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The town of Gore, Oklahoma is poised to make history tonight, but not the kind anyone should celebrate. At the urging of town attorney Matthew Price and amid swirling allegations of municipal misconduct, the city council plans to vote on a resolution that would prohibit all recording in publicly accessible areas of government buildings. The only exception? Law enforcement officers would retain full recording privileges.
The timing of this proposed recording ban raises serious questions about what Gore officials might be trying to hide from public scrutiny.
Citizens Demand Answers About Missing Police Records
According to sources familiar with the situation, Gore residents have been raising complaints about the town clerk's alleged use of police vehicles for personal transportation. More troubling still are reports that police records have been systematically destroyed, prompting an assistant police chief to raise concerns before reportedly leaving his position.
Rather than address these transparency issues head on, Gore's leadership has chosen the opposite approach. Instead of providing more information to concerned citizens, they want to eliminate the public's ability to document interactions with their government entirely.
Vice Mayor Admits "Bad Actors" Driving Unprecedented Restriction
In a recorded phone conversation, Gore Vice Mayor Larry acknowledged the controversial nature of the proposed ordinance. When pressed about why the town would eliminate a right that has existed since the founding of the republic, he cited "a few bad actors" who have allegedly caused problems.
However, Larry refused to provide specific examples of these incidents or explain why existing laws against disruptive behavior wouldn't address any legitimate concerns. He also confirmed that similar recording bans are being considered by other municipalities across the state, suggesting a coordinated effort to reduce government accountability.
The vice mayor's admission that he "hates" having to take this step only underscores how extreme and unnecessary this measure appears to be.
Oklahoma Municipal League Attorney Behind Constitutional Challenge
The driving force behind Gore's recording ban appears to be attorney Matthew Price, working through the Oklahoma Municipal League. Price has reportedly advised multiple towns to adopt similar restrictions on citizen journalism and government transparency.
This coordinated approach to limiting First Amendment rights represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between government officials who prefer to operate without oversight and citizens who demand accountability from their elected representatives.
The question remains whether Gore's town council will follow through on this advice or recognize the dangerous precedent they would be setting.
Tonight's Vote Could Spark Statewide Battle
As Gore prepares for its evening council meeting, the stakes extend far beyond this small town of 900 residents. If passed, this ordinance could serve as a template for other municipalities seeking to avoid public scrutiny.
The resolution would effectively create a two tiered system where government officials can record citizens, but citizens cannot record their government. This fundamental imbalance of power strikes at the heart of democratic accountability and transparency principles that have governed American civic life for nearly 250 years.
What happens when the gavel falls tonight in Gore could determine whether Oklahoma becomes ground zero for a new assault on press freedom and government transparency.
