Choosing among friends

Two pro-concealed carry Republican candidates have announced that they will
compete in the March primary for the chance to replace Senator Doug White in
District 14. White is term-limited, and cannot seek re-election.

Both Rep. Tom Niehaus and Rep. Jean Schmidt have good voting records for
concealed carry reform in the Ohio House. Both will certainly continue that
record in the Senate, if elected. Conventional wisdom would suggest that when two friends of an issue are competing as such, the issue-based advocacy group
should choose to stay out of the process, and not make an endorsement.

Here's why we aren't following conventional wisdom.

For years, Ohioans have struggled to restore the right to self-defense to
defenseless citizens. And for the past few years, the legislative chamber
most likely to cause hangups in the fight has been the Ohio Senate.

As we are now seeing in the veto fight with Gov. Taft, there is a strong need in the
Senate not only for people willing to vote in favor of concealed carry (3/4
voted for the HB12 Conference Committee report), but to be willing to fight
for the issue; to lead on the issue; to be a vocal proponent of the issue; and
finally to be willing, when necessary, to put aside politics and personal
relationships in order to do what is right for Ohioans who wish to protect and
defend themselves from criminals. Senate President White indicates less than
20 may currently fit that description in today's Senate.

We believe the candidate who has proven herself most ready to take on that job
description in the Ohio Senate is Jean Schmidt. And thus, Ohioans For
Concealed Carry PAC is proud to endorse Jean Schmidt's campaign to become the
next State Senator in Ohio's District 14.

www.jeanschmidt.com