Facts reflected in stories, headlines
Posted 5/22/02

Recently, the Times received some complaints regarding the reporting of crimes. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a few things.

First, in recent articles about meth labs we reported that there were guns at both locations. In one letter to the editor, the writer was upset because we included the fact that there were several guns in the home.

While it is true that owning a gun is a citizenís legal right, what Ms. Adams didnít mention is that you must be a law abiding citizen to own one. When you do something illegal, such as using or selling drugs, you are no longer a law abiding citizen with the right to own or possess a gun.

I certainly agree that owning a gun does not make a person a criminal and Iím totally for hunting and target shooting, but to compare guns to candy bars is no compari-

son at all.

Another reader is upset about a headline we used, "Meth lab across from school in Pease dismantled," as she feels itís bad publicity for the school.

Unfortunately, thatís where the lab was located. Thankfully, it was safely dismantled and we didnít have to report something much worse.

When law enforcement arrests someone for dealing or manufacturing drugs within 300í of a school or public park, it makes the offense that much more serious.

In fact, criminals who are prosecuted for drugs near a school or park end up with a much longer sentence because of the proximity to children.

As for the police report itself, thereís not much I can do about the way people conduct themselves.

The reader was upset because we included in the police report that an Elim Home resident hit another with a cane. The Times does not pick and choose which incidents to report, we must print all of them or we would not be doing our job. Unlike other newspapers, we do not print the names of those listed in the police report.

We do our best to print the news with accuracy and honesty. I hope this helps clarify a few things. We appreciate your comments - keep your letters coming.