Anti-self-defense extremists are trying desperately to put the 'Defense' Walk genie back in bottle. Toby Hoover told reporters covering yesterday's big Statehouse Walk that gun-rights advocates who lawfully carried their weapons in the open "prove the concealed-carry bill isn't needed." There are enough headlines just in the past two weeks to prove how wrong Hoover is.

Just four hours after the November 1 Youngstown 'Defense' Walk concluded, and just two blocks from where the Walkers assembled, this college student found out just how far some law enforcement groups are willing to go to deny your so-called right to openly carry a firearm for self-defense.

November 11, 2003
YSU ROTC cadet's stick mistaken for shotgun
The student scraped his knee when police forced him to the ground.

By PATRICIA MEADE

YOUNGSTOWN - A camouflage-clad Youngstown State University student running downtown with what police said appeared to be a shotgun stock or short rifle - it turned out to be a stick - thinks city and campus police who drew their guns overreacted.

"The university police know that if any person in camouflage is around, it might be an ROTC cadet training," 22-year-old Joseph Wilhelm said in a letter to the Vindicator. "We always train down there."

Wilhelm said he was training for an ROTC varsity competition by running downtown with a 40-pound backpack, wearing camouflage pants and his YSU ROTC T-shirt. He said even if he was carrying a weapon, it wasn't concealed and is therefore legal.

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

"We do not want a loaded firearm readily accessible to the driver of a car. If there's a dangerous situation and you're in your car, you can drive off." - Capt. John Born, Ohio State Highway Patrol.

"...Of all the changes made by the Senate, as a father, I am most proud of the work we did to ensure the safety of Ohio children under this bill." - Steve Austria, who chaired the committee which added Taft's "Carjacker Protection" provision in the Senate.

"The bill as passed by the Senate gives law-abiding citizens the opportunity to protect themselves by carrying a concealed weapon, while protecting the best interests and safety of all Ohioans." Senate President Doug White, who delayed appointing conference committee members for four months for political reasons.

According to GunWeek Magazine, the Ohio State Highway Patrol refuses to answer questions about how their poor advice continues to fail Ohioans, sometimes at the cost of their very lives (see: TONY GORDON DIED TRYING TO FOLLOW OSHP CAPT. JOHN BORN'S ADVICE).

Click on the "Read More..." link below for two separate incidents, just this week, of persons who were unable to "just drive away" when attacked in their cars.

Anti-concealed carry/self-defense letters to the editor are few and far between these days, but when they are printed, they are always long on emotion, and short on facts. Leave it to the good guys to reply with the facts the gun grabbers left out.

November 13, 2003
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Regarding the Nov. 12 article "Proposed law may hide more than just guns":

Reporter Sandy Theis continues The Plain Dealer's tireless attempt at using any means necessary to keep a concealed-carry law from becoming a reality in Ohio. Theis reports that "a study" (the source of this study is not disclosed) showed that three people in Florida, who shouldn't have received them, were issued concealed-carry permits, due to "loopholes and human errors." The current version of Ohio's proposed CCW law would keep the records of permit holders secret. The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence claims access to these records is necessary "to protect our families."

A look at Florida's own Web site shows that there are currently more than 322,000 concealed-carry permit holders in that state. This works out to a 0.00093 percent margin of error. I don't see the need to make these records readily available to the public.

Ohio is now one of only six states left in the nation that bars law-abiding citizens from carrying a concealed weapon. None of the states that have enacted a concealed-carry law have later decided to revoke them. Why? Because these laws work. You cannot say the same for gun control laws. The Plain Dealer's judicious reporting of criminal activity with guns would support my claim.

Gregory M. Danaher
Willoughby Hills

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read other recent letters.

Cleveland Plain Dealer
November 13, 2003

Columbus - Auditor Betty Montgomery leads all other Republicans seeking the nomination for governor, and holds double-digit leads over Democrats who have expressed an interest in the 2006 contest, according to a poll paid for by the Montgomery campaign.

Of Republicans surveyed, 32 percent said they would vote to nominate Montgomery for governor.

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell finished a surprising second with 23 percent, followed by Attorney General Jim Petro with 17 percent.

The Montgomery campaign made no secret of its motives for releasing the data: They hope donors and party leaders will discount an aura of invincibility promoted by Petro.

Although the poll spotlighted Montgomery's strengths, it also exposed potential weaknesses for the Republicans.

After 16 consecutive years of Republican governors, more than half of those surveyed think Ohio is headed in the wrong direction.

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