Newspaper publisher apologizes to sheriff for making public records request

David Brown, the publisher of The Cherokee Scout in Murphy, N.C., has apologized for requesting public records about gun ownership from the local Sheriff's office. As reported by Romenesko:

As publisher of your local newspaper, I want to apologize to everyone we unintentionally upset with our public records request for a list of those who have or have applied for a concealed carry permit. We had no idea the the reaction it would cause.Sheriff Keith Lovin had the best interests of the people of Cherokee County at heart when he denied our request. The Scout would like to offer an apology to him as well

Awe-inspiring work, even by established standards of smalltown media obsequiousness.