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Today's Poll: Should the county require pawn shops to record and report items they buy from people off the street?

By Howard B. Owens
tom hunt

I hate to see an additional layer of paperwork on the small business owner, but it should reduce the crimes against property. Breatakins and general thievery will be eliminated when drug addicts realize that their stolen goods can be tracked back to them.

Mar 21, 2019, 8:22am Permalink
Daniel Norstrand

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
---------------------------------------------------Benjamin Franklin------------------------------------------------

Mar 21, 2019, 10:02am Permalink
John Roach

Tom, they will just find another place to sell stolen good. However, if it so well known to law enforcement this business is a problem, then why not do their job and prove it. Seems they have been able to stop other businesses who broke the law, but not this one. That seems to tell me there is no real problem and they just want to drive Pawn King out of the County.

The 7 Legislators that are in favor of this have put no limit on how long the Sheriff can keep you personal information. No requirement to delete it at all

And while they dropped the mandatory fee, how many believe they will not bring it back in a year of so, and then add more businesses to the list required to submit to this to collect even more money?

Mar 21, 2019, 10:22am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

There's some high level of magical thinking to believe that law enforcement should be able to solve crimes without evidence.

Also, the Sheriff does not keep your personal information under this bill.

There are other ways to fence stolen goods besides pawn shops but all of them are difficult and time-consuming.

This particular pawn shop is already complying with similar laws in every other jurisdiction it operates in and has already started voluntarily complying with the law here so the "regulatory burden" argument is rather a bit of a dodge.

The idea that there can be some secret amendment later is ludicrous on its face.

Mar 21, 2019, 10:36am Permalink
John Roach

Howard, I did not say there would be some "secret amendment". But I do not believe the Legislature will not impose a fee in the future, or add other businesses to the list required in order to generate more money.

Maybe you can explain how the Pawn Shop sends the sale information to the Sheriff, but he/she does not keep it?

Mar 21, 2019, 10:50am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, if the Legislature wanted a more expanded bill, they would have it now. If they wanted fees, they would have it now.

Why don't they have these things in the bill? Because good local reporting alerted the public to what was in the original bill and the county attorney revised it.

So if you believe the legislature will later amend the law, the only logical conclusion is that you believe they will do it secretly because clearly, they are listening to public concerns on this issue.

As for the data -- the pawn shop obtains the data, enters it into Leads Online (a private company). The Sheriff's Office obtains a subscription to Leads Online and is able to search that database through a web browser. The Sheriff's Office is never in possession of the data. Leads Online is in possession of the data.

So a private company (the pawn shop) obtains the data. A private company (Leads Online) obtains the data and stores the data. If you don't want a private company to obtain and retain your data, don't do business with that company. Of course, I imagine anybody that concerned about data privacy isn't using Facebook, shopping on Amazon, or going on sites with Google AdWords and other ad tracking mechanisms.

Mar 21, 2019, 12:59pm Permalink
John Roach

Howard, the original bill had more businesses covered and a fee. It was only the push back that stopped it, and, in my opinion, the worry that the Democrats would be nominating candidates to run against them. However, your faith in local government not to impose fees and expand who will be covered as they originally intended, in the future, is greater than mine.

Mar 21, 2019, 1:53pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Apparently the legislature doesn't realize drug dealers will take merchandise. They will also give the customer a grocery list to purchase with a food stamp card, and give them 50 cents on the dollar. Anyone who thinks this will accomplish much of anything has seriously misjudged drug dealers and drug users. Billions have been spent by the DEA to stop drug trafficking, we see how well that worked.

Mar 21, 2019, 4:29pm Permalink
david spaulding

This is more spying on you and me.... I went into a Red Apple to buy a lottery ticket and they wanted to scan my driver's license, same thing for beer/cigarettes, what for? to spy.... Big Brother is getting out of hand. If the police can't catch the bad guy the old fashion way, so be it. What ever happened to my Right to privacy?

Mar 21, 2019, 5:51pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Howard, you have proven beyond doubt that you are unfair, and pick and chose. I proved my point and won a bet, Bahahahahahahahaha. You let Thomas virtually call me a dry drunk. But that's fine, I did not insult anyone, nor did I personally attack anyone. Can't wait to see how you spin this. If you want me off the site, just say so. No great loss. You don't have anything the daily news doesn't, and you definitely can't hold your own against facebook.

Mar 22, 2019, 4:32pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Already did Thomas, But I don't have comprehension problems. I don't follow AA anymore Thomas, when they started treating other addicts like you do, I left the program. Still keep in touch with some of Bill's friends however, its good to talk to people in the know. They help me ignore ignorance and pray for the ignorant. The real beauty however is being reminded to not let ignorant , naïve , people take up space in my head.

Mar 22, 2019, 4:50pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Frank, I didn't let him call you a dry drunk. He didn't call you a dry drunk. He said "dry drunk?" That wasn't pointed at you. I can't help it if you took it that way.

I've deleted an equal amount of comments from both over you over the past three days or so for continually have a personal back and forth about each other than any real topic. I'm pretty sick of it. Both of you need to start abiding by the rules.

And Frank, if you don't like me, don't like The Batavian, don't like our rules, then, yes, you should go away. I'm not going to kowtow to your personal prejudices.

David, I took your comment as prepetuating the argument between these two.

Mar 22, 2019, 5:38pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Howard, like it or not, my post did not break any rules, you nor I can predict how people may interpret something. In your case its picking and choosing. I just find it hard to believe that you allow Thomas to berate and insult tens of thousands of people, says a lot about you and your site, and how uneducated Thomas is on the subject of opioid addiction. Just because you are willing to give Thomas a free pass, many other people, including family and friends of addicts and recovering addicts find his diatribe hurtful, and you allowing it only enhances that pain. I always thought you were a tad more community friendly than that. It's close to disgraceful in my opinion. Spin it any way you like Howard, it's not about like or dislike, Thomas has a bad habit of either misreading something, or a failure to comprehend what he read, or he is to eager to put someone down because he makes assumptions, and constantly stereotypes. Hey. if that's how you like it howard, have at it.

Mar 22, 2019, 9:45pm Permalink
Thomas Callan

Same Old Thing! If people are STUPID enough to stick needles in their arm, well, why do you think they call it DOPE?? A dry drunk is mad because he cant blow away the mortgage, utility, food, OR the Babies Shoe Money Anymore! GET A LIFE!

Mar 23, 2019, 9:07am Permalink
bud prevost

This post has become rather boorish. Thomas and Frank, you both are guilty of name calling and grandstanding. Howard shouldn't have to babysit and censor your nonsense.
This is a wonderful site for discourse, but not the low level garbage you two bring.

Mar 23, 2019, 9:24am Permalink

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