Englehart’s View by Bob Englehart

As far as I’m concerned, the Sandy Hook Elementary School parents and families of victims can have anything they want. I only ask that the state not pass laws in secret. They should hold a public hearing on legislation that will severely limit public access to certain information.

I understand the intent. I abhor it when I watch TV news programs and they play the recorded 911 calls of crime victims. I find it to be sensationalism. I shut off the audio and watch the video. The other night, a news program showed the video from a cop’s dashboard camera of the officer being shot to death by a motorist. The cop was literally blown off his feet with three shots. It wasn’t necessary to show that. It added nothing to the report except titillation. It must’ve been a nightmare for the family of the officer to see that. It’s sad that some people are entertained by other people’s misery, but that’s the world we live in. Generally, I don’t find it necessary to understanding.

It’s disturbing enough that the state could actually pull off such a stunt. If they can do it for what seems like a good cause to protect the feelings of some of our citizens, they certainly could do it with evil intent.

And that’s the dangerous precedent set by the state’s action.