'Laws may have overstepped the mark'

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Sun, 20 Nov 2011 6:07p.m.

"I don’t think a shotgun would have worked you see, it would have been more stake and garlic"

"I don’t think a shotgun would have worked you see, it would have been more stake and garlic"

By Adam Hollingworth

Security guards at the Herald on Sunday suggested staff were concerned about their safety after Michael Laws made threats about their journalists.

On his RadioLive programme laws suggested journalists at the Herald on Sunday had gone rabid and if he had a gun he would shoot them.

Mr Laws' programme took what the Herald on Sunday journalists believe was a sinister turn when he singled them out over their handling of the so-called teapot tapes, suggesting the media had gone mad.

“The Herald on Sunday for example, which is rabid all the time. No idea why somebody hasn't taken the shotgun there and just cleaned out the entire newsroom."

Herald on Sunday journalists considered laying a police complaint. Editor Bryce Johns says staff were glad there was extra security on the door on Friday.

Former National Radio and RadioLive host Brian Edwards says Mr Laws may have overstepped the mark.

“As a columnist and talkback host Michael Laws is paid to be outrageous, offensive and frequently irresponsible. And he does all that very well.

“And the idea is to get a reaction, however once you're suggesting that we kill an entire group in society I think that may well be against the law.”

But today two days after his controversial comments, Mr Laws was not backing down.

“I don’t think a shotgun would have worked you see, it would have been more stake and garlic.”

3 News approached Mr Laws' bosses at RadioLive to ask whether they were taking disciplinary action against him. They did not return our calls.

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Comments

24 Nov 2011 01:36p.m.

Clara wrote:


Venal little man.

22 Nov 2011 12:03p.m.

Wayne wrote:

Laws is KING.

21 Nov 2011 01:24p.m.

sizemik wrote:

Michael Laws is NZ's village idiot. Why does anyone take the village idiot seriously? . . . that's what I'd like to know.

21 Nov 2011 10:40a.m.

becca wrote:

um terrorism suppression act? he does this crap on radio and its ok? why are his words not to be taken seriously?

21 Nov 2011 10:20a.m.

EagleWarrior wrote:

@Kane - I agree with you about no sane person acting on what MLaws says - we all know there are some people who are not sane who believes in everything MLaws says. Great minds think together fools never differ.

21 Nov 2011 08:34a.m.

Grimes wrote:

So it's OK for the Prime Minister to have the police wasting their time over the teapot stuff, but when a radio buffoon makes what are clearly illegal remarks inciting a far more serious crime, it's "just tongue in cheek"? Weird priorities.

21 Nov 2011 07:27a.m.

Ruz wrote:

As I understand it what Laws has said is illegal and that he can be proscuted. If I was journalist working for the Herald on sinday I would lay a complaint.

20 Nov 2011 10:15p.m.

Mark wrote:

Get a sense of humour. There was no security threat. Laws is just having fun with you and youve been beautifully goaded.

20 Nov 2011 09:29p.m.

Kevin Middleton wrote:

Hah ha ha(man food laugh) stake & garlic

20 Nov 2011 08:23p.m.

mandy wrote:

Look this is stupid Michael Laws is a Journalist, Journalism covers all Media it is obviously tongu and cheek. Get over it.