2006: A year for change

By Jim Irvine, Chairman

I hope everyone enjoyed a great end to an exciting year. As we welcome in
the New Year, I'd like to look ahead to events that will happen in 2006, a
year for change.

Before this year is out, we will elect a new Governor, and by all
appearances, most of the other statewide offices. (Secretary of State,
Attorney General, State Auditor, and Treasurer) We will also be replacing at
least 16 Ohio Representatives, six Ohio Senators, and three US Congressmen,
and our anti-gun Senator Mike DeWine is also up for election this year. The
political landscape is going to change.

We expect to see changes in hunting rules. HB367, protection of sportsmen's
dollars has already been sent to Governor Taft. We are hopeful that HB296,
establishing an apprentice hunting license, will be passed in the Senate and sent to Governor Taft this
spring. And we will continue to work with the ODNR to amend hunting
regulations to allow those with a CHL to carry while hunting.

The passing of Ohio's shall issue concealed carry law in 2004 was a great
accomplishment, and the law is now two years old. While all the doomsday
predictions the anti-gunners made have predictably been proven false, there
are real problems with our concealed carry law, and it's time to start
fixing them. Representative Jim Aslanides (R-94) of Coshocton is again
leading the charge in the legislature. Buckeye Firearms will have full
coverage as HB347 progresses through the legislature.

Click on the "Read More...." link below for more.

We have the opportunity to change the legislature in ways that do not come
every year. We have the opportunity to improve concealed carry, hunting, and
general firearms laws. We have the opportunity to improve our relationships
with our elected officials, and to make Buckeye Firearms a more influential
voice to represent your concerns in Columbus.

All this change is there for the taking. But each of us needs to change too.
Not everyone will write letters to the editor, or testify or attend hearings
in Columbus, or donate money to candidates and Buckeye Firearms, or
volunteer to work on a campaign, or volunteer to help Buckeye Firearms, or
talk our friends and family into getting more involved, or any of the other
things that are needed to affect the changes we want, but each of us must
change our level of involvement. Check the Buckeye Firearms website often for updates
and easy ways to volunteer to help. As Emeril Lagasse says,
“Let’s kick it up a notch!”

Both the primary election on May 2nd and the general election on November
7th will be crucial to our cause, and we need an army of volunteers to
change things for the better. Ohio is a battleground state, and with the
2008 elections on the horizon, the anti-gunners have already begun to funnel
money, people, and resources into Ohio to change the political landscape in
their favor. Each of us must recruit new teammates to help us win this
battle.

Even if all you can do is allow us to put a campaign sign in your yard, we need to know who you are and where you live. If you have not yet volunteered,
please do so. Make sure your gun store, range, and club are
involved in getting the news out to other members and supporters. We need
your help to reach other gun owners and get them involved. We will achieve
greater results with greater effort, and greater numbers. We will soon have
more ways for you to help us attain these goals.

Each of us makes a difference in our fight to improve our laws. Everyone at
Buckeye Firearms thanks each of you who helped get us this far. We could not
have done it without you. But now we want more. The Governor, and other officials Ohio elects this year will affect our ability to change
our laws for years to come. We must seize the opportunity that lies before
us.

Change is coming, and at the end of 2006, I think we are all going to be
happy with the changes we help shape. It's going to be a great year.