FOX News is reporting that the Obama administration has banned the importation of nearly 1 million antique M1 Garand rifles that were used by U.S. soldiers in the Korean War for sale to gun collectors in America.

A State Department spokesman told reporters the administration's decision was based on concerns that the guns could fall into the wrong hands.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is closing its Cleveland concealed handgun licensing (CHL) office today and moving it to Parma.

According to the article, the new office will open Sept. 15 at the auto title office at 12100 Snow Road.

From the article:

"The new location also offers free and plentiful, immediate access parking and evening hours on Wednesdays," spokesman John O'Brien said.

"A second, east side location is under search, and location selection will be based on feedback and analysis of the Parma location issues and benefits."

The Parma office will be open by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays; and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 216-443-5563.

by Jim Irvine

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray (D) has released the concealed handgun license (CHL) statistics for the second quarter of 2010. At the end of June, we had an all time record of approximately 199,577 Ohio residents licensed to carry concealed firearms. (See chart)

We are now in our seventh year of concealed carry in Ohio and it is clear that the program is popular, successful and growing. Ohio's law became effective in April of 2004. With that initial surge, the second quarter has remained ahead of other years in terms of the average number of licenses issued. While this year's second quarter demand was lower than last year, when there was a spike following President Obama's taking office, the 14,898 regular licenses were still more than 32% higher than the average second quarter numbers.

by Chad D. Baus

Early last year Dayton Daily News reporter Laura Bischoff wrote an article about Ohio residents who chose to obtain a non-resident, or out-of-state, concealed carry license from Utah. In the article, Bischoff echoed the assertions of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence's Toby Hoover, who suggested that the reason people obtain these licenses is to avoid Ohio's training requirements. At the time, Hoover suggested state Attorney General Richard Cordray should cancel the reciprocity agreement with Utah.

Eighteen months later, reporter James Nash of The Columbus Dispatch is taking his turn on the subject. And once again, Hoover is suggesting that something nefarious is going on.

by Chad D. Baus

The Toledo Blade is reporting that, during a recent interview, Governor Ted Strickland said that he believes he has cut into John Kasich's Republican base due, in part, to the gun issue.

From the story:

The governor hails from a rural Appalachian Ohio area that repeatedly sent him to Washington. He has twice garnered the endorsements of the National Rifle Association and Fraternal Order of Police, groups that more often than not have supported Republicans.

...[Kasich] said he doesn't buy the suggestion that Mr. Strickland has whittled away at his base.

"The numbers don't reveal any of that," Mr. Kasich said. "The problem he's had is all the negative attacks on me have backfired on him. It's driven up his negatives. For instance, the NRA. I'm not an enemy of the NRA. We just have a disagreement on a vote I cast" in favor of an assault weapons ban while in Congress.

Responding to a grassroots outcry from gun owners, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday that it has denied a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and other radical groups that had sought to ban the use of lead in ammunition.

Agreeing with the position of the NRA and the firearms industry, the agency explained in a news release that it "does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)." Further crushing the hopes of anti-gun and anti-hunting activists, the release added: "nor is the agency seeking such authority."

"It's outrageous that this petition even went this far," said Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director. "We applaud the EPA for its understanding of the law and its common sense in this situation -- both of which were totally missing in the petition filed by these extreme anti-gun and anti-hunting groups."

Because the EPA has no power to regulate ammunition, it will not move ahead with a public comment period on the petition. However, a comment period will remain open until September 15 on the other part of the petition, which asks EPA to ban the use of lead in fishing sinkers.