December 27, 2003
Columbus Dispatch

The editorial, “Taking the Heat,” imploring Governor Taft to veto HB12 was not only factually flawed but proved the Dispatch editorial staff is vehemently anti-gun.

Ohio’s longtime ban on concealed weapons has only served criminals well - allowing them to prey on unarmed and unsuspecting victims for far too long, leaving Ohioans vulnerable to violent attack without the means for self defense.

You point use supposed errors in the permit issuing process in Texas to prove the need for oversight, but show no evidence they had a detrimental effect on public safety - a convenient omission designed to give validity to your unsubstantiated argument.

Also omitted is the fact that the provision in HB12 allowing media to check permit holders names on a case by case basis is the same access allowed to police and firefighters' information.

Not publicly disclosing their personal information is designed to protect them against criminal vendettas and permit holders who might use a legally carried firearm to stop a violent attack deserve the same protection. Hunters, on the other hand, clearly do not need to fear revenge from their intended prey.

In previous editorials, The Dispatch stated that Taft should veto concealed carry legislation opposed by law enforcement. That is not only giving non-elected law-enforcement officials control over the legislative process but also claiming the same group is unable to adequately administer the permit system.

What the Dispatch editorial staff, Governor Taft and anti-gun extremist can not accept is legalized concealed carry lowers crime and allows innocent Ohioans to protect themselves. It works in other states and the Dispatch must have a low opinion of Ohio citizens and law enforcement to think that it won’t work here.

Gerard Valentino
Pickerington

Click here to read the letter in the Columbus Dispatch.

December 28, 2003
By Jim Provance
Toledo Blade

(edited for space- click here to read the entire story in the Toledo Blade)

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft and the General Assembly spent much of Ohio’s bicentennial year fighting over guns and what became the largest tax increase in state history.

But then they stood together to trumpet passage of a unique prescription-drug discount program that could benefit as many as 1.7 million senior citizens and the uninsured.

The bulk of the attention went to the fighting, a fact not lost on Democrats.

"We’re going to sit back and let [Republicans] bloody each other, and then we’ll send a fruit basket to Ken Blackwell," said House Democratic leader Chris Redfern (D., Catawba Island).

Despite the fighting, Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green), the second-highest-ranking member of the chamber, said 2003 was a year of bipartisanship, at least in terms of final votes.

"If Republicans want to take credit for maintaining funding for Passport [home health care for the elderly], Democrats can say, ‘Not without us you didn’t,’" he said. "If Democrats want to say, ‘The Republican majority raised taxes in Ohio,’ Republicans can say, ‘Not without you we didn’t.’"

The year began with the governor and lawmakers arguing over what taxes to raise and by how much in the face of fading tax collections.

The year ends with the filing of a voter initiative driven by Republican Secretary of State Blackwell to force the General Assembly to roll back that penny-on-the-dollar "temporary" hike in the sales tax. The resulting debate is likely to dominate the General Assembly in 2004, a legislative election year.

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