Less than two weeks ago, while discussing what he could have done better in his first debate with Governor Taft, Tim Hagan told the Columbus Dispatch he thinks Ohio's existing affirmative defense law is good enough for those wishing to carry concealed.

"I should have been clear in saying I don't think everyone in Ohio should have access to a gun,'' Hagan said, reiterating that he opposes the pending legislation.

But he said there are circumstances in which some citizens -- those with dangerous jobs or who have reason to fear for their lives -- should have the right to carry a concealed gun under Ohio's so-called affirmative defense law.

Under the law Hagan prefers, an Ohioan may only obtain permission to carry a concealed weapon after arrest and trial, and the ruling only applies to that one offense. Persons will be arrested each and every time they are caught carrying concealed, regardless of past favorable rulings on affirmative defense.

The following has been submitted by a concerned Ohio pro-CCW voter and union member. It has been represented as a letter from Tim Hagan, being distributed to union members (name of union shop was edited to protect identity of submitting individual):

Click on the Read More... link below to view the letter.

A rally which featured House Minority Leader Dean DePiero of Parma attracted a scant six members of the OU Democrat Club and three others.

Eight elected Democratic county officeholders, a Democratic county office candidate, the party’s county chairwoman and four news media representatives outnumbered participants at a Wednesday afternoon rally held at the Athens County Courthouse

The event was organized to show support for Democratic 92nd District state representative candidate Jim Pancake's campaign campaign against OFCC PAC-endorsed pro-Concealed Carry Reformer Jimmy Stewart (R) in next week's general election.

Read the entire story in the Athens Messenger.

Two experienced politicians are competing to represent the newly-redrawn 17th Ohio Senate District.

The Republican Party is trying to move the pro-CCW, OFCC PAC-endorsed John Carey of Wellston from the Ohio House to the Ohio Senate, while Democrats seek to maintain a seat for veteran Senator Michael Shoemaker of Bourneville.

Carey has served in the House since 1994. He is vice-chairman of the Finance and Appropriations Committee and serves on the Rules and Reference Committee.

The OFCC PAC has endorsed proven pro-CCW/self defense rights voter John Carey. Pro-Concealed Carry Reform voters must act decisively in this race, and maintain a pro-CCW majority in the Senate.

The new 17th District will include Ross, Fayette, Clinton, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Vinton and Gallia Counties, as well as portions of Lawrence and Pickaway Counties.

Read the entire story in the Athens Messenger.

The endorsements for Justice Evelyn Stratton & Maureen O'Connor for Supreme Court keep piling up.

Warren, OH's Tribune-Chronicle has announced their endorsement for the two Republican candidates as well, joining a long and impressive list of major Ohio newspapers.

In the newspaper's words, "We feel the qualifications of both Stratton and O'Connor make them the candidates most qualified to be on the high court."

Read the entire story in the Tribune-Chronicle.

In a state where many major rulings are made by 4-3 decisions, every seat on the Ohio Supreme Court is precious.

And this year one of the tightest statewide races involves one of those seats, as Democrat Janet Burnside tries to unseat Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

Burnside's main backers, trial lawyers and labor unions, would like to see her win to ensure the court's 4-3 activist majority remains intact.

Stratton points out that she "bring[s] to the bench a level playing field. Do I believe it is my role to expand my ability when there is not a constitutional question? No."

"Will that be my opponent's position? I don't know. I just know the trial lawyers are backing her heavily and betting she [will]."

Read the entire story in the Times Recorder.

Republican Jeffry Armbruster has represented Senate District 13 since 1998, and is seeking re-election.

In the Lorain, OH Morning Journal's words, "He is a successful businessman, owning a chain of gasoline stations, and has served as mayor and councilman in North Ridgeville. Armbruster knows the people and knows the ropes as far as getting things done at the state level."

Armbruster's opponent, Sue Morano, "clearly can't bring to this job the wealth of practical know-how Armbruster possesses, in order to turn intentions into accomplishments. We also question Morano's judgment as a political newcomer. She has allowed her campaign, managed by Jack Kilroy, to start a full-blown mud fight with Armbruster.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to continue.

When Democrat Supreme Court candidates Black and Burnside were asked to request the removal of PAC attack ads benefitting them, they refused. Even in the face of the ads' being condemned by the State Bar Association, and even as three appeals-court judges in Lima unanimously found that there is probable cause that one of Burnside's campaign ads violated the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, both Black and Burnside continue to refuse to disassociate themselves from the condemned ads.

What a contrast when the situation is reversed! Two separate television ads have been televised in Columbus, paid for by a pro-Stratton/O'Connor political action committee. But unlike Burnside and Black, the candidates the ads are intended to benefit say they want no part of it.

The first ad began running over a week ago. In an immediate joint statement, the Republican candidates said "We are outraged by the advertisement's message and unequivocally denounce it.''

A second ad has begun airing, and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton again called yesterday for an independent organization to pull an advertisement supporting her candidacy off the air.

Click on the Read More...link below to continue.

In the words of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Charles Calvert, state representative for the 69th District, "is a strong candidate who deserves election to a third, two-year term." Both the OFCC PAC and the Cleveland Plain Dealer endorse him.

OFCC PAC has been impressed with Chuck Calvert's voting record on CCW/self-defense-related issues. His familiarity and experience with HB274, for which he voted yes, ensures continued strong support for Ohio CCW initiatives in the House.

Ohio House District 69 covers most of Medina County.

Read the entire endorsement in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Ohio Republican Party has secured a hearing Wednesday Oct. 30 in Lima on a complaint filed against Judge Janet R. Burnside.

Yesterday, three appeals-court judges unanimously found that there is probable cause that one of Burnside's campaign ads violated the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct.

Republican Party Chairman Robert T. Bennett alleged the Democratic Supreme Court candidate's first television ad leaves viewers guessing where she is serving on the bench by not clearly stating she is a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge.

In that ad and another that debuted yesterday, "Common Pleas Judge'' flashes on the screen. She is challenging incumbent Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

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

Click here to learn how you can help ensure Ohio's Supreme Court returns to a Constitutionalist majority.

Read the full story in the Columbus Dispatch (subscriber site - paid access only).

Completing what has clearly become a major media sweep in Ohio, the Cincinnati Post has joined the the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Columbus Dispatch, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Toledo Blade, the Akron Beacon Journal and the Canton Repository (not to mention OFCC PAC and the NRA!) in its enthusiastic support for Justice Evelyn Stratton (R) for Ohio Supreme Court.

Justice Stratton, the daughter of American missionaries, was born in Bangkok and raised in southeast Asia at the height of the Vietnam war. She came to the states in 1971 with with a few hundred dollars in her pocket to attend college, eventually earning a BA in history from the University of Akron and then a law degree from Ohio State University. After practicing law in Columbus with two firms, she was elected to the Common Pleas court there in 1988 and again in 1994. She was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1996 and elected to a full term the same year.

The Post notes that "on a court marked by 4-3 votes on such key issues as school funding, workers' compensation and tort reform, she has been a consistent, articulate voice — often in the minority — for judicial restraint."

The Post endorses Justice Stratton. We like the job she's done in her first term. We believe her public service outside the court has been exemplary. She has the edge in terms of experience, and we hope that experience is put to good use over the next six years.

OFCC PAC Commentary:
We can't say it enough - this is turning out to be a much closer race than the pros had expected, mainly because of the vagaries of name recognition in such a large state.

In the final hours before Election Day, please do all you can to represent Eve Stratton's re-election efforts to your friends family, and community!