#9- Public Records State (revised), Protection or Secrecy?

  Back in March Arkansas law makers decided to put more limitations on what was available for public record. In this situation these changes could be seen as positive. While some may see this as an effort to deprive people from free information it seems to be a way of protecting certain groups. These changes could be considered a threat to the Freedom of Information Act.

  Some of these news changes include protection of the name's of those who've won the lottery. This actually makes sense, unexpected wealth can also come with unprecedented danger. On the other hand it will make things more difficult to determine if there were any unusual connections to a lotto winner and the lottery itself. Another change was a vote towards keeping the ingredients of lethal injection drugs a secret. Again this seems to make sense. While I do see how some people think that if you give the government an inch (in the ways of repression of information) that they'll take a mile. In some cases this is likely true.

  The need for transparency of public records is self explanatory but there are some things that are better left a secret. Generally, the word "secret", has a negative connotation but that shouldn't always be the case. Whether it be for public safety or the safety of individuals some information should be withheld, and I believe that's justifiable. 

Original Article