Well, the Mad Hatters Teaparty is now trying to cover there Tracks. It seem would there are two sets of rules: The set we the public are expected to follow, and those that legislators, law enforcement and other government subsects follow.
The North Carolina GOP is moving to further shut the doors on Government Transparency that investigative reporters might one day use.
Legislators in North Carolina are now considering a bill that would give government employees and officials unprecedented control over public records. However they have no plans to extend this "courtesy" to the General public.
"Wake County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Janssen spoke before a House judiciary committee before it passed a measure allowing state and federal prosecutors, federal judges and police officers to remove any information that could be used to identify them from city and county websites. Such information could include local tax payments, property deeds and other records accessible to the public online"
In a smaller note it might be of interest to note that "Wake County Voter Suppression" made National news all over the country a few months ago. Rep.Chris Malone,R-Wake, is the bill's chief supporter..
They are using the Usual cover Story of it's for "Our Safety" By getting a prosecutor recently targeted by kidnappers. He urged a legislative committee Wednesday to endorse a bill that would shield the identity of law enforcement officials online.
In the indictment about the kidnapping it was reported that the kidnappers when to the wrong address, then lucked up because a father of the intended victim lived at that address so the decided to abduct the father instead.
There was no mention of whether the Kidnappers had used access public records to get the incorrect address they went too.
One can assume that the GOP used this example to demonstrate 'This could happen to us too if we don't hide all our public records'.
We are constantly told that the dangers are increasing, usually as a justification for misconduct, expanded surveillance or the purchase of military equipment. Presumably, a world more dangerous for law enforcement would also be more dangerous for civilians, but very little thought is given to the well being of the public.
If this happens, North Carolina will have two sets of public records laws -- one for Legislators and law enforcement and one for everyone else, where danger is expected to be just part of everyday life...
There was also concerns if it would set a precedent for other groups not in law enforcement that might also ask to be exempted.
"If They Have Nothing to Hide Why Worry"