld-be stalkers the information on where their victim lives. Having a stalker myself from a previous relationship characterized by domestic violence, I've taken great pains to keep my residence address a secret. This is the last thing I need is to have my residence published.
Just got done reading Florida Statute 790.335 and all it's provisions at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm
This is no joke, they are breaking the law. The Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs keeps a listing of those with concealed weapons permits, and it states that it's available online by request from any LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, not private citizens or government organizations. It specifically states that no listing is to be kept by any gov't organization or private citizen or group.
Third degree felony. Now who wants to call Mark Nation first?
Hi Pat,
Thanks for getting right on this story. My concern about this on a larger scale is that other liberal news media outlets might do the same thing in other parts of Florida...or maybe even in other states.
And, this tactic has actually put the general public in more danger by making it so easy now for criminals to find guns to steal. True, a single gun most likely not be at home while the owner is carrying it, but criminals will assume there are more guns at home.
Regards,
Ron
Pat,
The answer to the TV 9's concealed weapons piece is simple.
By publishing 55,000 names of concealed weapon permit holders just made TV 9 55,000 enemies and 55,000 sets of eyes. That is 55,000 people who can observe where the reporters, producers and editors buy their liquor, what kind of liquor they buy, what adult establishments they frequent, what kind of lingerie they buy and where they purchase their sex toys. With all of the blogs on the Internet that information could then be posted. Hmmmm . . . I bet when the names of media representative start showing up on the Internet with that kind of information listed they might think twice about offending 55,000 law abiding citizens.
Michael
Winter Haven, Florida
Pat,
The manner in which WFTV put this list out reminds me of the list published not so long ago of sex offenders. Perhaps the station is trying to make some type of parallel between the two for their viewers.
Love your show, keep up the good work,
Gary
You can always tell when the ratings are falling at WFVT channel 9 In Orlando Fl! They go into panic mode.
WVTV somehow always manages to do something unethical, cause controversy and get their "spike" for the November ratings.
This time it's print the name and address of every private citizen with NO criminal background, who is a conceal carry license holder in a six county area and put it on their website.
People who have done nothing are being treated like sex offenders. Just remember this next time you buy something from any of their advertisers or you take a survey about your favorite TV show. Return the favor!
Go to the web site and start calling advertisers!
Pat,
The xls file properties show that the file was created by J Harwood on Friday. Maybe we should look up his info on the property appraiser or Zabba Search and post it ! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Dear Pat,
As a concealed carry permit holder, I am upset that the names and addresses of permit holders was released by Channel 9.
One of the reasons I have the permit is due to having my life threatened by one of my former employees when I was a manager of a manufacturing plant.
Now, this person, who lives close by, knows where I live and can use this information to harm me and my family.
Yes, it may be public record, but most people would not do the research required to learn of this. Now, Channel 9 has presented it for much easier access.
Actually, a CCW permit should never be required, because the Constitution is supposed to guarantee my right to carry.
The headline in the story was worded to scare people into believing that we honest, law abiding citizens are somehow a threat to others. Not the case, and the person who called saying that we were waiting to be able to shoot someone needs their head examined. I hope that situation never happens.
In the NRA magazines, there is a page dedicated to people who have thwarted criminals who burst into their stores and homes, and attacked them on the streets, who were able to use “deadly force” to save their lives, the lives of their family, and others with the use of a firearm. Almost never does the media show these events.
Respectfully,
G.J.
Well isn't this just great. Concealed means concealed. One could lose their carry permit if just the outline of their weapon was visible (shadowing). But WFTV has no problem with publishing my name and address on their web site.
This is very scary stuff. It's not that I really care if people know I carry a gun - most everybody that knows me - knows that I carry a gun. What bothers me is having my name and address posted for all to see. Good people and NOT SO GOOD PEOPLE.
So there it is name and address - letting everybody know there is at least one gun and maybe more at that address.
Thank you WFTV for putting me and my family in potential danger from those that don't obey the law and will look for an opportunity to obtain a gun or guns that they couldn't obtain legally by potentially invading my home.
Real class act.
Rusty
Not only are names and addresses on that list, so are birthdates, races, and permit expiration dates.
Now the criminals can target the elderly, and/or go after people based on race.
The race is listed just after the birthday with a F or M for male or female and then a W, B, or U for the race. You can connect the dots.
This is an act of personal invasion of privacy...and disgusting.
I would sue them for everything they own...these people are journalistic thugs.
I would not fool around with these people...and put the other stations on notice...too.
Not only have they broken a state statute, they have violated federal law as well.
Let there not be a doubt in our minds. This is public information and can be given to anyone.
Here is the proof: http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/access/records.html
A quick call to State department turned up the previous site.
As far as WFTV goes, they broke no law. They just upset quite a bit of people. I agree with Michael from Winter Haven. They outed us, we out them.
Here is a complete list of on air people at WFTV. See if they are the CWP list. Inquiring minds want to know.
WFTV Eyewitness News Team:
Gustavo Almodóvar, Christina Arangio, Steve Barrett, Bob Baxa, Kathi Belich, Cynthia Demos, Vanessa Echols, Chris Egert, Josh Einiger, Jorge Estevez, Jodie Fleischer, Dan Hellie, Melonie Holt, Arch Kennedy, Zach Klein, Mary Nguyen, Kevin Oliver, Bob Opsahl, Berndt Petersen, Martie Salt, Joe Smith, Tim Stockman, Tom Terry, Scott Thuman, Jamison Uhler, Todd Ulrich, Greg Warmoth, Dain Weister, Barbara West, Carl Willis, Josh Wilson
Maybe WFTV has a zero tolerance against guns in the workplace. Wouldn't that be sweet. See what you can people, we must do what we can to prevent this from happening again!
My name is Lars Larson. i do a national talkshow...on 200 stations around the country. do any of the folks named by these tv idiots want to come on the air and talk about it
for background...i am a ccw holder, in two states, carry daily, and do two radio shows...one national and one local.
Lars Larson
503-417-7644 or e mail
talk@larslarson.com
I carry concealed all the time, but, not in Florida. To me, what seems more important is those names NOT on the list. If you had your choice of walking around the streets with a sign on your back that said "I have a gun" or a sign that said "I don't have a gun", which would you pick? That's right, it is not the guy with the gun who is the target, it is the fool without the gun.
Jim in PA
As one of the earlier posters commented and posted a link to the Dept. of Licensing that says they do have available upon request, apparently to anyone, the "computer generated list" of ccw permit holders.....
Then what the heck does Florida Statute 790.335 even cover? It's there in black and white speaking specifically to THIS issue. It even gives the reason for this statute as being to protect ccw holders from harassment and invasion of privacy.
I also noticed the copyright of the Dept. of Licensing website as being 2004-2005. So is it possible that this information is outdated given the law took effect on May 13th, 2004 as the second response to this blog-post stated?
-Nicole from Longwood
Digging deeper on the website posted for the Dept. of Licensing, they do post such license holders publically such as "Security Officer" (D License), "Private Investigator" (C License), "Recovery Agent" (E License), and "Statewide Firearms License" (G License) (which I believe is for using your firearm during your job like a security guard or private investigator or recovery agent?), and all their respective instructors, but there are NO CCW (W License) LISTED!
I took some of the names off the list published by WFTV and put them in the search engine on the Dept. of Licensing website and none of the names came up.
Okay, we're back on the path of an unlawful violation of privacy here!!!
There are no immediately obvious hits in the CCW data on any of the WFTV personnel. Some of the more common names occur multiple times, including two different Barbara Wests, but nothing conclusive.
So either they don't pack, they pack illegally, or they use stage names.
I just got arround to visiting the wftv site and apparently they saw the error of their ways and removed the list; the story remains but there is no list to ccw holders
It's true, the files are no longer linked to the story, and they are in the process of removing them from their servers. See this thread on Packing.org (an excellent site for all things related to carry and self-defense, I might add).
What it's time to do now is contact our State Legislators and get the laws changed so this will not happen again. Unified Sportsmen of Florida (the state NRA affiliate org) is sending out an email to that effect.
If you read 790.335 carefully it states firearm owners.
CWP is not a license to own a gun. It a license to carry a weapon OR firearm concealed.
If you have a driver's license it doesn't mean you own a car. It just means you can drive one.
This is how the Department of Agriculture can make this a matter of public record.
You have to have a CWP to carry concealed, but you don't have to have a weapon or firearm to have a CWP. It's a fine line
Please don't get me wrong, I am mad as hell over this. I contacted my attorney this morning to do some leg for me. No law has been broken. Once we realise, we can move our focus to why this was done and how do we go forward with making sure this doesn't happen again.
Nicole is also correct in her search. Class W licenses are not on the web, but they are still public record.
WFTV should offer some type of explanation and apology over this.
Shame on everyone involved in this.
Whether or not WFTV broke the law over publishing the names and addresses of CCW holders is not important - it's what could happen from this point on. Their irresponsible and politically-motivated actions have endangered everyone in their viewing audience; CCW holders and all viewers. As stolen gun and personal attacks occur as a result of this story, WFTV could be sued...over and over again.
The very first thing WFTV should do in its defense of this reprehensible tactic is to fire reporter Steve Barrett and News Director Bob Jordan.
I will be posting regular updates on this subject on my blog, The American Scene. Be sure to add any information you hear about.
Thank you Mark. It makes sense to me now that this is the apparent loop hole. However, even if only 80% of the CWP's on that list are gun owners it's still a list of gun owners (albeit with a few errors then).
Agreed. I always like to have a cause for change to work for and this seems the most likely in my arsenal to actually produce and be fruitful. So I'm on it. I'll start working on Sen. John Mica. And I'll link Captain Ron's blog to mine so I can keep it in "speed dial". Please email me anytime to stay in contact.
-"Nicole from Longwood"
(and yes I'm dieting for contest, can you tell? I compete this Saturday in the WNBF Pro World Championships.)
As far as I can tell, this is much ado about nothing. As a Florida CCW permit holder I was concerned about this story until I checked it a little further. The original news story links to the Florida Department of Agriculture web site, and on that site you can research all of the professional license holders regulated by that department. The CCW permit is not a professional license and holders of that permit can not be found in the databases. What can be found are "G" license holders who are those who require the carrying of a firearm in the exercise of their professional duites, i.e., security guards. These are not private citizens carrying concealed. They are considered professionals at carrying guns, which is why their names and addresses are listed by the state, just like all doctors, therapists, nurses, contractors, hair dressers, etc., are also listed in their categories.
I wrote to the Orlando Police Department's Legal Advisor and was told that they were passing the information on to the State Attorney for the 9th Circuit (Lawson L. Lamar. His office phone is 407-836-2400. I believe his email address is llamar@sao9.org.). They believe that the law was violated and are looking for womeone who downloaded a copy of the lists. Can anyone help?
I got the lists for Brevard, Seminole and Orange counties from a friend on the east coast that downloaded them before the unethical bastards @ WFTV removed them.
Should I send them to Mr. Lamar? I might also be able to get files of the remaining counties, but not 100% sure.
WFTV’s Concealed Weapons List.
By publishing this concealed weapons list of central Florida’s citizens, the management of this television station put everyone that does not have a concealed license at risk of being burglarized, raped, house invaded and murdered. Why? Simple. A criminal is going to attack the most vulnerable target he can find. And these Idiots at WFTV just gave the criminals of central Florida a valuable tool for picking defenseless targets. Thanks for nothing. This television station is an accessory to any crime that that is committed by the use of this published list, and I hope they will become bankrupt with legal litigation when it happens.
James P. Leiter
P.S. This is to Santa…. I would like a shiny new chrome Smith and Wesson .38 and concealed gun permit for Christmas. Joy to the world, our savior Jesus has come. May the earth receive Her King.
Sorry to update an old posting, but I thought for completeness this should be included.
Copied verbatim off of Florida's Division of Licensing Website:
On July 1, 2006, a new law went into effect that makes personal identifying information pertaining to a Concealed Weapon or Firearm license confidential and exempt from Section 119.07(1), Florida Statutes and Section 24(a), Article 1 of the State Constitution.
Exceptions to this exemption are:
With the express written consent of the applicant or licensee or his/her legally authorized representative.
By court order upon a showing of good cause.
Upon request by a law enforcement agency in connection with the performance of lawful duties.
What a backward, lefty-handed, Kalifornia style world we live in when the media hangs their viewers simply to sell news time. Is this human race imploding in upon itself in pursuit of personal agendas and the almighty dollar? It has gotten to the point that I feel the media people need to be licensed, not to be a media correspondent, but to be allowed to broadcast the news in a responsible way without being destructive in the process. Just like yelling "fire, fire" in a crowded theatre is against the law, so should be the use and dissemination of personal information for no benefit to society. How can these people call themselves reporters and correspondents? In all honesty they are television tabloid salesmen.
What a backward, lefty-handed, Kalifornia style world we live in when the media hangs their viewers simply to sell news time. Is this human race imploding in upon itself in pursuit of personal agendas and the almighty dollar? It has gotten to the point that I feel the media people need to be licensed, not to be a media correspondent, but to be allowed to broadcast the news in a responsible way without being destructive in the process. Just like yelling "fire, fire" in a crowded theatre is against the law, so should be the use and dissemination of personal information for no benefit to society. How can these people call themselves reporters and correspondents? In all honesty they are television tabloid salesmen.
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