In one sense, politicians' jobs are not unlike waiters, bellhops, or any other service-related occupation. They rarely hear a peep from their customers unless the service is bad.

Senator Lynn Wachtmann deserves to hear from you, because his service has been so good.

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

Yes, you read the headline correctly - this is a story about accidents with lawn mowers. No, you did not accidentally logon to the wrong website.

The Daily Chief-Union of Upper Sandusky has published a story, informing readers about the dangers of lawn mower usage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, approximately 75,000 people per year require emergency room treatment for injuries caused by lawn mowers. The paper noted that most injuries are the result of human error, and was even kind enough to offer a few safety tips:

* Read the instruction manual before using a lawnmower.
* Be sober.
* Do not remove safety devices, shields or guards on switches and keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
* Add fuel before starting the engine, not when it is running or hot.
* Never let children operate lawnmowers. Keep kids 15 years of age and younger away when lawnmowers are in use.
* Do not leave a lawnmower unattended when it is running.

There's more, but we'll stop there, before you loose all interest.

So WHY are we writing a story about 75,000 accidental lawn mower injuries on a website that focuses on self-defense rights?

Because according to the Centers for Disease Control, less than 17,700 people received non-fatal injuries due to a firearms accident in 2001.

Because when you add to that accidental number those injured intentionally, due to violent attack, the total number is still less than those injured by accident with lawn-mowers - 63,000.

Because there is no Ohio Coalition Against Lawn Mowers. Because the Million Mom March isn't ambulance-chasing and holding press conferences every time someone is injured with their Lawn Boy. Because Bob Taft isn't dictating legislation requiring that lawn mowers be stored safely and not be operated in the presence of children under 18.

But most of all, we're writing this story because unlike a firearm, no one's life has ever been saved with a lawn mower.

Brady Campaign (Handgun Control Inc.) - "Help stop concealed handguns in Ohio."

Click here to read the full lawn mower story in the Daily Chief-Union.

UPDATE! Cleveland News Channel 5 - Man Reportedly Attacks Neighbor With Lawn Mower.

By William Hershey
whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS | There’s trouble in paradise.

Paradise, of course, is where you find it.

Republicans have found it here in Columbus since 1994. That’s the year they took control of both Ohio House and Senate and every statewide nonjudicial office.

Democrats have scrambled for crumbs since then.

With all that power on their hands, Republicans have taken to squabbling among themselves.

Lots of Republicans in the legislature never had much use for Gov. Bob Taft, even if he is the grandson of the U.S. senator known as "Mr. Republican," the late Robert A. Taft.

The hard-charging conservatives consider him a closet moderate and too willing to see too many sides of an issue, even if it’s a complicated one.

During this year’s budget marathon, Republican legislators ignored most of Taft’s ideas for tax reform. Instead, they gave him a take-it-or-leave-it proposed penny-on-the-dollar increase on the state sales tax to balance the state budget.

Taft took it, but continued to irritate Republican lawmakers on proposed legislation giving Ohioans the right to carry concealed handguns.

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

Rep. Jim Aslanides has published an excellent opinion editorial that addresses the current status of House Bill 12, and reveals the underhanded practices which the Governor and Ohio State Highway Patrol have resorted to in order to try and deny your right to self-defense.

One of his most interesting revelations is that "the Governor's office at no time provided direct input on the course of the legislation" in the House. Aslanides also reminds his constituents that Senate leaders had, for months, been promising that Taft would not be considered when drafting amendments.

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read the entire op-ed.