House Bill 12 has been added to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice's agenda for public testimony on May 20 at 10:00 a.m. and May 21 at 9:00 a.m. in the North Hearing Room, Second Floor, Senate Building.

The purpose for Tuesday's hearing for HB12 is, essentially, to hear testimony from The Buckeye State Sheriff's Association (which supports the bill), as well as from the Fraternal Order of Police (a labor union which who oppose some, but not all, of the language in House Bill 12), and from the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ohio Highway Patrol, both of which are considered anti-self-defense, bureaucratic organizations who oppose the bill in any form.

ALERT! In testimony before the Senate committee, anti-self-defense and Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence spokesperson stated that concealed carry reform is a male issue, proven by the fact that no females come to Columbus to testify on behalf of HB12.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry often hears from women who are anxious to be able to protect themselves from violent attack, and wondering what they can do to help.

NOW IS YOUR TIME, LADIES! Individuals (of both genders, of course) wishing to offer testimony on their own behalf are encouraged to testify next week!

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

Representatives from Ohioans For Concealed Carry and OFCC PAC were on hand today at the Statehouse, as HB12 received it's third hearing in the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice.

A summary of the hearing may be accessed by clicking on the "Read More..." link below.

Harold McKinney put himself in harms' way daily as a volunteer for a neighborhood crime watch group. Since taverns in his neighborhood are often the targets of violent crime, he made the decision to carry the gun in case he ended up in trouble.

So when Joseph Person and Demeico Hester, both 18, went into Junkers Tavern at 4356 Langland Ave., Cincinnati, about 11:12 p.m. last Thursday to hold up the place, and when Person drew a handgun, McKinney knew his life (and those around him) was in immediate danger. He drew, fired, and shot one of the robbers, stopping the attack and sparing innocent lives.

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

It speaks volumes about our educational system that, in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, one can read a four sentence letter from a pro-CCW writer that has more truth in it than the lengthy and horribly misinformed letter from a Kent State University professor who teaches on the Constitution.

5/13/03
To the Editor:

I can't help but think about how the tragic death of that student could have been avoided if one person was carrying a concealed weapon. One well-placed shot could have ended the worthless life of the attacker and saved a worthwhile one.

Incidents like this show how much we need a concealed-carry law in this state. It will save lives.

Anthony Romano
Euclid

The entire list of letters, pro and con, can be viewed on the Plain Dealer website.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for OFCC PAC truth-injecting commentary on the two anti-self-defense letters.

Dr. John R. Lott Jr. has written an excellent opinion editorial in the wake of the Case Western shootings, which has been published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Autographed copies of Dr. Lott's book are still available in the OFCC Store, but they're going fast! Click here for more information.

The entire op-ed may be read at the PD website. An copy has been archived on this website in case the PD link expires, and may be read by clicking on the "Read More..." link below.

It's quite a diverse bunch that have assembled together today for the third Senate committee hearing on HB12. They're joined at the hip - all for the purpose of defeating attempts to restore your right to self-defense.

• The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is testifying in opposition to language which prevents businesses from banning firearms from your personal vehicle in their parking lots. But according to the more than ten local Chambers we've called so far (all of which are paying members of the state Chamber), the Ohio Chamber hasn't ever polled it's membership on this issue!

• The Fraternal Order of Police labor union is testifying as well, arguing that you should have to undergo even more stringent training and background checks in order to qualify for a license, and that one of your affirmative defenses should be stripped from you, all in the name of officer safety. But according to the members we've spoken with, the FOP has never polled it's officers on this issue!

• The Ohio Coalition of Gun Violence and Million Mom March combo will be there, making claims that Ohio will turn into armageddon when your right to self-defense is restored (presumably because they believe you are less intelligent and have less self-control than your neighbors in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, or Kentucky).

Click on the "Read More..." link below to learn what you can do about this Cast of Characters, who stand in opposition to your right to self-defense.