Comments on: Rome newspaper blasts prosecution of Gordon Lee http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/ Newsarama contributors share what’s on their minds. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:34:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Rocky_F http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-409752 Rocky_F Tue, 06 May 2008 01:02:41 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-409752 I live near Rome and have heard from fellow shop owners in Georgia and surrounding states about Gordon. This information is what was passed on to me. I have done business with these dealers for years and trust that they are telling me the true facts. None of them thought Gordon was a bad guy. They did not have any ax to grind with him. However, they all question his judgement. In all fairness must point out a few things. First, Gordon was already on probation for selling adult books to a minor (or some such foolishness). Second, Gordon started to get into a very personal rivalry with another hobby shop in the area. It just so happens the other shop was run by a retired police officer. So you have Gordon on probation and he has ticked off a former cop that is running a hobby store. What could go wrong? This is not some landmark free speech case. It is small town Politics. Any business owner should know the laws and ordinances of their town. That is not to say that you agree with them, just know what is going to get you in trouble. Next, don't go poking you finger in the eye of a retired police officer's business. Finally, if you have already been in trouble for selling to minors, don't leave a total nimrod in charge of free comic book day. The reason they are Adult Titles is they are for Adults. Forgot the "it is Art" agrument, Gordon had made enenmies and this was their chance to settle the score. I live near Rome and have heard from fellow shop owners in Georgia and surrounding states about Gordon. This information is what was passed on to me. I have done business with these dealers for years and trust that they are telling me the true facts. None of them thought Gordon was a bad guy. They did not have any ax to grind with him. However, they all question his judgement.

In all fairness must point out a few things. First, Gordon was already on probation for selling adult books to a minor (or some such foolishness). Second, Gordon started to get into a very personal rivalry with another hobby shop in the area. It just so happens the other shop was run by a retired police officer. So you have Gordon on probation and he has ticked off a former cop that is running a hobby store. What could go wrong?

This is not some landmark free speech case. It is small town Politics. Any business owner should know the laws and ordinances of their town. That is not to say that you agree with them, just know what is going to get you in trouble. Next, don’t go poking you finger in the eye of a retired police officer’s business. Finally, if you have already been in trouble for selling to minors, don’t leave a total nimrod in charge of free comic book day. The reason they are Adult Titles is they are for Adults. Forgot the “it is Art” agrument, Gordon had made enenmies and this was their chance to settle the score.

]]> By: J. Christopher Baggett http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-408831 J. Christopher Baggett Mon, 05 May 2008 10:52:24 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-408831 I live in the Rome, GA area, and I'm personally very glad to see this finally coming to an end. Its been a long period, and we've all felt for a while now that it was going to end with the store shutting down. Near as I can tell, the shop is still doing well. Its never really packed because of the town size, but its never really empty either. I live in the Rome, GA area, and I’m personally very glad to see this finally coming to an end. Its been a long period, and we’ve all felt for a while now that it was going to end with the store shutting down.

Near as I can tell, the shop is still doing well. Its never really packed because of the town size, but its never really empty either.

]]> By: Bill Bickel http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-407231 Bill Bickel Sun, 04 May 2008 03:52:59 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-407231 ArmStrong, if we mandate consequences for prosecutors who bring cases that are ultimately dismissed, they're just going to fight a hell of a lot harder to keep them from being dismissed. ArmStrong, if we mandate consequences for prosecutors who bring cases that are ultimately dismissed, they’re just going to fight a hell of a lot harder to keep them from being dismissed.

]]> By: Mercer http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-406371 Mercer Sat, 03 May 2008 15:51:23 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-406371 I'm with Kalorama on this one... but what I don't know what other controls could have been put in place, the (ultimately stupid) obscenity laws being what they are in places like GA or mine own home of Montana. I hope Lee's managed to recover from this (to my shame, I've not been keeping up on the story)... I’m with Kalorama on this one… but what I don’t know what other controls could have been put in place, the (ultimately stupid) obscenity laws being what they are in places like GA or mine own home of Montana.

I hope Lee’s managed to recover from this (to my shame, I’ve not been keeping up on the story)…

]]> By: BatPimp http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-405062 BatPimp Fri, 02 May 2008 18:47:55 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-405062 The prosecutor is a beyotch, and it's great someone is calling her on it. The prosecutor is a beyotch, and it’s great someone is calling her on it.

]]> By: kalorama http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-405019 kalorama Fri, 02 May 2008 18:22:09 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-405019 ArmStrong, I'm all for tighter controls on needless prosecution, but that's way over the top. Cases get dismissed for all kinds of reasons that do not indicate or imply prosecutorial misconduct. ArmStrong, I’m all for tighter controls on needless prosecution, but that’s way over the top. Cases get dismissed for all kinds of reasons that do not indicate or imply prosecutorial misconduct.

]]> By: Vinnie Bartilucci http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404878 Vinnie Bartilucci Fri, 02 May 2008 16:55:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404878 All I know is that this is the only thing I know Rome, GA for, and the only thing I care to know it for. Were I ever to be driving through Georgia, I would stop at Rome for one reason only - to buy books from Gordon's store. From day one, this has smacked of an attempt for a DA to make a prosecutorial name for themselves. Well, mission accomplished. Here's hoping this debacle follows Ms. Patterson through the rest of her career. Free Comic Book Day (the even that caused the hoohah in the first place) is this weekend. Will Ms. Patterson be there to check all the comics distributed? All I know is that this is the only thing I know Rome, GA for, and the only thing I care to know it for. Were I ever to be driving through Georgia, I would stop at Rome for one reason only - to buy books from Gordon’s store.

From day one, this has smacked of an attempt for a DA to make a prosecutorial name for themselves. Well, mission accomplished. Here’s hoping this debacle follows Ms. Patterson through the rest of her career.

Free Comic Book Day (the even that caused the hoohah in the first place) is this weekend. Will Ms. Patterson be there to check all the comics distributed?

]]> By: ArmStrong http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404852 ArmStrong Fri, 02 May 2008 16:37:14 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404852 We could stop a lot of needless prosecution by mandating consequences (i.e. jail time) for any district attorney that litigates a case that is ultimately dismissed. We could stop a lot of needless prosecution by mandating consequences (i.e. jail time) for any district attorney that litigates a case that is ultimately dismissed.

]]> By: Rick Rottman http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404619 Rick Rottman Fri, 02 May 2008 14:27:18 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/05/02/rome-newspaper-blasts-prosecution-of-gordon-lee/#comment-404619 This case never should have gone as far as it did. My guess is that if Gordon Lee didn’t already have a criminal conviction for distributing obscene materials, he never would have been charged in the first place. This case never should have gone as far as it did. My guess is that if Gordon Lee didn’t already have a criminal conviction for distributing obscene materials, he never would have been charged in the first place.

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