Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
35955
From: Candy Scholl <candys@teamdei.every1.net>
To: RM.GOV_PO.GOV_MAIL
Created: 10/16/2001 11:50 PM
Subject: Comments to the Governor
Message:
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
Candy Scholl (candys@teamdei.every1.net) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at 23:50:45
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Issue: AUTOPSY PHOTOS/ NCAAP
Street_Address: 3636 Bonita RD
City: Gautier
State: MS
Zip_Code: 39553
Organization: NCAAP
Position_in_Organization: Member
Message: Most Honorable Governor Ronnie Musgrove,
As this nation seeks to deal with the grief of terrorism, we still yet have our own citizens that see opportunity for financial gain at the expense of the sorrow of our own fellow citizens. This will continue to happen if this government and all governments in this great nation do not take reasonable steps to amend the loopholes in our nation's open record's laws.
We have media groups, private citizens, and internet sites that abuse and misuse these open record's laws to gain access to autopsy photos and medical examiner's reports on victims of tragic and accidental death and homicide. They place no thought to the pain they inflict on family members and friends mourning of the loss of a loved one by these inhumane intrusions into the sorrow of mortal human beings. It is my opinion that they do these despicable things because of the potential to profit financially from these tragic deaths and their view is quite different and equally defenseless if you simply examine the evidence of their claims.
The most repugnant defense for this to date, is that it is a right of Free Speech and Free Press and that it is protected by The United States Constitution as such. Next is the contention that posting autopsy photos on the internet or in a sleazy news publication, is not only a protected right under the Constitution, but that it is also a necessary balance against government conspiracy and malfeasance by the coroners and medical examiners of this nation.
Then you couple this open record's access with the knowledge that not only are autopsy photos being displayed on the internet as a carnival attraction, but that people have actually placed autopsy reports on the internet for auction to the highest bidder. I shall allow you to conclude whether this is a guaranteed protection endowed by The United States Constitution to the medias and citizens of this nation.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY AGAINST AUTOPSY PHOTOS (www.ncaap.com) is placing before this government our affirmed belief that such practices are intolerable, irresponsible, and lacking of any measure of reasoned humanity to those in mourning. We are not just a band of racing enthusiasts and we present to this government a legitimate First Amendment petition for an end to a despicable grievance against our fellow citizens.
We are asking not for censorship of the media or for the government to act in any measure that takes away any Constitutional Freedom from any citizen of this nation. We simply believe that all materials relating to any autopsy have no point or purpose in the hands and eyes of the general public.
These painful images and documents have a proper necessary function within the criminal and civil justice systems of this nation and in the field of medical sciences. We are asking the governments of America to amend open record's laws to provide for these reasonable safeguards against the exploitation of the deceased for means that serve no possible service to mankind.
It was the death of, NASCAR Racing legend, Dale Earnhardt that allowed for us to become so mortified and aware of these deplorable injustices and nothing else should be construed by anyone because of the name of this outstanding association of concerned American Citizens.
Yours truly,
Candy Scholl
3636 Bonita RD
Gautier, MS 39553
(228)522-1610
candys@teamdei.every1.net
NCAAP Member
Submit: Submit
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