Weapon carriers do little to alarm officials

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Sunday, December 07, 2003
By Ken Palmer
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

GENESEE COUNTY - Some people who checked out clean for a concealed weapon gun permit are committing crimes, sometimes with the guns they were licensed to carry.

But the number of violators has been so small - less than one-half of one percent - that even those who didn't like the law when it was passed are calling it successful.

Since Michigan's more permissive CCW (for Carrying Concealed Weapons) law took effect in July 2001, one county permit holder has gone to prison for cocaine delivery and felony firearm possession. One brandished a gun during a road-rage dispute and another was charged with domestic assault using a weapon, county officials said.

Several others have been arrested for drunken driving while carrying a firearm.

Still, said state police Lt. Diane Garrison, "My worst fears and scenarios have not played out." Garrison is commander of the Flint Township post.

"We have not had shoot-outs at intersections. I would have thought that some road-rage incidents would have turned into shootings. But all in all, it's gone pretty well."

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

December 7, 2003
Toledo Blade
Governor gambles with Ohioans' lives

Well, it seems Governor Taft just keeps pulling new surprises out of his bag
of tricks.

In his latest effort to ensure law-abiding citizens in Ohio remain at the mercy of criminals, the governor now wants a provision placed in concealed-carry legislation to require public access to the names, birth dates, and counties of residence of all concealed-carry permit holders.

It is obvious that, despite campaigning for election supporting CCW, he has lied, again, regarding the rights of the people. Additionally, in the past he has demanded that the Ohio State Highway Patrol approve, and even be allowed to dictate, any language in the proposed law. Since when did the highway patrol assume legislative authority?

His prior demand, at the behest of unelected bureaucrats, that
concealed-carry would not be allowed in motor vehicles if there was anyone
under the age of 18 in the vehicle, could rightly be called the car-jacker protection clause, making children (and parents) vulnerable and defenseless in the face of criminal attack.

The anti-gun chorus, of course, supports such inane modification of legislation as it serves their cause to deny the right of self-protection. If concealed-carry was such a danger to society, how is it that 45 out of 50
states now allow CCW, with a concurrent decrease in crime in virtually all
cases where "shall issue" concealed-carry laws have been passed?

Every moment the governor wastes proposing that more ridiculous conditions
be placed upon the law-abiding and their rights is one more moment these
very people are wrongfully kept at risk of criminal attack.

Thanks for gambling with our lives, governor.

BRUCE A. BEATTY
Luckey

Click on the "Read More..." link below for five more pro-CCW letters from around the state.

Dayton:
December 8, 2003
Riverside police seeking masked men

RIVERSIDE— Police are seeking three masked men who attacked three elderly Riverside residents with a handgun Saturday between 7:20 and 7:35 p.m., Riverside Police Officer Robert Naff said.

The black-clad men, who are believed to be 16 to 20 years old, attempted to rob an Enright Avenue woman when she got out of her car and walked toward her home, Naff said.

One of the men grabbed the woman from behind and placed a gun to her head, police said. The woman struggled away.

Fifteen minutes later, the men went to the 5300 block of Eastman Avenue where they barged into an elderly couple’s home after knocking on the door, Naff said.

The residents were struck on the heads with the gun before the robbers fled with a purse, wallet and jewelry.

Toledo:
December 7, 2003
Toledo man wounded by would-be robbers

Police yesterday said they were investigating an incident in West Toledo Friday night in which a man was shot in the thigh of his right leg by a would-be robber.

David Ross of 2224 Torrey Hill Driv, and his girlfriend, Sherreare Brown of 3126 Warsaw St. were accosted near Mr. Ross' residence at 10:30 p.m. Friday as the two got out of a car, police said.

Two black men demanded money. As Mr. Ross reached into his pocket, he was shot in the thigh. Mr. Ross was chased into Ottawa Park by one of the men. Both men then fled, police said.

Mr. Ross was treated at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

The following note has been posted to the OFCC CCW-Talk discussion list. The writer experienced the following in Hamiton County (Cincinnati) Ohio, where the Prosecutor's office has already made a valiant effort to inform law enforcement about the legality of open carry in Ohio:

Talk about irony! The following happened right after leaving the Clifton/Cincinnati Open Carry Walk, which went very well.

After the Walk was over, I met my dad at Northgate Mall. Got something at Suncoast, and as I left I noticed two sheriff's deputies and a mall security officer. As I began toward the exit the deputy asked me to stop, then questioned me about why I am carrying a gun. I told him "for self-defense." Then they all began to ask me if I am law enforcement. I of course said no, "I'm just a citizen," so they began with the "you can't carry a weapon."

I realized they were talking about concealed (which it wasn't) and had no idea about open carry being a possibility,
let alone legal. I got out my copy of the Hamilton County Prosecutor's notice to LEAs about open carry being legal. They all read it with great interest. The security guard kept asking questions like "are you licensed to carry that? Do you have any training?" etc. etc.

Next stop, mall security office. Of course I wasn't arrested, but they still made it sound like I didn't have a choice but to go with them to talk.

All three Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 'Defense' Walks, the last of the traditional Walks for 2003*, achieved splendid results.

About 50 Walkers braved the cold to attend the Toledo-area 'Defense' Walk in Perrysburg. Organizer Herb Worley reported that Toledo television stations, which largely ignored the first Toledo-area Walk in Swanton (only FOX Toledo covered there), were out in force this time. ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates made sure Toledoans and all of Northwest Ohio are more aware of our 'rights' and choices for self-defense as defined by the Ohio Supreme Court and Bob Taft. A Toledo Blade reporter also attended.

75 Walkers signed in at the Springfield 'Defense' Walk, and organizer Thomas Kane reported that the
Springfield Police didn't even bother to drive by. As in other cities, police have observed that 'Defense' Walkers are the safest, most peaceful protestors they have ever encountered. Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly was unable to attend because of another commitment, but called Mr. Kane on Friday afternoon to voice his support. A reporter from TV.2 news and the Springfield News conducted interviews.

Organized by University of Cincinnati student Brian Horton, the third Cincinnati-area 'Defense' Walk in Clifton was notable not only for the 20+ Walkers, but for an incident experienced by one of the Walkers at Northgate Mall immediately following that event.

*OFCC Announces Vermilion Open Carry Shopping Day!