Anti-self-defense extremists are often confronted with the question of why Ohio should resist concealed carry reform, since 45 other states have it in some form or another (including every state that borders Ohio). They are fond of responding that since Ohio's crime rate is already lower (than, say, Michigan), there is no need for these reforms. Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence founder Toby Hoover made this very argument on a live WBGU Bowling Green panel show a little over a week ago.

After reading the FBI's 2002 Uniform Crime Report, we know they're going to wish they'd used a different excuse.

For something like 40 years, the state of Michigan has had a crime rate higher than that of Ohio, per capita. This fact in and of itself doesn't deter from arguments that Ohio needs a concealed carry law - just because our rate is lower, doesn't mean we should seek to lower it even more. But these extremists' arguments are flawed for still another reason: the crime rate disparity is no longer a reality, thanks to passage of a concealed carry reform law in Michigan in 2000.

During a call with an OFCC representative today, Governor Taft's office indicated that they have begun keeping a journal of how many callers support/oppose HB12, the concealed carry reform bill.

After years of pro-CCW calls that went completely ignored, many people have told us they've given up on calling Taft, and focused instead on their legislators. We don't blame them. And we do think it's interesting that they only now have decided to start keeping a poll of callers.

No matter whether he plans to listen this time or not, let's not give them the chance to claim they haven't received enough phone calls in favor of the issue.

Governor Taft's phone number is 614-466-3555.

Related Stories:
Insisting on 'Carjacker Protection': What does Bob Taft have against children?

Letters to the Editor: What Bob Taft refuses to understand

TONY GORDON DIED TRYING TO FOLLOW OSHP CAPT. JOHN BORN'S ADVICE

Tony Gordon Memorial 'Defense' Walk ''the most emotional of them all''

October 24, 2003
Gongwer News Service
Ohio Report

GOP LEADERS TAKE SIDES IN SENATE PRIMARY TILT

Republican leaders of the House and Senate have disagreed on issues regarding the budget, civil justice changes and concealed weapons. Senate President Doug White (R-Manchester) and Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) also disagree on who should be sitting in Senator White’s seat come January 2005.

The two leaders, who both face term limits in 2004, have taken sides in the 14th Senate District contest in what’s shaping up as one of the more contentious primaries next spring. Evidenced by letters of support sent in recent weeks to prospective fund-raising targets, Senator White is backing Rep. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), and Speaker Householder prefers Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). The primary winner will likely take all in the heavily Republican district.

“As the Senator who currently holds that seat, I have both a personal interest and obligation to my constituents to participate in the selection of my successor,” Senator White said in a letter dated September 2003. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Niehaus and signed “Doug and Shirley,” the letter underscores that the lawmaker’s wife also prefers Mr. Niehaus.

“Having served in both the House and Senate, I understand the skills needed to be successful as a legislator. Tom Niehaus has demonstrated his ability to work within the caucus to build consensus on issues and champion the causes important to his constituents,” Senator White’s letter states. “He currently represents three of the five counties in the Senate district, and officials in all three counties share my assessment of his performance.”

While Senator White’s letter notes Mr. Niehaus has earned the respect of “colleagues, agency officials and members of the lobbying community,” Speaker Householder’s praise of Ms. Schmidt includes more specifics on policy issues important to conservative Republicans, such as her “A-plus” rating from the National Rifle Association and her endorsement by state and local Right to Life groups.

“She wrote landmark legislation to block taxpayer funding of abortions at clinics like those operated by Planned Parenthood and she sponsored the measure that provided needed funding for abstinence education,” the speaker’s letter declares. On the subject of concealed-carry, the letter adds, “We need Jean Schmidt as our next state Senator because she won’t be afraid to stand up to politicians who stand in the way of our constitutional rights!”

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

October 27, 2003
Toledo Blade

2 widows survive robbery near church

Sally Antoszewski, a 94-year-old widow from North Toledo, said she likes to go to Mass on Saturday afternoons because it’s less crowded than Sunday and she can "shuffle along" without getting in anyone’s way, she said.

On Saturday, however, trouble came her way.

Mrs. Antoszewski and her 83-year-old niece, Valerie Nieszala, were accosted Saturday as they were entering St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church on Lagrange Street for the 4 p.m. Mass.

According to Mrs. Antoszewski and police reports, the two elderly widows were walking up the church’s handicapped entrance ramp when a car pulled up next to them. A large woman in a bright yellow dress ran up and grabbed Mrs. Antoszewski’s purse, which Mrs. Nieszala was carrying for her aunt, who walks with the aid of a cane.

"She was a big, masculine woman," Mrs. Nieszala said of her assailant, later identified by police as 5-foot-9, 198-pound Iris Janine Smith, 42, of Putnam Street.

"It all happened in a flash," Mrs. Antoszewski said.

The assailant shoved Mrs. Nieszala, who fell backward and hit her head on the pavement, police said.

Ms. Smith then sped out of the parking lot, westbound on Oakland Street, police said.

"It was horrible," said Mrs. Antoszewski, who said she has a heart condition. "Here we are, so helpless. I just stood there paralyzed."

Fortunately for the two senior citizens, a Toledo police officer happened to witness the crime.

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

TO: ALL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

FROM: MICHAEL K. ALLEN
HAMILTON COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

DATE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2003

RE: Klein vs. Leis, 99 Ohio St.3d 537 (Sept. 24, 2003)

1. On September 24, 2003, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Ohio's statutes which prohibit carrying concealed weapons (cited) and Improper Transportation of Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (cited) are constitutional enactments of the General Assembly. The Court ruled that there is no constitutional right to bear concealed weapons. While recognizing a fundamental right to bear arms, under the Ohio Constitution, the Ohio Supreme Court held that these statutes are a reasonable regulation of the manner in which weapons are carried.

2. The (OSC) did not address the issue of carrying "unconcealed" weapons. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that anybody who openly carries a firearm is automatically arrested. There is no statute, in the state of Ohio, which prohibits the carrying an unconcealed firearms, on your person. Police officers are advised that they should not consider an individual openly carrying a firearm as an "automatic arrest." Officers must exercise their judgment and only make an arrest in cases where probable cause existed to believe that the person carrying the firearm is violating the law. Openly carrying a firearm does not mean that the person is automatically guilty of Disorderly Conduct (R.C. 2917.11) or Inducing Panic (R.C. 2817.31). Each case must be judged on it's own set of facts.

3. The Court's decision did not impact the prohibitions against carrying weapons in certain locations, such as school safety zones, liquor premises, courthouses or detention facilities or possessing a weapon while under disability or intoxicated.

4. If you have any questions please contact....(names and numbers redacted)

Commentary:
Ohioans For Concealed Carry is also in receipt of several threats from other local law enforcement agencies, mailed to inquiring citizens, stating that although open carry is law, their officers will automatically arrest for disorderly conduct or inducing panic. Obviously we will take instances of citizens having their rights violated in such a manner VERY seriously. Other prosecuting attorneys would be prudent to so inform their law enforcement agencies.

Beyond that, we believe a memo similar to this one, issued by State Attorney General and gubernatorial-hopeful Jim Petro would put to rest such blatant abuse from uninformed or pro gun-control law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.

Ohioans concerned about their self-defense rights will not again make the mistake of taking a gubernatorial-candidate's word on his or her support for concealed carry reform. We will have expected them to act when they had an opportunity to prove their claims. This is such an opportunity for Attorney General Jim Petro.

Click here to download the memo in a .pdf file.

October 27, 2003
Cleveland Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS -Muzzle flame rips through a gunsmoke fog as the shooters' arms rise and fall like exploding pendulums in a steady rhythm of fire. Brass casings, ejected from semiautomatic pistols, silently pinwheel through the air.

In this ear-protected world of the shooting range, the sounds are muffled, disembodied. A deep 9mm whump, a sharp .22-caliber snap, are felt more than heard, as hanging paper targets flutter in a breeze of bullets.

If those perforated papers were people - the sort who attack and sometimes kill homosexuals - they could be the four youths who threatened one regular range-shooter, a cop who was off duty at the time, in front of a gay club in Columbus. He pulled his gun, pointed it in the air and said, "You picked on the wrong fairy."

Standing among shooters at the range on this October night, J.T. Combs learns the fine art of firearms under the tutelage of his companion, Kirk Johns, a former Army armorer.

"Not only does he load the clips for me, but he cleans the guns after we shoot," Combs says. "Now, that's love."

Love is never having to say you missed.

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But this latest of monthly target-practice sessions at the Powder Room gun shop and range, just north of Columbus, is more than just a multi-caliber version of queer eye on the bull's-eye.

These shooters are members of the Ohio chapter of the Pink Pistols, a national group dedicated to arming the gay community for its own protection.

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

AN ADVOCATE FOR GUN SAFETY?

At a recent meeting of police chiefs from around the country, Richard Aborn, the former president of Handgun Control, Inc. (now the Brady Campaign) opened the program and introduced the speakers. Speaking at the end of the presentation, Mr. Aborn caused members of the assembled group to stare wide-eyed at him as he pointed - with his finger on the trigger - a semi-automatic pistol at the audience!

This "advocate for gun safety" most assuredly flaunted his ignorance of even the most basic rules of safe gun handling, ignorantly pointing the gun in an unsafe direction, failing to visually inspect the gun`s chamber and not keeping his finger off the trigger. The outspoken gun-rights critic seemingly has little or no practical "hands on" experience in the area for which his background and political position would beg some expertise.

Back-pedaling and sounding more like a child rationalizing his being caught in a wrongful act, Aborn weakly offered, "In demonstrating them, I inadvertently pointed it to show how criminals use them. I instantly realized it was a mistake, and I said so. I was very honest about that."

Perhaps Mr. Aborn should attend an NRA safety course and learn the rules of safe and proper firearm handling from the real advocates of gun safety.

Reprinted from NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert, Vol. 10, No. 43