Man charged in gun-point abduction rape
By GREG SOWINSKI

LIMA - A local man accused in the abduction and rape of a woman was indicted by the grand jury on numerous charges this week.

A 31-year-old woman was abducted by a man with a gun as she left a business in the 1000 block of West Market Street about 6 p.m. on Nov. 15, said Jana Gutman, an assistant Allen County prosecutor.

The woman was taken to a residential location in Lima and raped. The suspect also robbed the woman of money and stole her car, Gutman said.

Following the rape, the woman notified police, who less than an hour later spotted her car, Gutman said.

Meanwhile, in a neighboring state that allows its law-abiding citizens to a carry concealed handgun for self-defense, a shockingly similar story had a much different ending for this woman, who was fortunate enough to have been carrying a concealed weapon:

Click the "Read More..." link below for the full story.

Mansfield's Quality Cab Co. has expressed concern for the safety of its drivers after two armed robberies in one week. The cab company -- the only one in Mansfield -- is considering halting service to an apartment complex, Northwest Village Apartments, at 670 King St.

Driver Mike Eberhardt Sr., 45, said about noon Wednesday he picked up a patron at the apartment complex. The man asked to be taken to West First Street. Upon arriving in an alley off West First Street, Eberhardt said the man demanded money as he pressed a silver handgun against the driver's shoulder.

Quality Cab office manager Brad Walker, 44, says "we need to protect our drivers, and it's the civic responsibility for all of us to do the right thing," Walker said.

"I don't want to go to the morgue to identify one of my drivers," he said.

Meanwhile, in a state that allows its law-abiding citizens to a carry concealed handgun for self-defense, a shockingly similar story had a much different ending for this Tennessee cab driver, who became the victim of an attempted robbery:

The Tennessean, Nashville, TN

Are mixed public messages are being given by our state Republican leadership concerning concealed carry reform?

In December, House Speaker Larry Householder said publicly that that concealed carry reform is in position to pass in "February or March".

Yesterday, Householder said that while he expects a bill to be introduced and debated, "as far as the future of the state of Ohio and how we move forward, I think that particular issue is one that takes a seat in the back."

Senate President Doug White agreed, saying the issue didn't make the top five list identified by Senate Republicans, who hold a 22-11 majority.

Our latest online poll asks if reforming Ohio's unconstitutional ban on carrying a concealed weapon for self-defense be considered a 2003 Legislative Priority.

You can vote on the right side of the homepage, or click here to access the poll.

The 2003 Legislative Agenda was presented in a joint press conference Thursday by Governor Bob Taft, Speaker Larry Householder, and Senate President Doug White.

As anyone following the basic political and the economic issues facing Ohio knows, the issues being discussed as urgent legislative items include balancing Ohio's budget, unemployment, the school funding fiasco, among other issues.

Since the leadership didn't list the concealed carry reform issue as a priority, the news media inquired as to where it falls in the pecking order.

Although the answers are rather intense, we are not surprised. It is important to remember that Speaker Householder was quoted in earlier news stories indicating that concealed carry reform is expected to pass in "February or March".

Click on the "Read More..." link below for links to the stories.